OF THE 
 
 UNIVLR5ITY 
 
 Of ILLINOIS 

 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER 
 
 Av J ^r 
 
 % ioM. 
 
 /^^/l 
 
 FKANCES NOBLE 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 4- 
 
 SAMUEL TINSLEY & CO., 
 
 10, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Ail riykts r<3trviU,
 
 
 YIOLET MOIITIMER 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Violet Moetimer stood at the window, look- 
 ing out across the small, prim garden into the 
 quiet street beyond, with a gaze that showed 
 that her thoughts were far away. A glance 
 showed you that she was very young, little 
 **> more than fifteen ; but her petite figure, though 
 \^ slight and childish, was yet easy and graceful. 
 ^ Her features were irregular, and her face 
 ^ dark skinned for an English girl, with no rosy 
 "^healthy colour in the cheeks, so that, at a 
 ^ passing glance, she might certainly have been 
 4> called plain; but if you went closer and 
 **^ looked into her large brown eyes, which were 
 ^ery soft and tender in repose, you would see 
 ^ that they were a beauty in themselves, render- 
 ^ing the perhaps plain face charming, as they 
 [gazed at you. The young girl was quietly, 
 '^almost negligently attired, and the thick 
 
 VOL. I. 1
 
 ^l VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 masses of her brown hair were somewhat 
 untidily disposed of, being arranged in no 
 particular fashion above her low, broad fore- 
 head, her whole appearance showing that she 
 had not devoted much time or attention to 
 her toilet. 
 
 As she stood thus, Hstlessly, her ears were 
 arrested by the sound of carriage wheels, and 
 presently a small pony phaeton drew up at 
 the garden gate. 
 
 The phaeton was occupied by two ladies, 
 both richly dressed, who at once alighted and 
 entered the house, and came into the room 
 where Violet stood. Their likeness to each 
 other made it easy to perceive that the new- 
 comers were mother and daughter. The elder 
 lady looked about five-and-forty ; she bore 
 traces of having been handsome in her youth, 
 and would have been very good-looking still, 
 but that her countenance w^as marred by a 
 disagreeable, haughty expression. The young 
 lady, her daughter, was between seventeen 
 and eighteen, and was strikingly handsome, 
 more so than her mother ever could have been. 
 She was tall and majestic in figure, and the 
 outline of her face was so perfect as to be 
 almost statuesque. But, handsome as her
 
 YIOLET MOKTIMER. 6 
 
 countenance certainly was, it was not a lov- 
 able one. The light blue eyes were still and 
 void of expression, and the haughty, resolate 
 coldness of her face made her appear much 
 older than she was in reality. Her gracefully 
 shaped head was furnished with an abundance 
 of pale golden hair, tastefully disposed so as 
 to suit the elegant bonnet, which, together 
 with the rest of her dress, was in the height 
 of the fashion. 
 
 On entering the room, the young lady ap- 
 proached Violet, and with an impatient ges- 
 ture, exclaimed, — 
 
 ^^ Half-past five, and you not gone up yet, 
 and you know mamma expected you to be 
 dressed by six, as we cannot be ready ! Per- 
 haps you intend to disgrace us by appearing 
 in your present costume ! " and she looked 
 disdainfully on the faded dress and carelessly 
 arranged hair of the younger girl. 
 
 They formed a striking contrast, those two 
 girls, the one fair and cold, the look of annoy- 
 ance spoiling just then the beauty of her 
 perfect countenance, and the other with her 
 dark face and irregular features, and her whole 
 soul looking forth from her soft expressive 
 eyes, which flashed prcudly now. For an
 
 4 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 instant she seemed about to answer angrily, 
 then she checked herself, and merely said 
 quietly, though somewhat proudly, as she left 
 the room, — 
 
 '' I shall he ready ; you need not be afi^aid." 
 
 The elder lady said nothing, but contented 
 herself with darting a look of displeasure 
 after Violet's retreating figure. 
 
 Violet Mortimer was an orphan. Her 
 mother had died when she was an infant, and 
 her father when she was about ten years old. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer had made a large fortune as 
 a 'merchant, and had retired from business 
 several years before his death. Violet was 
 his only child, and upon her mother's death 
 he devoted himseK entirely to the little girl, 
 who was passionately attached to him . About 
 a year before his death Mr. Mortimer had 
 married again. His second wife was a Mrs. 
 Gordon, a widow of middle age and very small 
 fortune, who had one daughter, who was two 
 or three years older than Violet. Mr. Mor- 
 timer had married Mrs. Gordon in the hope 
 of finding in her a mother for his little Violet, 
 and a protector for her in case of his death, 
 having no near relatives of his v3wn. He lived 
 just long eno" '^~ to see how he had been mis-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 5 
 
 taken. Before their marriage, the handsome 
 widow had shown only the amiable side of her 
 character to Mr. Mortimer ; but when once she 
 was his wife, he began to see her as she was 
 in reality, wholly given np to selfishness and 
 vanity, and so entirely engrossed by her affec- 
 tion for her own daughter as to render her 
 wholly indifferent to his little Violet, who was 
 a child of deep feeling and loving nature, and 
 who, rather than grieve her father by com- 
 plaining, often bore, unknown to him, slights 
 and positive unkindness from Mrs. Mortimer 
 and her daughter. Eleanor Gordon and Violet 
 shared the same governesses and instructors, 
 and from the first, Eleanor took a jealous dis- 
 like to Violet, partly in imitation of her mother, 
 and partly because there was little sympathy 
 between her own nature and the fine, enthu- 
 siastic disposition of her young comj^anion. 
 Eleanor Gordon was a true child of her mother, 
 and promised even thus early to rival her in 
 cold selfishness and vanity as well as in beauty. 
 She did not hesitate to express her contempt 
 for Violet, whom she was pleased to call ** plain 
 and sallow." Any slights offered to herself 
 Violet bore with all the childish firmness of 
 which she was capable ; but any allusion of
 
 6 YIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 Eleanor's wliicli savonred of disrespect to her 
 father always caused her to reply with passion- 
 ate anger and many tears. The child would 
 often think with a yearning, painful for one 
 so young, of the happy days when she and 
 her papa had heen alone together, before Mrs. 
 Mortimer and Eleanor had come to disturb 
 their happiness. Mr. Mortimer was an invalid 
 for two or three months before his death, and 
 during this time Violet was almost constantly 
 at his bedside. When she fully comprehended 
 that her dear papa was really going to die, 
 and that she would be left alone, the little 
 girl's passionate burst of sorrow was heart- 
 rending for her father to witness. She 
 would not be comforted, and it was only as 
 the end drew near, a^d she was told that her 
 grief disturbed her father, that the child 
 struggled to subdue her weeping rather than 
 be taken from him. Mr. Mortimer died, with 
 his hand clasped in his little Violet's, and 
 earnestly begging of his wife to love and be 
 a mother to the child. Mrs. Mortimer, soft- 
 ened and awe-stricken for ilie time, promised 
 all he asked, and he breathed his last, consoled 
 by the hope that she would keep her promise, 
 and that, with time, Violet might grow to love
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 7 
 
 her and be happy. But at the same time, 
 Mr. Mortimer, knowing now his wife's charac- 
 ter, and fearing that, contrary to his hopes, she 
 might after all fail in the promises given in 
 those last solemn hours, did not leave her 
 sole guardian to his darling Violet. As we 
 have said before, he had no near living rela- 
 tives, and his oldest friend was his godmother, 
 a Mrs. Ashleigh. At the time of Mr. Mor- 
 timer's death she was about sixty years of 
 age, but strong, active, and healthy as in 
 earlier life. Her husband, who had been dead 
 about ten years, was a gentleman of private 
 property and considerable wealth. Their resi- 
 dence, which was beautifully situated in one 
 of the northern counties, had belonged to his 
 family for several generations. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ashleigh were married twenty years without 
 having any children, and then a son had been 
 born to them, who had now inherited his 
 father's w^ealth and position. When a boy, 
 Mr. Mortimer had been strongly attached to 
 his godmother, and had received much kind- 
 ness from her, and when he was grown up and 
 had settled in business, their intercourse still 
 continued. When he married, it necessarily 
 became less frequent, but letters w^ere still
 
 8 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 exchanged between them, though Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh never saw her godson again. 
 
 During his last illness Mr. Mortimer wrote 
 to her, telling her he was lying on what 
 would most likely be his death-bed, and asking 
 her, for the sake of their old friendship, to 
 consent to be joint guardian with his wiie of 
 his little Violet. He said nothing to her of 
 his disappointment in his second marriage, 
 and concluded by saying how happy it would 
 make him to know that perhaps at some 
 fature day his little girl might become ac- 
 quainted with one from whom her father had 
 received so much kindness. Full of sorrow 
 for the comparatively early death (for he was 
 but forty years of age) of one in whom she 
 had been so interested, Mrs. Ashleigh willingly 
 consented to undertake the joint guardianship 
 of little Violet, knowing nothing of the deep 
 anxiety which had prompted Mr. Mortimer in 
 his request, and ignorant that there was any 
 cause why her guardianship should not be 
 little more than nominal. So Mrs. Mortimer 
 and Mrs. Ashleigh were Violet's guardians, 
 and Mr. Mortimer passed away from this 
 world, leaving his ample fortune to his Httle 
 girl, and his wife comfortably provided for.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. y 
 
 Soon after liis death Mrs. Mortimer, who did 
 not love the country, gave up the house in 
 which they had hitherto resided, which was 
 surrounded by charming scenery, about thirty 
 miles from London, and took a house in the 
 metropolis itself, in a good street, where she 
 was within reach of all its pleasures and 
 gaieties. Yiolet cried as if her heart would 
 break when they left the place where she and 
 her dear papa had been so happy together, 
 and as she said good-bye to her own little 
 garden, in which it had been her delight to 
 sow the flower seeds so as to form the words, 
 *^Papa and Yiolet," and to see her father's 
 pleased smile as she did so. Her pony, too, 
 on which she had been used to ride so fear- 
 lessly, had to be parted with, for Mrs. Mortimer 
 told her that in town she would have no time 
 for such amusement until she should be grown 
 up. Ten years old, she was told, was quite 
 old enough to begin to apply herself in earnest 
 to her studies, and to learn the manners of a 
 young lady. Poor little Yiolet ! her fond 
 heart had no one to love or to lean upon, for, 
 alas ! her stepmother very soon forgot the 
 promise she had made to her dying husband, 
 and the sorrow that in a happier child would.
 
 10 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 after the fashion of children, have been laid 
 aside and forgotten, was cherished and retained 
 in the lonely httle heart as though it feared 
 to lose the image and remembrance of the 
 one loved one as it had so sadly lost the reality. 
 Mrs. Mortimer was indignant and annoyed 
 that her husband had not chosen to leave 
 Violet in her sole charge, for though she did 
 not love the child, she liked to have undis- 
 puted power over her, and it was not pleasant 
 to have to report her health and progress to 
 Mrs. Ashleigh and to be obliged to see that 
 Violet wrote occasionally to her. Beyond 
 this the old lady never thought of interfering. 
 She knew nothing of the real aspect of affairs ; 
 Violet's short notes, written under the super- 
 intendence of her stepmother, told nothing, 
 and Mrs. Ashleigh did not think the child 
 could have a more suitable protector than hei> 
 father's wife. It might have been better if Mr. 
 Mortimer had not so delicately refrained from 
 letting her know a little of his wife's character ; 
 but as it was, the old lady thought it was more 
 as a last act of friendship he had made his 
 request to her than for any other reason. 
 
 And so the years passed on. Violet never 
 grew to love the elegant London house, with
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 11 
 
 its brick and stone surroundings, and its small 
 apology for a garden. Nor did slie grow to 
 love lier stepmother and Eleanor Gordon. 
 Any efforts to do so or to gain their affection, 
 which were prompted at first by her generous 
 nature, were repelled by coldness and often 
 by unkindness, and Violet lived a strange, 
 lonely life as regarded those around her. She 
 formed a world of her own, as it were, peopled 
 with those of whom she read in history or 
 romance, and amongst whom she had her 
 favourites, loved with a fondness second only 
 to that with which she cherished her dead 
 father's memory. It was but a sad, dreamy 
 existence for a child, and it would have been 
 better if Violet had been sent to school and 
 there made friends and companions, for, as it 
 was, she was entirely friendless, Mrs. Mor- 
 timer always forbidding any intimacy with 
 the governesses she engaged. Any attempt at 
 such on their part would have procured their 
 instant dismissal, and Eleanor, in whom her 
 mother's nature was intensified, would have 
 only been too ready to report it if anything 
 of the kind took place. As time wore on, 
 Eleanor's dislike to Violet amounted almost 
 to a jealous hatred, since she knew that while
 
 12 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 she herself would have but a small fortune, 
 Violet v^as possessed of considerable wealth, 
 for Mrs. Mortimer did not scruple openly to 
 lament this in her daughter's presence. 
 Eleanor's only consolation was the reflection 
 that while it would take all Violet's fortune 
 to cover her plainness and dowdiness, she 
 herself, the beautiful and one day to be the 
 admired Eleanor, had only to speak the word 
 to bring a host of wealthy suitors to her feet. 
 And while such unholy thoughts filled the 
 worldly, selfish heart of the young gui, she 
 would have laughed to scorn the idea that her 
 less beautiful companion would have joyfully 
 given the whole of her fortune if it could have 
 bought for her the sweets of a mother's or a 
 sister's love. The happiest days in Violet's 
 life now were those which they spent each 
 summer at the seaside. There, no longer 
 hemmed in by the London streets and pro- 
 prieties, she could wander alone and undis- 
 turbed by the shore, hstening with rapture 
 to the voice of the restless sea, which seemed 
 to speak to the lonely, imaginative child in 
 a manner that happier children would not 
 have understood. There sometimes she would 
 make friends with little childi'en on the beach,
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 13 
 
 and enjoy playing with tliem or helping them 
 to gather shells. Mrs. Mortimer seldom inter- 
 fered with Violet's lonely rambles, for she and 
 Eleanor were glad to be relieved of her when 
 in the society of any friends they made or 
 met, and Mrs. Mortimer had always, since her 
 husband's death, kept Yiolet as much as 
 possible out of sight of the acquaintances she 
 entertained at her house, while Eleanor had 
 almost always been present on such occasions. 
 Mrs. Mortnner would allege as an excuse for 
 Violet's non-appearance that she was shy and 
 so forth ; and no wonder, seeing the life she 
 led, that she was shy and almost proudly 
 reserved for a child, and that whenever she 
 was present at her stepmother's entertain- 
 ments few cared to speak to the quiet, 
 plainly-dressed girl who formed such a 
 contrast to the beautiful, stately Eleanor 
 Gordon. 
 
 The time came when Eleanor was seven- 
 teen, and she was emancipated from the 
 schoolroom, to her own and her mother's 
 satisfaction. Mrs. Mortimer could now have 
 her handsome daughter entirely with her and 
 introduce her fully into society, which had 
 been so long the aim she had looked forward
 
 14 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 to. It is to be feared that Eleanor's gratifi- 
 cation arose more from the thought that she 
 could now enter into all the world's gaieties 
 and amusements, and receive the admiration 
 she doubted not would be lavisJaed upon her, 
 rather than from any pleasure she felt at the 
 idea of being her mother's constant com- 
 panion. She was scarcely worthy of that 
 mother's intense affection for her, for in 
 comparison it was but little she gave in 
 return. Much of Mrs. Mortimer's neglect 
 of and injustice to Yiolet was due to her 
 engrossing love for her own daughter, for her 
 heart was not generous enough to warm 
 towards one whom she jealously imagined 
 might perhaps one day, with her large fortune 
 though plainer figure, • be preferred before 
 Eleanor. It is possible that if she had not 
 had her daughter, with her stronger mil and 
 even more selfish nature than her own, to 
 engage all the affection she had to bestow, 
 Mrs. Mortimer might in time have learnt to 
 love the lonely orphan left to her care. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had another reason for 
 rejoicing that her own girl was now of an 
 age to take her place in society, which was 
 that both she and Eleanor could not fail to
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 15 
 
 perceive that Violet, now fifteen, was rapidly 
 losing the appearance of a child and that her 
 figure, though not tall, was slight and very 
 graceful. She would not be handsome, but 
 they could not be unconscious of the fact 
 that no one could gaze long on her speaking 
 countenance and call her plain. This con- 
 viction, which filled them with secret chagrin, 
 had been increased by a circumstance which 
 had occurred a short time before the day 
 on which our tale opens. A lady, who was 
 present at a small entertainment given by 
 Mrs. Mortimer, had noticed Violet and drawn 
 her into conversation, and had felt deeply 
 interested in her. Being keen and shrewd, 
 she had divined from Mrs. Mortimer's manner 
 how matters stood, and she had taken an 
 aversion to the cold, stately Eleanor. 
 
 The following evening she met Mrs. 
 Mortimer and her daughter again at a ball 
 given by a mutual acquaintance, and taldng 
 a seat by the former, she said to her in 
 Eleanor's hearing, — 
 
 ** What a very interesting girl your step- 
 daughter is, Mrs. Mortimer ! One can see, of 
 course, that she is yet very young, but I 
 assure you she made quite a conquest of me
 
 16 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 last night, if it were only by her very beau- 
 tiful eyes. I really do so much prefer her 
 style of face to those cold, stately beauties 
 who look as if they had no souls or are afraid 
 to let them look out through their statuesque 
 countenances." Then, as though unconscious 
 she had done otherwise than please Mrs. 
 Mortimer, she talked on smilingly on other 
 subjects. 
 
 This incident was not likely to lessen 
 Mrs. Mortimer's dislike and Eleanor Gordon's 
 jealous hatred of Violet. 
 
 All these years Violet had been accustomed 
 to write regularly to Mrs. Ashleigh, and re- 
 ceived from her in return kind little notes, 
 and occasionally a present for herseK, and 
 latterly the old lady had expressed a hope 
 that it might not be long before she and 
 Violet became personally acquainted. But 
 as- yet she said nothing of visiting them, nor 
 had there been any invitation for Violet to 
 go and stay with her. Mrs. Mortimer had 
 never felt inclined to cultivate Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh' s acquaintance by asking her to ^dsit 
 them, though of late she had begun to think 
 it would have been pleasanter for herself and 
 ElAanor if Violet had been left entirely in
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 17 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh's care, since she herself had not 
 absolute control over her. 
 
 A few days before the one on which our 
 tale opens Mrs. Mortimer had received a note 
 from Mrs. Ashleigh, saying that she would 
 very shortly have to pass through London on 
 her way to Brighton to visit some old friends 
 there, and as she very seldom left home, she 
 did not wish to miss this opportunity, if 
 agreeable to Mrs. Mortimer, of calling upon 
 her and making Violet's acquaintance. She 
 added that her son could not accompany her, 
 having just started upon a continental tour 
 on which he would be absent some two or 
 three months. This unexpected letter caused 
 some little indecision to Mrs. Mortimer as to 
 whether it would not be wise to invite Mrs. 
 Ashleigh to stay a few days with them when 
 she passed through London. It might be 
 well, after all, she said to herself, to cultivate 
 her acquaintance, for she was wealthy, and 
 certainly above themselves in the social scale. 
 Mrs. Mortimer had never felt very amicably 
 disposed towards this valued friend of her 
 husband's, but now that circumstances would 
 have it so, she felt obliged to offer civility to 
 her. If she felt any uneasiness on the score 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 18 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 of her injustice to Violet, slie banished the 
 unpleasant reflection by telling herself she 
 had done all that could be expected of her, 
 and that it was not likely she could love her 
 stepdaughter as her own child. Accordingly 
 she wrote an invitation to Mrs. Ashleigh, 
 secretly regretting perhaps as she did so that 
 young Mr. Ashleigh could not accompany 
 his mother. Her invitation was accepted by 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, who wrote to her Brighton 
 friends, postponing her arrival amongst them 
 until after she should have paid a few days' 
 visit to Mrs. Mortimer. 
 
 Violet looked forward to the arrival of 
 her lather's friend with a feehng of joyous 
 expectation wholly new to her lonely heart. 
 During the past years since her father's 
 death she had often thought of Mrs. Ashleigh, 
 and had longed with all her childish desire 
 to know and love her. Now that the time 
 was come that she was to see her, all her 
 dead father had told her of this dear fiiend 
 of his youth came to her mind again — of her 
 constant kindness, even his description of 
 her beautiful home in the north, where he 
 had spent so many happy days with her and 
 her husband while he was yet a boy, long
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 19 
 
 before they had a son of their own. And 
 then Violet wondered what this son was like, 
 young Mr. Ashleigh, whose birth had caused, 
 such joy to his parents. But of him she 
 only thought little ; it was in his mother 
 she felt interested, her father's dear friend. 
 Would Mrs. Ashleigh love her, if only for 
 her father's sake — would she care for her 
 affection ? Perhaps not, for she had been 
 all these years without trying to see and 
 know her. In her short life Violet had had 
 sad experience of disappointment where she 
 had expected love. She clearly remem- 
 bered the day when she was a little child, 
 how her father first told her he was going 
 to bring her home a new mamma and a sister 
 too. And how, when she had not at first 
 liked the idea altogether, he had dwelt on 
 the love and new happiness they would bring ' 
 to her, and then afterwards how she had 
 not been ^ble to understand why it proved 
 so different. And the young girl, almost a 
 child yet, prayed that she might not be dis- 
 appointed again, but that she might love her 
 father's friend as he himself had done. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh was expected on the evening 
 of the day on which om' tale opens, and.
 
 20 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had previously invited several 
 friends to her house for the same evening. 
 She and Eleanor, on making their appearance 
 as before described, had been attending a 
 flower show, and, not having known before- 
 hand whether they would return sufficiently 
 early to make their elaborate evening toilets, 
 so as to be ready to receive Mrs Ashleigh, 
 had desired Yiolet to be dressed in time to 
 do so, and make Mrs. Mortimer's apologies 
 to her. Yiolet, all absorbed in her own 
 thoughts, had nearly forgotten the time, and 
 thus caused Eleanor's angry exclamation on 
 entering the room.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 21 
 
 CHAPTEK II. 
 
 Usually, Violet was careless of her dress, and 
 thought little of her own appearance. Mrs. 
 Mortimer had ever shown little concern as 
 to whether her stepdaughter looked well or 
 otherwise, merely taking care that she was 
 sufficiently well dressed not to disgrace her 
 when she allowed her to appear in company. 
 And Violet had been so long accustomed 
 to hearing the fact that she was plainlooking, 
 from Eleanor and Mrs. Mortimer, that until 
 now it had troubled her very little. It had 
 mattered not that she was not pretty ; who 
 was there to care whether she were so or 
 not ? If her papa had lived, it might have 
 mattered, for it might have pleased him, 
 perhaps, if his daughter had been beautiful. 
 Violet was, unconsciously perhaps, a great 
 admirer of the beautiful, and the heroes and 
 heroines of her imagination, or of whom she 
 read, never failed to be invested with its
 
 22 VIOLET MOKTBIEE. 
 
 charm; but of herself she had yet had little 
 cause to think. It was now for the first time 
 when she looked forward to the coming of 
 one who might love her and whom she might 
 please, that she became conscious of a wish 
 that she were beautiful like Eleanor. She 
 took great pains with her simple toilet on 
 this evening, and when, arrayed in her plain 
 white evening dress, she took a last look in 
 ]ier glass, she felt a childish pleasure at her 
 own appearance, for something told her she 
 ^vas not so devoid of beauty as Eleanor would 
 have her believe. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh arrived, and with beating 
 heart Violet went down to receive her. 
 Without intending it, Mrs Mortimer had 
 afforded pleasure to both of them, for both 
 were glad that their first meeting should be 
 private. As Violet entered the room and 
 approached Mrs. Ashleigh, the latter, without 
 giving her time to make her stepmother's 
 apologies, rose with the simple exclamation, 
 '^ Violet ! " and drew her close to her as she 
 kissed her warmly. Then taking both the 
 young giii's hands within her own, Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh looked at her earnestly with tears in 
 her eyes.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 23 
 
 ^' My love/' she said, "how this moment 
 recalls to my mind the days of your dear 
 papa's boyhood, when he was but the age 
 you are now ! You must love me for his 
 sake, Yiolet, will you not ? " 
 
 The look in Violet's soft brown eyes as 
 she raised them to Mrs Ashleigh's face was a 
 sufficient answer. The new feeling of happi- 
 ness because she was loved was very sweet 
 to the lonely child as she sat there by the 
 side of her so long unknown friend. At her 
 fir-st glance at Mrs. Ashleigh's countenance 
 Violet had felt, with the heart's true instinct, 
 that she should love her, and, reserved and 
 shy as her peculiar life had rendered her, 
 her naturally frank, enthusiastic nature could 
 not resist this new joy, but expanded at once, 
 as it were, under its influence. Mrs. Ashleigh 
 was one of those in whom advancing age 
 is rendered beautiful, in whom it is invested 
 with a charm which forbids regret for the 
 vanished bloom of youth. In earlier hfe her 
 face might not have been handsome, but attrac- 
 tive it must have always been, for it wore a 
 striking expression of intellect and sweetness 
 combined, which could not fail to fascinate 
 the beholder. Now, at sixty-five, Mrs. Ash-
 
 24 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 leigli was as erect and graceful as she had 
 ever been, and as Yiolet gazed in admiration 
 at her venerable countenance, shaded by the 
 silky hair fast becoming white, the recollec- 
 tion of her father's description of this dear 
 friend of his youth came \dvidly to her mind, 
 and she understood how charming Mrs. 
 Ashleigh must have been in past days, since 
 so much beauty remained to her still. 
 
 To Violet's apologies for Mrs. Mortimer's 
 non-appearance, she answered, — 
 
 ^'Yiolet, my love, she will not blame me 
 for being glad it has happened so. It pleases 
 me to have our first meeting in private, for 
 though I must not consider Mrs. Mortimer 
 or Miss Gordon as entire strangers, still, you 
 are like my own especial property, you know, 
 and during these few days we must learn to 
 know and love each other, and then in future 
 you can write to me more freely than you 
 have done. Do you think Mrs. Mortimer 
 would let you come and stay a little while 
 with me when I return home, my love ? You 
 do not look strong, and our fine country air 
 would be refreshing to you after this crowded 
 London. Norman (that is my son's name) 
 will be absent some time, and if you will
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER 25 
 
 come and clieer my loneliness and not find 
 it dull, it will please me so much." 
 
 *' Dull ! " exclaimed Violet ; then she added 
 very earnestly, ^^ I should like it so very, very 
 much." 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh looked with a kind, pleased 
 smile into the speaking eyes raised to hers, 
 and said, — 
 
 '' Then it is a compact, only waiting for 
 Mrs. Mortimer's consent to ratify it." 
 
 Then speaking seriously and earnestly, she 
 told Yiolet how ever since Mr. Mortimer had 
 died and left his child partly to her care, she 
 had washed to see and know her personally ; 
 but that she had resolved not to attempt to 
 do so until such time as Mrs. Mortimer 
 would know she was not actuated by any wish 
 to interfere with her own management. She 
 felt that a stepmother had a prior claim to 
 the love of her husband's child, and she had' 
 not wished Yiolet to be in any danger of 
 becoming the least estranged from Mrs. 
 Mortimer through her interference. Mrs. 
 Ashleigh had never doubted for a moment 
 that Yiolet was loved and duly cared for by her 
 stepmother, and she had imagined that she 
 had found a sister in Eleanor Gordon. So
 
 26 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 she had restrained her own desire to have 
 Yiolet occasionally with her, merely doing 
 what was absolutely necessary as her guardian, 
 until the present time, when Yiolet was grow- 
 ing up, having been so many years under her 
 stepmother's guidance that Mrs. Ashleigh 
 felt there was no danger of her own motives 
 in wishing to have her wdth her for a while 
 being misconstrued. All this she explained 
 to Yiolet, saying in conclusion, — 
 
 '^ But we know each other at last, my love, 
 and you must be doubly precious to me because 
 I have w^aited for you so long." 
 
 Ever since Mrs. Ashleigh's warm greeting 
 at her entrance, Yiolet had been struggling 
 with the tears of joyous emotion, which she 
 could scarcely keep back at the new, deep 
 happiness and feeling of security that she was 
 loved and might love in return, and now they 
 burst forth freely as she exclaimed^ almost 
 involuntarily, — 
 
 *^ Oh, Mrs. Ashleigh, I have longed so for 
 you ever since dear, darling papa died and 
 left me alone ! " 
 
 Anything further was checked by the 
 entrance of Mrs. Mortimer and Eleanor, both 
 di'essed in elegant evening costume. The
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 27 
 
 former graciously approached and welcomed 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, and introduced her daughter. 
 After the customary civilities, Mrs. Mortimer 
 turned to Yiolet with a feeling of surprise and 
 annoyance at the evident traces of tears on 
 her face. 
 
 ^* Violet, why have you not asked Mrs. 
 Ashleigh if she would wish to he shown to 
 her room before this time ? " then turning to 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, she added, ^'You must allow 
 me to apologise for Violet's thoughtlessness. 
 You must be very much fatigued after your 
 long journey." 
 
 '' Not at all, thank you, Mrs. Mortimer," 
 was the reply, and smiling very kindly on 
 Violet, Mrs. Ashleigh added, ^' Violet and I 
 have been so very happy making each other's 
 acquaintance that we both forgot everything 
 else, and to me the rest before dressing was 
 pleasant, though I expected to feel mucb more 
 fatigued after my journey than I do, as of late 
 I have travelled so little." 
 
 While Mrs. Ashleigh was speaking, Eleanor 
 had been making her own reflections. 
 
 '' So Mrs. Ashleigh and Violet are fast 
 friends already. If it is to be so, it would be 
 as well if we were relieved of Violet altogether
 
 28 VIOLET MOKTBIEE. 
 
 by her. She would be safely out of my way, 
 but — suppose — young Mr. Ashleigh — but no, 
 she is too young, and far too simple for that, 
 at least yet. There has been a scene, evi- 
 dently ; Violet's face shows that ; what aboat, 
 I wonder ! " 
 
 After a little more conversation Mrs. Mor- 
 timer conducted her guest to her room and 
 left her to dress. Mrs. Ashleigh somewhat 
 regretted that they were expecting com- 
 pany that evening, as it promised her less 
 chance of becoming more acquainted with 
 Mrs. Mortimer and her daughter, concerning 
 whom she could not divest herself of an in- 
 definable feeling of distrust. She had only 
 seen them together with Violet for a few 
 minutes, and yet she had been unfavourably 
 impressed, and no longer felt completely satis- 
 fied as to Violet's happiness. She felt that, 
 from what she already knew of the young girl 
 herself, she would be too proud and generous 
 to complain willingly, and Mrs. Ashleigh knew 
 that the burst of tears and the exclamation 
 which had been interrupted by Mrs. Mortimer's 
 entrance could not have come from one so 
 young if she were living happily in the love 
 of those who filled the place of a mother and
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 29 
 
 sister to her. She determined, therefore, to 
 watch closely during her stay, and if her fears 
 proved correct she would not hesitate to take 
 Violet from her stepmother's care. 
 
 All during that evening Violet sat by Mrs. 
 Ashleigh's side, her brown eyes sparkling with 
 her newly found happiness. Mrs. Ashleigh 
 was further enlightened as to how matters 
 stood on seeing that scarcely any of the com- 
 pany seemed to know Violet intimately, as 
 they did Eleanor, and on questioning her 
 she found that the young girl came but sel- 
 dom among her stepmother's visitors. Mrs. 
 Mortimer and her daughter felt it useless to 
 attempt to conceal their indifference to Violet, 
 as from the first they had seen that her part 
 would be taken by Mrs. Ashleigh, with whom 
 they were not slow to perceive they could 
 never be kindred spirits. Mrs. Mortimer had 
 expected that Mrs. Ashleigh would be struck, 
 as so many others were, by Eleanor's beauty, 
 and visions of a possible invitation for her to 
 Ashleigh Court, and consequently an acquaint- 
 ance with its master, Norman Ashleigh, had 
 been in her mind when she invited his mother 
 on her present visit. But though chagrined 
 at the absorbing attention Mrs. Ashleigh
 
 30 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 bestowed on Violet, and the small notice she 
 took of Eleanor, Mrs. Mortimer would not 
 give up hope, and still maintained the sem- 
 blance of polite attention to her guest. 
 
 On retiring for the night, Mrs. Ashleigh 
 pondered with indignation on all she had 
 learnt since her arrival, and grieved to think 
 how she had been mistaken in her confidence 
 as to the happiness of her young charge. She 
 had been unfavourably impressed from the out- 
 set by Mrs. Mortimer, and knew it would be 
 impossible ever to grow to like her, but it was 
 Eleanor who repelled her most strongly. She 
 could scarcely account for it, but so it was. 
 
 ^^With her perfect face and figure there 
 is something in her eyes I cannot like," was 
 the thought that would force itself into Mrs. 
 Ashleigh' s mind. ^^ It is strange how strongly 
 she repels me. I hope I do her an injustice," 
 she said to herself; ^^ but it seems to me that 
 girl would be a dangerous one to have for 
 one's enemy." 
 
 The next morning a party of ladies called, 
 amongst whom was the one before mentioned 
 who had taken notice of Violet and praised 
 her so much to Eleanor's disadvantage. On 
 being introduced to Mrs. Ashleigh, knowing
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 31 
 
 the relation in wliicli she stood to Violet, she 
 entered into earnest conversation with her, 
 leaving her companions to Mrs. Mortimer. 
 She confided to Mrs. Ashleigh all she knew 
 of Violet's lonely, unloved life, and ended hy 
 saying how much she herself loved and admired 
 her. Mrs. Ashleigh was not one who loved 
 tale-bearing or idle gossips, but as she per- 
 ceived that her informant was in earnest and 
 considered it her duty to tell her all she knew 
 respecting Violet, she listened silently, and 
 then thanked her for the interest she took in 
 the young girl, merely adding that she would 
 try to find out where the fault lay and see how 
 matters could be remedied. She would not 
 say more to one whom she had known but a 
 few minutes, but in her own mind her resolu- 
 tion to take Violet entirely under her protec- 
 tion was confirmed. She felt that her motives 
 for refraining so long from interfering with 
 her were not hkely to have been appreciated 
 by Mrs. Mortimer. 
 
 ^' Poor Charles ! " she thought, '^ he must 
 have feared this. If he could have brought 
 himself to tell me of his disappointment and 
 his anxiety, poor little Violet should not 
 have been left so long uncared for."
 
 32 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 It was on tlie third day of her visit that Mrs. 
 Ashleigh took the opportunity of being alone 
 with Mrs. Mortimer to speak of Violet to her. 
 As gently as she could, and so as to annoy her 
 as, httle as possible, she told her of her msh 
 to take Violet away, and give her a home at 
 Ashleigli Court. 
 
 "I think," she went on, ^'that I could 
 make her happier than I have found she is 
 here. Her father was very dear to me, Mrs. 
 Mortimer, and it is very painful to me to know 
 the unloved Hfe she has been leading since 
 his death, for neither you nor your daughter 
 have tried to conceal your entire indifference 
 to her. All these years I have refrained from 
 even seeing Violet, knowing that your claim 
 was greater than mine, and never doubting that 
 she had found a mother in you. I have been 
 mistaken, and now I do not think you can 
 refuse to give her up to me. I do not like to 
 have to say all this, nor is it my place to 
 attach blame to you, especiall}^ now when I 
 am a guest in your house, but I thought it 
 best to have one explanation, and then, your 
 consent gained, to mention the past no more, 
 but let it be forgotten between us." 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer, as she listened to Mrs.
 
 VIOLET MOBTIMEK. 33 
 
 Ashleigli, felt it was useless to show offence, 
 for she could not deny the truth of what she 
 said. She decided it was best to smother her 
 indignation, and give in with a good grace, 
 and by so doing perhaps ingratiate herself 
 with Mrs. Ashleigli, and gain the end she had 
 looked forward to when she had invited her. 
 And, putting that aside, would it not be well 
 if Violet, now fast growing up and known 
 to be heiress to a considerable fortune, were 
 safely out of Eleanor's way here in London, 
 .where her wealth might prove a more attrac- 
 tive prize than Eleanor's beauty and small 
 fortune ? So, blandly and calmly Mrs. Mor- 
 timer answered that she could not withhold 
 her consent to Mrs. Ashleigh's offer, so ad- 
 vantageous to Violet, adding that it was im- 
 possible for anyone to expect she could bestow 
 the same care and love on a stepdaughter as 
 were demanded by her own child. Then in 
 a well-feigned tone of regret she said that 
 Mrs. Ashleigli was not aware how in the days 
 of Mr. Mortimer's lifetime and long after his 
 death she had striven to make Violet love her 
 by every kindness in her power, but had been 
 constantly repulsed by Violet's morose, unlov- 
 ing disposition and reserved manners, for one 
 
 VOL. I. 3
 
 34 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 SO young, until it had become impossible to 
 try longer to love her. But, as Mrs. Ashleigli 
 said, the past should be forgotten, and she 
 forgave the unconscious injustice she had 
 done her. 
 
 *' Pardon me, Mrs. Mortimer," said Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, ^' if I say that though I am aware 
 it may have been impossible for you to love 
 Violet, it cannot be her disposition that is 
 to blame, for the little I yet know of her has 
 clearly shown that she is by nature singularly 
 frank and affectionate, and I wish you to 
 know that it is through no ungenerous com- 
 plaint of hers that my present resolution has 
 been taken." 
 
 It was vain to attempt to argue further, 
 and the matter was settled with an outward 
 appearance of goodwill. Mrs. Ashleigh de- 
 tected the worldly-wise woman's desire to 
 avoid a quarrel, for it was not possible that 
 Mrs. Mortimer could be so entirely h'ee 
 from anger or indignation as she strove to 
 appear. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh herself communicated 
 the unexpected intelligence to Violet, who 
 listened as though it were too joyful to be 
 true.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 35 
 
 ** To live with yon always, at Ashleigh 
 Court ! Oh, Mrs. Ashleigh ! " was her excla- 
 mation. 
 
 ^^ Yes, Violet, you must very soon be ready 
 to bid good-bye to London and Westford 
 House, and grow accustomed to our north 
 country home. You must call me ^ grand- 
 mamma ' there, my love, as your papa was 
 my godson, you know;" then she added 
 laughingly, *^ It will remind me how very old 
 I am growing, won't it ? " 
 
 Before Mrs. Ashleigh left London she wrote 
 to Paris to her son and told him what she 
 had done. 
 
 *^ You must not be annoyed, my dear 
 Norman," she wrote, ^^ at this addition to our 
 small family. You know, my son, that I love 
 and appreciate our delicious privacy as well 
 as you do, but you will agree with me that I 
 am right in taking poor Violet Mortimer from 
 her present home. She is a dear, enthusiastic 
 little creature, though somewhat proud and 
 reserved before strangers. Do not fear to see 
 in her a fascinating young lady; Violet is 
 scarcely more than a child, and so perfectly 
 natural. She has found a place in my heart 
 already, poor little thing, and it is but little,
 
 36 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 love and kindness she has had lavished on 
 her since her father's death." 
 
 It was arranged that Mrs Ashleigh was to 
 take Violet to her new home after she had 
 paid her promised visit to her Brighton 
 friends. The interval was spent by Violet 
 in the preparations necessary for her depar- 
 ture, and during these last days she was 
 treated with an outward show of kindness 
 by her stepmother and Eleanor, for they knew 
 her influence would be great with Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh, and it was wiser to make a friend of 
 her if possible before she left. Inwardly 
 Eleanor rejoiced so much that Violet was 
 going that it was hard to her haughty spirit 
 to act the show of friendship, and yet, mingled 
 with her rejoicing, there burned in her sel- 
 fish heart a bitter jealousy at the thought of 
 Violet's good fortune in going to Ashleigh 
 Court, surrounded, as she would be, by every 
 luxury, possessing too, as she did, an ample 
 fortune of her own, while she, the beautiful, 
 admired Eleanor Gordon, was comparatively 
 poor. 
 
 The night before her departure Violet lay 
 long awake, thinking of the change that was 
 so soon to come in her life. She had grown
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 37 
 
 familiar with the thought of it now, though 
 at first it had seemed something so new and 
 distant that it could never come to pass. The 
 remembrance of all her father had told her 
 of Ashleigh Court came to her mind again. 
 It was to be her home now with dear Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, and she was to leave this stately 
 London house that she had never learnt 
 to love like the dear country home of her 
 father's lifetime, to which her heart had 
 ever clung fondly. 
 
 When Mrs. Ashleigh returned from Brighton 
 and the moment of leaving came, Yiolet shed 
 tears, for though she could not feel grief 
 afc her departure, and though she felt very 
 happy, still the parting moment could not be 
 entirely without pain to one of her deep, 
 loving nature. After all, she was leaving the 
 house which had been her only home (though 
 not a pleasant one) for years, and she was too 
 young and generous to suspect the real cause 
 of the kindness latterly shown her by Mrs. 
 Mortimer and Eleanor, and thought that per- 
 haps now that she was really leaving them 
 they wished to atone for past neglect and 
 unkindness. Inwardly Eleanor pronounced 
 Violet a fool for wasting a tear upon the
 
 38 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 occasion. On bidding adieu to Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh, Mrs. Mortimer expressed a hope that she 
 would visit them again at some future time, 
 to which Mrs Ashleigh rephed with polite- 
 ness, but did not return the invitation, as the 
 former had doubtless hoped she would. Violet 
 felt in a bewildered dream as they drove away 
 from Westford House, and within half an hour 
 afterwards she and Mrs. Ashleigh were speed- 
 ing on their journey northwards. 
 
 #
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 39 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 AsHLEiGH Court was situated in Cumberland, 
 little more than a mile from the sea. The 
 grounds of the estate were sheltered on one 
 side by the neighbouring hills, and on the 
 other the road led down to the shore. The 
 nearest town was three or four miles distant, 
 and the only other habitations just in this 
 part consisted of two or three houses and a 
 few fishing-huts. Ashleigh Court was origi- 
 nally a farmhouse which had belonged for 
 centuries to the Ashleighs, who possessed 
 with it a small private property, but the 
 present spacious mansion had been erected 
 three or four generations back by the then 
 head of the family on the death of a distant 
 relative, who left him an extensive property 
 and a large fortune. Not choosing to remove 
 from the old homestead, Mr. Ashleigh had 
 laid out large sums on building Ashleigh 
 Court, as it at present stood, leaving part of
 
 40 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 the old house remaining. The grounds were 
 also extended and embellished, and were now 
 luxuriant with trees and flowers, in spite of 
 the proximity of the sea. The improvements 
 and additions had been continued by Mr. 
 Ashleigh's son and grandson, so that by the 
 time Norman -ishleigh became master of it 
 Ashleigh Court was a beautiful and enviable 
 place of residence, combining, as it did, both 
 the advantages of sea and country air. 
 
 It was the month of June now, when Violet 
 Mortimer saw her future home for the first 
 time. Mrs. Ashleigh' s carriage met them at 
 the station, and as it was a fine warm evening, 
 Violet enjoyed to the full the beauties of the 
 surrounding scenery, so new to her. As they 
 -drew near Ashleigh Court, after their three 
 miles' drive, and the fresh breeze from the sea 
 blew around them, Violet uttered an exclama- 
 tion of pleasure. Mrs. Ashleigh smiled. 
 
 ^^Now we are really at home at last," she 
 said, ^* and I am sure we are both very glad, 
 after our long journey. See, my love, you 
 have a view of the house now, through the 
 trees there. "^^^ 
 
 ^'Oh! how I shall love Ashleigh Court!" 
 exclaimed Violet, as they entered the grounds
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 41 
 
 and drove up the broad avenue leading to the 
 house, and she saw the place so often described 
 by her dear father, where he had played as 
 a boy and which he had loved in later life. 
 ^^ Dear grandmamma, I feel half afraid of 
 waking and finding myself back in London. 
 What beautiful roses those are growing in 
 front of the house ! " 
 
 *' Yes, they look real enough, don't they, 
 Violet ? Norman and I are very fond of roses, 
 and you will find more of them than of any 
 other flower in the gardens, so we shall be 
 very pleased if you share our love for them. 
 Ah ! there is Brownson looking out for us. 
 Mrs. Brownson, my love, is my housekeeper. 
 She has lived at Ashleigh Court a great many 
 years ; she was with my husband before our 
 marriage even, and I respect her very much 
 and put great confidence in her." 
 
 Here the carriage stopped before the pillared 
 entrance, and the housekeeper came down the 
 steps to receive her mistress. 
 
 *^ I hope you are quite well, ma'am ; I'm 
 sure we are all pleased to see you back 
 again." ^ 
 
 *' I am very well indeed, thank you, Brown- 
 son. You see, I've not returned alone ; this
 
 42 
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 is Miss Mortimer; " and Mrs. Aslileigh turned 
 towards Violet, who looked up smilingly at the 
 housekeeper's honest, intelligent face. 
 
 '^ You are very welcome, miss, and I hope 
 I see you well," said Brownson ; *^you will 
 be such nice company for my mistress. You 
 must excuse my telling you, miss, hovv^ well I 
 remember Mr. Mortimer ; you know I was a 
 servant here when he used to be here so much, 
 long before Mr. Norman was born." 
 
 With the privilege of an old, faithful servant, 
 Brownson often called her master " Mr Nor- 
 man " still. Having known him from his 
 birth, she had not yet grown fully accus- 
 tomed to calling him by his proper title, the 
 one she had been so long used to give his 
 father. When she spoke of Mr. Mortimer, 
 Violet, with the impulse that prompted her 
 to feel friends at once with anyone who had 
 known the father whose memory she cher- 
 ished so fondly, at once extended her hand to 
 Brownson, with a look in her soft eyes that 
 caused the words, *' God bless you, miss," to 
 escape almost unconsciously from the old 
 housekeeper. Mrs. Ashleigh took Violet at 
 once up to the little room which was to be 
 her own.
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 43 
 
 '* This is to bo your own private little sanc- 
 tum, Yiolet. You have a sea view from the 
 far window ; I knew you would like that, so I 
 ordered this room to be prepared for you. I 
 will leave you for a few minutes to make your- 
 self at home in it and take off your things, 
 and then you must come down and do justice 
 to the dinner Brownson has provided for us. 
 We are obliged to be fashionable to-night, 
 you see, or else we generally dine early, at two 
 o'clock, when we are alone." 
 
 *^ How kind you are to me, grandmamma ! " 
 said Yiolet earnestly, looking up at Mrs. 
 Ashleigh. 
 
 When she was alone, Yiolet admiringly in- 
 spected her elegant, comfortable little bedroom, 
 with the snowy white bed, and all looking so 
 different from and so much more homelike 
 than the bare, plain room Mrs. Mortimer had 
 considered sufficient for her in London. From 
 one window she had an extensive view of the 
 beautiful grounds surrounding the house, and 
 the sight of the glorious hills so near filled 
 her with delight ; then, on looking out of the 
 other, and beholding the sea in the distance, 
 she leant out and gazed entranced, enjoying 
 the scene and the sweet evening air, forgetting
 
 44 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 everything else for the next fev7 minutes. It 
 was a habit of Violet's, strengthened perhaps 
 by her hitherto lonely life, to become so ab- 
 sorbed by her own thoughts as to render 
 her for the time totally insensible to anything 
 going on around her. All at once she was 
 recalled to herself, and, scarcely knowing how 
 long she had stood there looking out, she 
 hastily threw off her things and ran down- 
 stairs, finding Mrs. Ashleigh waiting to show 
 her the way to the dining-room. 
 
 '^ Oh, I am so sorry! Have I kept you 
 waiting long ? I quite forgot myseK, looking 
 out of the window." 
 
 ** You are not quite out of the dream j^et, 
 isn't that it, my love ? " and Mrs. Ashleigh 
 laughed kindly. Well, the best way to 
 convince yourself that you are quite awake 
 is to come at once and eat something sub- 
 stantial," and she led the way to the dining- 
 room, where dinner awaited them. 
 
 It was such a lovely evening, and Violet 
 cast such longing glances towards the garden, 
 that when they had dined, Mrs. Ashleigh 
 proposed that they should take a walk 
 through the grounds. 
 
 *^ It will be less fatiguing than going over
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 45 
 
 the house," she said; *' that we must leave till 
 to-morrow." 
 
 They went out, and Violet was charmed 
 with the heauty and verdure all around. 
 Before the house there was a wide-spreading 
 lawn, ornamented with two or three large, 
 shady trees, and the gardens abounded in 
 luxuriant flower beds, and in some parts 
 there were perfect bowers of roses. Eetired 
 walks, with the trees meeting overhead, were 
 frequent, and the greenhouses were stocked 
 with rare and beautiful plants. Mrs. Ashleigh 
 paused in their ramble and showed Violet 
 the gate opening on the road that led down 
 to the sea-shore. 
 
 *^ You will take many a stroll down there, 
 I have no doubt, Violet," she said, and then 
 turning round and facing the hills, she added, 
 ^^ and the fine air of our hills will blow some 
 colour into your cheeks, my little city maiden." 
 
 As they returned from the orchard, which 
 was situated at the back of the house, Violet 
 looked up for her own room, which was at the 
 side, and saw what she had not discovered 
 before, that roses had been trained to grow 
 up against the wall and would soon peep in 
 at the window.
 
 46 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 *' Oh ! how nice ! " she exclaimed ; '^ and 
 I never noticed them when I was in the 
 room ; I was too busy looking at the sea." 
 
 They went in when it grew dusk and sat 
 together till bedtime, when Mrs. Ashleigh 
 affectionately bade Violet good-night, say- 
 ing,— 
 
 ^' You must sleep well, yon know, Violet, 
 for you will have plenty of walking about 
 to-morrow. You know you are to have entire 
 holiday for the next two or three months, 
 before we begin to think of governesses or 
 lessons. You are sure you don't repent, my 
 love, of coming to this lonely place, with 
 only an old lady like me to keep you company 
 as yet ? " 
 
 " You know I don't, grandmamma, you 
 know I don't want anyone but you," and the 
 happy, grateful tears glistened in Violet's 
 brown eyes as she added very earnestly, '* Ash- 
 leigh Court feels more like my old home with 
 papa than Westford House ever did." 
 
 And Violet was right; as yet she had no 
 other wish than to be here in her new beau- 
 tiful home, near the hills and the sea, alone 
 with Mrs. Ashleigh. Her young heart was 
 yet undisturbed by visions of other or greater
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 47 
 
 happiness, and before she went to sleep that 
 night Yiolet poured forth her simple but 
 earnest thanksgiving for the home and dear 
 friend she had found. 
 
 A month since she had seemed as far from 
 becoming acquainted with Mrs. Ashleigh as 
 ever, and now she was here, knowing and 
 loving her dearly, and established with her 
 at Ashleigh Court, of which she had heard so 
 much and which she had so often pictured to 
 her own fancy. 
 
 '' It is just such a place as Eleanor would 
 like to be mistress of,'* she thought, ^' but too 
 quiet, too lonely for her," for Eleanor did not 
 care for the sea or for the beautiful scenery, 
 and had always sneered contemptuously at 
 what she called '^Violet's foolish rhapsodies " 
 on such subjects. 
 
 Yiolet could not help feeling glad that 
 Norman Ashleigh was away for the present and 
 that she was entirely alone with Mrs. Ashleigh, 
 for she would the sooner feel thoroughly at 
 home, having been so little accustomed to 
 strangers, gentlemen especially. 
 
 It was a lovely morning when she awoke 
 from her sound sleep after her unusually long 
 journey of the day before. Everything looked
 
 48 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 gloriously fresh and bright when she gazed 
 out and opened her window to admit the 
 sweet morning air. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh met her with a smile and 
 a kiss as she went downstairs, and after 
 breakfast took her on the promised tour of 
 inspection through the house. They visited 
 first the old part which stood at the back, 
 and Violet was deeply interested in the old- 
 fashioned rooms and quaint nooks of which 
 it consisted. The rooms w^ere scarcely ever 
 used now, as they were not required, but they 
 were kept furnished just as they had been 
 in old times. As they came again into the 
 new part, the lofty and elegant apartments 
 formed a striking contrast to those they had 
 just left. Violet was delighted at the sight 
 of the library and the stores of books it 
 contained. Mrs. Ashleigh saw her look of 
 pleasure. 
 
 '' I am glad you are fond of reading, Violet," 
 she said ; " it will enable you to pass pleasantly 
 and with profit many an hour you might 
 otherwise feel dull. Until winter comes you 
 had better take your books out of doors and 
 make the garden your reading room, my love. 
 You see I am very anxious for you to grow
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 49 
 
 strong and rosy by the time you begin lessons 
 again." 
 
 When they went upstairs Mrs. Ashleigh 
 took Violet to her own private sitting-room, 
 a small, beautifully furnished apartment, 
 situated at the side of the house and com- 
 manding a view of the grounds and the sea, 
 like Violet's bedroom. There was a piano in 
 one corner, which Mrs Ashleigh opened as she 
 said, — 
 
 " This is Norman's own special piano. It 
 has the sweetest tone of all our pianos. My 
 son is a very good musician, and for my sake 
 he keeps his pet instrument here and often 
 gives me a musical treat. I shall have you 
 now to join in my pleasure, love, when he 
 comes home again." 
 
 Violet was passionately fond of music, and 
 it was with lively pleasure she heard that 
 Norman Ashleigh could play. How many 
 pleasures she loved were being given to her 
 all at once ! ''I shall so enjoy hearing him, 
 grandmamma," she said aloud. 
 
 The wide, spacious landing outside Mrs. 
 Ashleigh's room, leading to the principal 
 staircase, was lighted by a handsome sky- 
 light, and the wall on one side was hung with 
 
 VOL I. 4
 
 50 VIOLET MORTBIEE. 
 
 two or three paintings. The largest and most 
 prominently placed attracted Violet's atten- 
 tion. It was a life-size portrait of a yonng 
 cavalier dressed in the costume of two hundred 
 years hack. The face was one of extreme 
 heauty, very young, but wearing a solemn 
 expression of stern resolution, and Violet's 
 eyes were riveted on it in admiration. 
 
 ** Oh, what a handsome face ! who is it, 
 grandmamma ? I like it so much, though it 
 looks so sorrowful and almost stern ! " 
 
 '' You like that face, Violet ? Well, I am 
 very glad, for you will like Norman, because 
 he is considered to bear a strong resemblance 
 to this portrait, and I myself see the likeness, 
 sometimes stronger than others, for you must 
 not think he always looks so solemn as this. 
 It is the portrait of Eupert Ashleigh, one of 
 Norman's ancestors, w^ho fell at Naseby, " 
 fighting for King Charles. The Ashleighs 
 were not very rich then, you know, Violet, 
 but they were an old, respectable family, and 
 they were staunch Eoyalists. The best and 
 only gift they could offer to the service of the 
 king they gave willingly, and that was their 
 youngest son. They had but two, and the 
 eldest was in weakly, delicate health, and
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 51 
 
 had a wife and children, but Eupert was a 
 brave youth, burning with ardour to fight and, 
 if need be, to lay down his young life for his 
 sovereign. It is said that his mother felt that 
 her brave son would never return to her, and 
 this picture of him was completed shortly 
 before his departure from home. No wonder 
 he looks sorrowful at the thought of the 
 coming separation ; and then, too, all loyal 
 hearts must have been filled with anxiety for 
 the king's cause and desire to see it triumph. 
 From the hour he left them to join the royal 
 army his parents never saw their young 
 Eupert again. He was killed, as I have told 
 you, at the battle of Naseby, with so many 
 others of Charles's adherents." 
 
 Violet listened with glowing cheeks as 
 Mrs. Ashleigh told her the short history of 
 Eupert Ashleigh, and her eyes remained fixed 
 in enthusiastic admiration on the portrait of 
 the youthful warrior. 
 
 *^ Grandmamma, what a treasure this picture 
 must have been to them all after his deatn ! 
 He deserved to have the same name as Prince 
 Eupert, did he not ? " 
 
 ^' Yes, my love, and I daresay he felt justly 
 proud that he was called by the name of that
 
 52 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 
 
 gallant Prince. The Ashleighs have always 
 had a great affection for this picture, and it 
 has hung here ever since this new part of 
 Ashleigh Court was huilt, because the light 
 falls well upon it just here. Is it not strange 
 that my son should resemble so strongly a 
 member of his family who lived so long ago ? 
 But I believe such likenesses do occur, and I 
 do not think it is fancy. When Norman was 
 a boy he used to tell us that if war were to 
 break out, he should feel bound to complete 
 his resemblance to Kupert Ashleigh by enlist- 
 ing and getting killed as speedily as possible. 
 He used to laugh at us then for seeing the 
 likeness at all. My dear son ! may his life 
 be longer and happier than poor Rupert 
 A^hleigh's ! " 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh spoke the concluding words 
 very tenderly and solemnly, and the tears 
 glistened in her eyes as she thought of her 
 absent son, loved with such a deep affection. 
 Yiolet looked up, and placing her little hand 
 softly in Mrs. Ashleigh's, went do^soistairs 
 with her again. Norman Ashleigh was like 
 that picture 1 The face was one such as 
 Violet loved to fancy her favourite heroes 
 must have possessed.
 
 YIOLET MOKTIMER. 53 
 
 " He must be very liandsome, your son," 
 she said aloud, and looking up again quite 
 simply. 
 
 '^Well, he is, Violet, though I say it who 
 should not. Altogether, allowing for the 
 difference of dress, and that Norman has not, 
 of course, Eupert's long love-locks, there is 
 a striking resemblance between them. I 
 was afraid, my love, you would think my son 
 rather haughty and stern-looking at first, as 
 many do ; but it is only at times he looks so, 
 and you must not mind it. Poor Norman ! 
 he had a trouble of his own some years ago, 
 and for a long time after he did look very sad 
 and stern, but it has passed now, thank God, 
 and he is himself again. He is a good son to 
 me, Yiolet." 
 
 ^' How could he help being good to you, 
 grandmamma? " and Violet looked up earnestly 
 and lovingly into Mrs. Ashleigh's face. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh caressingly smoothed Violet's 
 dark, wavy hair. 
 
 " And you, too, my dear girl, love me and 
 are very good to me, and you will be a 
 daughter to me, the same as if you were 
 really my own. But," she added, after a 
 pause, '''■ how serious we are getting, Violet ;
 
 5i VIOLET MORTIMER, 
 
 suppose we find our way down to the sea 
 before dinner ? There, run away and put on 
 your hat, and we will go." 
 
 The road direct to the shore was for the 
 first half mile or more pretty good, running 
 between fields and hedges, but as it neared 
 the sea, it became rough and sandy, for it was 
 a somewhat wild, lonely part of the coast. 
 The women and children standing about the 
 doors of the fishermen's cottages curtsied to 
 Mrs. Ashleigh and Violet as they passed. 
 
 ^^ Here we are at last!" exclaimed Violet. 
 ^^ Oh ! I do so love that sound of the waves,'' 
 and she darted forwards. '^ But the tide is 
 going out very fast, grandmamma, and you 
 cannot go out there on the wet sand." 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh laughed. 
 
 ^'Well, no, I don't think I can. You see 
 I am getting old, Violet, and I cannot step so 
 nimbly across the stones as I used to do, and 
 as you can do now, so I will stay here and 
 wait for you." 
 
 She sat down on a mound of dry, pebbly 
 sand, and Violet began to make her way to 
 the water, laughing merrily as she turned 
 now and then to look back at Mrs. Ashleigh. 
 In a short time she stood close to the splash-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 55 
 
 ing waves, and as the spray dashed in her 
 face, she inhaled the strong breeze with a 
 wild sense of deHght and freedom. Mrs. 
 Ashleigh sat watching intently the small, 
 graceful figure in the distance, the light 
 summer dress wafted about by the breeze, 
 and very earnest were the thoughts that 
 passed through her mind as she gazed. 
 
 How thankful she felt that she had been 
 the means of rescuing Violet from her lonely, 
 unloved existence and bringing her where she 
 hoped and trusted to make her very happy. 
 The young girl had become very dear to her 
 in so short a time, even for her own sake, and 
 Mrs. Ashleigh now breathed a fervent prayer 
 that she herself might be spared to watch 
 over her at least until she found a happier 
 home and more loving protector than those 
 she had just quitted. In a few minutes 
 Violet returned, glowing with the exercise, 
 and Mrs. Ashleigh exclaimed as she looked 
 at her, — 
 
 «' Why, Violet, the air seems to have done 
 you good already ! Sit down here and rest a 
 little before we return." 
 
 *' Grandmamma," said Violet, laughing, 
 ^' you don't think me a great baby, do you?
 
 56 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 I always enjoy a ramble like that, going out 
 with the tide, I call it. They say that one gets 
 weary even of a good thing, if one can have 
 it always ; but I could never tire of the sea, 
 never; it is always fresh and beautiful," and 
 Violet rested her chin on her hands and gazed 
 out very earnestly on to the wide expanse 
 before her. ^^ Grandmamma," she said sud- 
 denly, *' don't you think I ought to write to 
 them to-day ? They would like to know we 
 arrived safely, and I must tell them what a 
 beautiful place Ashleigh Court is, and how 
 happy I am." 
 
 ''I was going to say so to you, my love. 
 You know I wish you to write very regularly 
 to Mrs. Mortimer, for though, unhappily, she 
 has not done all her duty by you, nor cared to 
 gain your love, still she has a claim on you, 
 and if I should be taken from you, my dear 
 child, your home would be again with her, 
 and it may incline her more kindly to you 
 if she sees you do not resent her neglect of 
 you. But beyond this she cannot expect. I 
 cannot, even if she looks for it, invite her and 
 her daughter to Ashleigh Court. It is my 
 son's house, and he is not fond -of company, 
 and Eleanor Gordon is not exactly the kind
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. . 57 
 
 of girl I should wish as a companion for you, 
 Yiolet. It may be different as years go on, 
 but for some time, at least, it will be best 
 for all parties that we should not see much of 
 each other. You have not complained much, 
 but if I am not mistaken, Eleanor Gordon 
 has been, even more than her mother, the 
 means of rendering your life unhappy and 
 neglected; but I am anxious to keep in charity 
 mth them both, if possible. Violet, my love, 
 I have told you all this now, so that you 
 will know how to meet any advances Mrs. 
 Mortimer or Eleanor may make in their 
 letters. It is not a pleasant subject, but life 
 is not all made up of happiness, though ice 
 are going to try and be very happy together, 
 in spite of all." 
 
 *' I understand all you have said," said 
 Yiolet in a low voice. '' Thank you, grand- 
 mamma." 
 
 ** Sitting here with you, Yiolet, reminds me 
 so much of the days long ago when your dear 
 papa was so fond of coming to this very spot. 
 Charley Mortimer, as he was always called, 
 used to be a great favourite with my husband, 
 and many a long walk they have taken 
 together along the shore here. That was
 
 58 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 long before Norman was born, you know, and 
 my dear husband used to say that if he had 
 had a boy he should have liked such a one 
 as bright-eyed Charley Mortimer. I ought to 
 feel very old, Violet, should I not, looking at 
 you, the daughter of that boy. But it seems 
 such a short time ago, when I recall those 
 days, that I can hardly imagine so much has 
 happened since." 
 
 ^' Grandmamma, you were papa's friend 
 then, and now you are mine. What would 
 either of us have done without you to love 
 us?"
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 59 
 
 CHAPTEK lY. 
 
 Violet's life was very, very full of happiness 
 now. Like a tender flower brought from a 
 cold, sunless garden to its proper warm, 
 congenial soil, her whole nature seemed to 
 bloom out and rejoice under the kindly influ- 
 ence of her new home. She was never sad or 
 lonely now that she could roam at will by 
 the sea-shore, and take long, delicious rambles 
 over the breezy hills with Norman Ashleigh's 
 large dog for her protector, or sometimes, 
 when she was not going too far, accompanied 
 by Mrs. Ashleigh. London, with its teem- 
 ing life and bustle, had never been rendered 
 pleasant and homelike to Violet. No one 
 had won her to love it and to forget the 
 happy country home of her early childhood, 
 and hence, on coming to Ashleigh Court, 
 she felt restored, as it were, to her natural 
 element, and under its cheering influence her 
 young enthusiastic spirit experienced a sweet
 
 60 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 sense of freedom and enjoyment. It was very 
 beautiful to see the affection, strong and deep, 
 that existed between the young girl and her 
 kind protectress. Violet's true, loving heart 
 and her generous, yet independent spirit, had 
 endeared her strangely to Mrs. Ashleigh, who 
 w^ould often encourage her to talk to her of 
 those poetic fancies and favourite studies which 
 had formed her world, as it were, in London, 
 and which she had long ago learnt never to 
 mention before Mrs. Mortimer and Eleanor. 
 Yiolet wrote regularly to her old home, and 
 as her letters were always kindly, it was much 
 too soon yet for her stepmother and Eleanor 
 to let any disappointment appear that no in- 
 tention of the kind they had hoped for was 
 ever alluded to by Yiolet. Eleanor professed 
 to her mother to believe that it was owing 
 to Violet's influence that Mrs. Ashleigh held 
 aloof from them, though in her heart she 
 well knew Violet's generous character, and 
 disliked her all the more for possessing it. 
 
 W , the nearest town to Morton, the 
 
 name of the part of the coast near to which Ash- 
 leigh Court stood, was, as mentioned before, 
 almost four miles distant, and Mrs. Ashleigh 
 and Violet did not drive there often except on
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 61 
 
 Sundays to chnrch. Mrs. Ashleigh had one 
 or two acquaintances residing in the houses 
 adjacent to her own ; but the only one with 
 whom she was on terms of intimate friend- 
 ship was a young widow lady whose husband 
 had died about a year previous to Violet's 
 coming to Ashleigh Court, leaving her with 
 two little children. Mrs. Arnott, as she was 
 named, took a great fancy to Violet from the 
 first, and made her promise to come and see 
 her very often. She was an engaging, ami- 
 able young creature, and her sweet, sad face 
 drew Violet's heart to her at once. She lived 
 at a small, pretty house about a quarter of a 
 mile from Ashleigh Court, and Mrs. Ashleigh 
 was glad to let Violet go there often and 
 enliven and amuse the young widow. Violet 
 had become a great favourite with all Mrs. 
 Ashleigh 's household, for she had never con- 
 tracted Eleanor's habit of treating servants 
 with contempt. With good Mrs. Brownson 
 especially she was a favourite, and the old 
 housekeeper was very fond of telling Violet 
 all she remembered of her father. 
 
 One day wben Mrs. Ashleigh was confined 
 to her room with a cold, Violet came with a 
 commission fi'om her to Mrs. Brownson, and
 
 62 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 the latter began to talk about days gone by 
 as the young girl lingered with her. ^* My 
 poor master ! " she said, '' he was very fond of 
 young Mr. Mortimer, as he was then, you 
 know, miss. We all knew it was a disappoint- 
 ment to him and my mistress that they had 
 no children of their own, though they were 
 too good ever to say much about it. I shall 
 never forget my master's delight when Mr. 
 Norman was born, nor Mrs. Ashleigh's either. 
 You know, miss, my master only lived to see 
 his son ten years old, and so proud of him as 
 he was, for he was as fine a lad as he is a 
 young man now. But my master, on his 
 deathbed, said he was happier to die than he 
 would have been if he left no son who might 
 live to take care of Mrs. Ashleigh and be a 
 comfort to her. It was very solemn, miss ; I 
 was in the room when Mr. Ashleigh took poor 
 Master Norman's hand, and put it into his 
 mother's, and bade him never forget his dying 
 words, that he should be a good son, and 
 never speak so much as an ungrateful word 
 to her, and then my master prayed that her 
 only child might be spared to her, as he him- 
 self must leave her. And, Miss Mortimer, 
 my young master never has forgotten his
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 63 
 
 promise that I heard him make to his dying 
 father (crying very hard, poor little fellow), for 
 if ever a son loved, his mother, Mr. Norman 
 loves his. When he is away, miss, even for 
 pleasure for a short time, like he is now, I can 
 see how anxious she is, and how she longs for 
 him to come back to her. She does not tell 
 it out loud, and you would not guess it, per- 
 haps ; but I have known her such a long time, 
 miss, and I can see it. When Mr. Norman 
 comes home, you will see that she will be 
 even more bright and cheerful than she is 
 now. It used to be so when he was a lad and 
 came home for his holidays, for my mistress 
 did not keep him at home, but sent him to a 
 public school, because she knew it was best 
 for him, miss. Sometimes I fancy she would 
 like him to marry, for his own sake, not hers ; 
 but I don't know how it is, I think he never 
 will. I've thought so more than ever the last 
 three or four years. He does not seem to care 
 about anything that way ; he is very proud ; 
 it is his great fault, excuse me for saying so, 
 miss, and perhaps he would never find anyone 
 who could make him so happy as his mother 
 does. Not but that there's many would be 
 only too glad to try," added Mrs. Brownsou,
 
 64 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 with a touch of pride, as though she had a 
 share in the ownership of her young master. 
 ^•'He is so nohle and really kind, that every- 
 one IS sure to like him, miss." 
 
 ''Mrs. Brownson," asked Violet, ''is that 
 serious look often on his face, I mean the 
 look that makes him so like the portrait of 
 Eupert Ashleigh? " 
 
 "Well, miss, it is when he is offended or 
 when anything angers him. He is least like 
 that picture, of course, when he smiles or 
 laughs ; indeed he hardly looks like it at all 
 then." 
 
 Violet remembered what Mrs. Ashleigh had 
 said about her son having had some trouble a 
 few years before ; but her innate delicacy pre- 
 vented her from wishing or seeking to know 
 anything more of what had been named in 
 confidence. 
 
 " I hope he will soon come home then, Mrs. 
 Brownson," she said, " for Mrs. Ashleigh's 
 sake." 
 
 As Violet left her, the old housekeeper 
 looked after her, saying to herself, — 
 
 " I wonder what my young master will 
 think of her ! He cares very little now about 
 young ladies' company, to be sure ; but he
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 65 
 
 can't object to a sweet young thing like she is, 
 and she is hardly to be called a young lady 
 yet. He is sure to be kind and attentive to 
 her for my mistress's sake ; and with that way 
 she has of looking at one with those beautiful 
 eyes of hers, I don't see he can help soon 
 liking her for her own." 
 
 As she went upstairs, Violet thought of 
 what Brownson had said to her, and the idea 
 came into her head that perhaps Norman 
 Ashleigh on his return might find her pre- 
 sence under his roof distasteful to him. She 
 was a stranger to him, and he might not 
 like the intrusion upon the privacy he had so 
 long enjoyed with his mother. He would be 
 too gentlemanly to show it, of course, and he 
 would endure her society for Mrs. Ashleigh 's 
 sake, knowing, as he would, how she loved 
 her. With these unpleasant imaginations 
 Violet contrived to render her proud young 
 heart very disturbed and uneasy, and her face 
 was very grave when she entered Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh's room. The latter noticed it, saying, — 
 
 " Why, Violet, my love, you look as if you 
 were scarcely out of a brown study. What a 
 serious face you have on ! " 
 
 *' Have I, grandmamma ? " and Violet 
 
 VOL. I, 5
 
 66 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 laughed so merrily that Mrs Ashleigh thought 
 she had only fancied it all. Violet could not 
 tell her dear protectress what was troubling 
 her ; it might seem ungrateful and perhaps 
 fooHsh, for she might be quite mistaken, after 
 all. Opportunely, as though it were sent to 
 reassure her, Mrs. Ashleigh said, — 
 
 *^ I have not told you, Violet, that I have 
 had a letter from Norman this morning. He 
 is really coming home soon now, though he 
 cannot exactly say when yet. He sends a 
 special message to you, my love, to say that 
 he will be very happy indeed to make your 
 acquaintance, and hopes to find that you have 
 made yourself quite at home before his return." 
 ^' Will you tell him I thank him, and that 
 it is very kind of him to say so, gi'and- 
 mamma," replied Violet, smiling. 
 
 " I will, Violet, when I write to-day. And 
 now run away at once and go out. It is so 
 warm that I may be tempted to go out myself 
 this afternoon in spite of my cold." 
 
 Violet would have stayed with her, but Mrs. 
 Ashleigh would not consent to her remaining in 
 her warm room all the morning, so she left her, 
 passing the picture of Kupert Ashleigh on her 
 way downstairs. Her first impression of the
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 67 
 
 portrait had never been effaced, and she rarely 
 passed it without looldug at it. Apart from 
 her admiration of the face, the thought of the 
 early but glorious fate of the loyal young 
 cavalier attracted all the romantic enthusiasm 
 of her nature, and this picture was her favourite 
 of all that Ashleigh Court contained. In a 
 few days now she would see Norman Ashleigh, 
 who was thought so like it, and for Mrs. 
 Ashleigh' s sake she felt glad he was so soon 
 returning. On her own account she could 
 not repress a sigh as she thought how much 
 of her loved guardian's society she must re- 
 linquish now, for Violet resolved to obtrude 
 herself as little as possible upon Norman 
 Ashleigh and his mother when they were to- 
 gether. His kind message of the morning 
 had somewhat reassured her, and taking a book 
 from the library, she strolled into the grounds, 
 where the warm, sweet breeze nearly drove 
 all her uneasiness away. She walked down 
 to see Mrs. Arnott, whom she found in her 
 pretty garden with her childi'en. The young 
 widow always rejoiced to see Violet coming, 
 and loved to hear her talk to her and see her 
 play with the little ones. 
 
 ** Mr. Ashleigh is coming home very soon.
 
 68 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 now, Mrs. Arnott," said Violet, in the course 
 of their conversation, ''in a few days, I 
 think." 
 
 ** Ah, how delighted Mrs. Ashleigh will be ! 
 I am always pleased to see him, Violet, for 
 he was a great friend of Harry's. Norman 
 Ashleigh is nearly as old now as my dear 
 husband was when he died. He is twenty- 
 live, and Harry was only twenty- six when I 
 lost him," and the low, sweet voice faltered 
 for a moment. '' Violet, love, when you grow 
 up and are married, and have a husband you 
 love as I did mine, may he be spared to you 
 longer than mine was to me ! "
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 69 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 One day, a week later, when Violet had 
 been at Ashleigh Court nearly three months, 
 the post arrived, as usual, and a short time 
 afterwards Mrs. Ashleigh called Yiolet into 
 her room. She held a letter in her hand as 
 Violet entered, and there was a bright, pleased 
 smile on her venerable countenance. 
 
 '^ What do you think, my love ? Norman is 
 coming home to-morrow. He is staying a day 
 or two in Staffordshire on his way, on business. 
 Most of our property is situated there, you 
 
 know, Violet. He cannot arrive in W 
 
 until half -past nine, so it will be after ten 
 o'clock when he arrives home." 
 
 *' How glad he'll be to see you again, grand- 
 mamma ! It is well he did not come last 
 week, when you had such a cold. It made 
 you look so different from what you really are, 
 that he would have thought your beauty had 
 all gone while he was away," and Violet
 
 70 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 laughingly kissed Mrs. Ashleigli, wlio smiled 
 at the fond little flatterer. 
 
 << If I grow vain in my old age, Violet, you 
 must answer for it, remember. Do you know, 
 love, I told Norman at first that he would find 
 you a colourless little brunette, and now the 
 sea and the air of our hills have sent the 
 roses into your cheeks, my '^ httle nut-brown 
 maid." 
 
 And so there were scarcely two more days 
 alone with dear grandmamma for Violet. The 
 young master of Ashleigh Court was coming 
 home, and Violet began to wonder whether 
 she would like him or not. And the uneasy 
 thoughts that had troubled her before came 
 to her again, though she told herself they were 
 foolish. 
 
 She was writing to Eleanor that day, but 
 she merely alluded to Norman's return, with 
 the few words, '^ Mr. Ashleigh is coming 
 home to-morrow. It will be late in the 
 evening when he arrives." 
 
 She took Norman's dog Carlo out with her 
 that day. ^^ Old fellow," she said, patting him, 
 '* your master is coming home to-morrow, and 
 you know nothing about it. You won't care 
 much for me then when you have him, Carlo."
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 71 
 
 The morrow came, and Violet saw in Mrs. 
 Ashleigh's face the unmistakahle look of glad- 
 ness at the thought of seeing her son so soon. 
 The day proved wet, so that they could not, 
 as they intended, go to Mrs. Arnott's to tell 
 her of Norman's expected return, and they 
 were forced to sit together all the day, her 
 last day alone with '' dear grandmamma," as 
 Violet kept telling herself with a sigh. 
 Violet had resolved to go to bed before 
 Norman arrived, and thus let him spend the 
 first hours after his arrival alone with his 
 mother, as no doubt he would prefer to do. 
 They would have so much to say, and she 
 would not obtrude on them. 
 
 '^What a cheerless night for Norman!" 
 said Mrs. Ashleigh, as she and Violet sat, after 
 tea, looking out of the window, while the rain 
 continued to fall. '^ The next wet evening, my 
 love, we shall have Norman to entertain us 
 and give us some ' music. He will be so 
 pleased that you can sing, Violet." 
 
 When it drew near half-past nine, Violet 
 said she felt rather tired, and thought she 
 would Hke to go to bed, if ''grandmamma" 
 would excuse her waiting up. 
 
 " And so you want to run away from
 
 72 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 Norman, my love ? " asked Mrs. Ashleigli, 
 smiling ; *^ shall I tell him he frightened 
 you off so early? " 
 
 ^^ I shall see him in the morning, grand- 
 mamma, won't that do?" and Violet could 
 not be persuaded to v^ait up. 
 
 ** Then if you really would rather go, love," 
 said Mrs. Ashleigh, seeing she was in earnest, 
 " I will not ask you to sit up. These dull 
 days in the house do very often tire one." 
 
 So Yiolet retired before ten, and it was not 
 until after she had gone that the real cause of 
 her going so early struck Mrs. Ashleigh, that 
 she imagined she would be de troio on 
 Norman's arrival. 
 
 '^ Why did I not think of it before ? Dear 
 little Violet ! she has been so long accustomed 
 to be slighted that she is over sensitive in 
 fearing to obtrude." 
 
 Violet had been in bed some minutes when 
 she heard the carriage drive up the avenue, and 
 she knew that Norman Ashleigh was at home. 
 
 She woke early the next morning and 
 found the sun shining brightly and the gar- 
 dens looking deliciously fresh after the rain. 
 It was her custom on fine mornings to get 
 up and take a walk before breakfast, so this
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 73 
 
 morning she rose and dressed and was in the 
 garden soon after eight o'clock. Breakfast 
 was not until nine, so she had time for a walk 
 down to the sea. Carlo generally accompanied 
 her when she went that distance so early, but 
 she did not call him this morning ; Mr. Ash- 
 leigh might perhaps want him, she thought. 
 So she set out alone, and walked slowly to the 
 gate leading into the road to the shore, lin- 
 gering on her way to smell the flowers and 
 admire the fresh verdure of the grass after 
 the showers of the previous day. She stood 
 looking out into the road a minute or two 
 before opening the gate. *^ What a pity 
 summer will be over so soon ! " she thought, 
 with a half sigh. 
 
 *' Good morning, Miss Mortimer." 
 Violet started and turned round, and, look- 
 ing up into the speaker's face, knew it was 
 Norman Ashleigh who stood beside her. She 
 had been thinking rather nervously ever since 
 she got up that she must meet him at breakfast, 
 and here he was, come upon her all at once,^ 
 by surprise, and she stood, not knowing what 
 to say, looking at him with a shy, half-fright- 
 ened gaze. He was tall and slender and very 
 graceful in figure, and her first glance at his
 
 74 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 face showed her that everyone was right, 
 that he ivas like the portrait of Eupert Ash- 
 leigh. He had the same pale, proud face, 
 piercing grey eyes, dark and full of expression, 
 and the same aquiline nose. The lower part 
 of the face was like too, firm and resolute. 
 His hair was very black and rather long, and 
 he wore neither heard nor whiskers, only a 
 short moustache on the somewhat haughty 
 upper lip. He evidently saw Violet's embar- 
 rassment, for he took her hand kindly, smiling 
 as he did so, and as he smiled, the resem- 
 blance to the picture faded. 
 
 ^^ I am obliged to introduce myself to you, 
 you see. Miss Mortimer, as you ran away from 
 me last night," he said. " You are out early 
 this morning." 
 
 '^ I am going down to the shore," said 
 Violet, still very shyly. 
 
 *' That is a long walk before breakfast — for 
 a young lady." 
 
 There was a stress on the last words which 
 Violet did not like, so, overcoming her shy- 
 ness, she replied rather indignantly, — 
 
 *' I don't think so ; I am accustomed 
 to it ; I often go on fine mornings like 
 this."
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 75 
 
 He looked amused at lier indignation, and 
 said smilingly, — 
 
 ^' I must confess to being like you in that 
 respect, Miss Mortimer. This lovely morning 
 tempted me out, and seeing you before me, 
 I overtook you, thinking you must be a kin- 
 dred spirit. Will you allow me to accompany 
 you in your walk this morning ? You see I 
 am determined on making yom' acquaintance, 
 though you don't seem to care very much 
 about mine." 
 
 Violet blushed. Was she appearing un- 
 gracious to him ? She did not wish to do so, 
 hving in his house, and loving his mother so 
 dearly, especially as she felt he was perhaps 
 exerting himself against his inclination to 
 be agreeable to her. So she raised her soft 
 brown eyes to his face and said gently, — 
 
 '' If you like to come I shall be very glad." 
 
 He opened the gate for her, and they were 
 soon walking down the road together. 
 
 ^'Did you not find it lonely at first, living 
 here at Ashleigh Court, after having lived in 
 town all your life before ? " 
 
 '' Not all my life," answered Violet quickly; 
 ^' until papa died we lived in the country; I 
 was more th^n ten years old when we left it."
 
 76 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 ^' All, of course; I had forgotten," and 
 Norman spoke very kindly now. 
 
 *^ It was a beautiful place where we lived," 
 Violet went on, emboldened by his kind tone ; 
 ^*not like this, of course, because it was not 
 near the sea or the mountains, but still it ivas 
 beautiful." 
 
 '' Eose Yale, it was called, was it not ? " 
 asked Norman, smiling. 
 
 '* Ah, you know, then ! " and Violet looked 
 up with a pleased, earnest glance into her 
 companion's face. '^ We had so many rose- 
 trees there ; papa and I were very fond of roses, 
 and I was so glad when I first came and saw 
 that you liked them here too at Ashleigh 
 Court." 
 
 *' And then you feel quite accustomed to 
 the country, and are not afraid to walk alone 
 in our lonely roads ? " 
 
 " Oh, no," repHed Violet smiling ; '' besides, 
 Mrs. Ashleigh is often with me. We come 
 and sit on the shore together very often." 
 
 ^^ Do you ride. Miss Mortimer?" asked 
 Norman, after a pause. 
 
 *^ I used to do, long ago, before papa died. 
 I had a pony then, but I had to give up riding 
 when we went to live in London. I could not
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 77 
 
 have the pony so well in town, you know," 
 and Violet turned away slightly so that Nor- 
 man might not see her face. It was always 
 painfal to the sensitive girl to recall those days 
 of parting from the home and objects she had 
 loved with all her childhood's affection. 
 
 The young man's deep grey eyes were bent 
 with an expression of interest on the girlish 
 figure by his side. He knew the story of her 
 lonely life since her father's death, and a 
 glimpse of the proud generosity of her cha- 
 racter was shown to him as she thus attempted 
 to conceal her pain at the past unkindness she 
 had suffered, and tried to pass off to him as 
 a natural event that act of her stepmother's 
 which had caused her childish heart such 
 grief at the time. He affected not to notice 
 her embarrassment, and by the time they 
 reached the shore Violet's shyness was entirely 
 gone, and she talked freely in spite of herself 
 to this Norman Ashleigh, whom she had felt 
 so afraid of meeting. They wandered a short 
 way northwards under the shadow of the cliffs, 
 and Norman made Violet rest on a projecting 
 ledge of rock while he stood by her side lean- 
 ing against the cliff. 
 
 *^How beautiful it is to-day!" exclaimed
 
 78 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 Violet, gazing at the roaring white-crested 
 waves as they swept up within a few yards 
 of where they were sitting, retreating farther 
 each time, as the tide was going out. 
 
 ^^ You are fond of the sea ? " 
 
 *^ Oh, yes ! " and Violet's brown eyes spoke 
 more than her words. 
 
 ^' You are quite at home now at Ashleigh 
 Court, I hope ? My mother thinks so. 
 
 *^ Ah, yes, I have been so happy, all 
 alone with dear grandmamma, ever since I 
 came." 
 
 Violet half regretted her speech the moment 
 it was uttered. Had not her words sounded 
 rather egotistically, and did he know that 
 she called his mother " grandmamma," and 
 would he think her foolish in so styling her 
 in conversation with him ? 
 
 Norman looked at her rather keenly and 
 said half in jest, Violet thought somewhat 
 bitterly too, — • 
 
 '' Confess, Miss Mortimer, that you are sorry 
 I have come to disturb your happiness, and 
 that you do not thank me for returning home 
 so soon." 
 
 '^ Mr. Ashleigh, you cannot think I meant 
 that; I wish you would not say so," and
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 79 
 
 Violet spoke very earnestly, blushing with 
 aipinoyance that she had not expressed herself 
 differently, and for an instant she thought 
 him unkind to have embarrassed her thus. 
 
 But Norman smiled at the reproachful face 
 that looked up to his, and his tone v^as one of 
 great gentleness as he said, — 
 
 '^ Then forgive me, Miss Mortimer. If we 
 are to be good friends, it will not do to begin 
 to quarrel so soon. Home is very pleasant 
 again after even my short absence, and I am 
 schoolboy enough yet, you see, to be glad to 
 return to my mother, and be spoiled, as in the 
 old college days." 
 
 And Norman Ashleigh folded his arms and 
 was silent as he gazed fixedly out before him, 
 and Violet saw that he was thinking deeply and 
 seemed for the time unconscious of her pre- 
 sence. The likeness to Eupert Ashleigh was 
 very strong then, with that deep, fixed look 
 on his countenance, and Violet's gaze was 
 almost unconsciously riveted on its beauty. 
 She was strongly attracted, even thus early, 
 by Norman Ashleigh, she could scarcely have 
 told why, for twice already he had occasioned 
 her to think him sarcastic and somewhat 
 unkind. But then had he not had power to
 
 80 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 make her forget her indignation so soon, and 
 had she not heen powerless to resist him ? It 
 might be said that her youth and ignorance of 
 the world caused her to be so soon charmed 
 by a stranger, but it was something more than 
 even that that made Yiolet feel that Norman 
 Ashleigh was unlike anyone she had ever seen, 
 that his face was one of greater beauty than 
 she had ever beheld, such as she would have 
 loved to bestow on the favourite heroes of her 
 fancy, and that, with its power of expression, 
 it attracted her more than the still, stern 
 countenance of the youthful warrior's portrait 
 that he so much resembled. 
 
 ^^ Miss Mortimer," exclaimed Norman, sud- 
 denly awakening from his reverie, ^^ pardon 
 me ; the sound of those waves is like a lullaby. 
 We must return home if we are to have any 
 breakfast, which we undoubtedly deserve after 
 our walk and after having accomplished an 
 acquaintanceship so well without an intro- 
 duction." 
 
 And Yiolet thought that the way home had 
 never seemed so short before as it did now, 
 with Norman talking to her and occasionally 
 relating an anecdote of his late tour. As they 
 entered the grounds of Ashleigh Court Carlo
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 81 
 
 came bounding forwards and sprang upon his 
 master, delighted to see him again. 
 
 *^ Poor old fellow ! And so you are pleased 
 to see me, are you? But your demonstra- 
 tions of affection are rather rough, Mr. 
 Carlo," and Norman freed himself from the 
 dog, who seemed now incHned to honour 
 Violet with a similar embrac»e ; hut his master 
 interfered. ^' Down, sir ! How dare you be 
 so rude to a lady ? He seems very fond of 
 you, Miss Mortimer." 
 
 Yiolet laughed. 
 
 '^ We are used to each other, aren't we. 
 Carlo ? Do not send him away from me, Mr. 
 Ashleigh ; we are great friends." 
 
 '' I must thank you very much for taking 
 him out so often and giving him exercise 
 during my absence." 
 
 '' He was no trouble, you know, Mr. Ash- 
 leigh, and he always comes to take care of me 
 when I go rambling on the hills there. I feel 
 quite safe with him." 
 
 *^Well, sometimes in future you must let 
 both Carlo and his master accompany you. 
 My mother tells me that of course she has 
 not liked you to venture too far with only 
 old Carlo for your protector, faithful as he 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 82 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 is, and she herself cannot go ahout quite so 
 much as she used to do, though she is well 
 and. strong still, thank God," and Norman 
 spoke the concluding words very earnestly. 
 
 '^ Thank you, Mr. Ashleigh. I shall be so 
 glad to see more of those hills ; I am so fond 
 of them, and I often wish I could go further 
 among them." 
 
 Here they spied Mrs. Ashleigh standing on 
 the terrace outside the breakfast-room window. 
 
 '' Ah ! " said Norman, '* there is my mother, 
 surprised, no doubt, to see us together." 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh came smilingly forward to 
 meet them. 
 
 ^' You are too late, mother, you see. Miss 
 Mortimer and I became acquainted an hour 
 ago ; " and Norman bent to kiss his mother, 
 who said, laughing, — 
 
 *^ How sly you have been ! But I guessed 
 you must both be out when I came down and 
 found neither of you. So I am spared the 
 trouble of an introduction, and I can only 
 hope you will be henceforth good fiiends. 
 What a beautiful morning to greet your 
 return home, Norman!" 
 
 '^And Miss Mortimer and I have duly 
 shown our appreciation of it, mother mine."
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 83 
 
 Violet liked to look at Norman's face as he 
 spoke thus, fondly and playfully to his mother. 
 
 That day was full of interest and new plea- 
 sure to Violet. 
 
 When evening came, and they all sat to- 
 gether in Mrs. Ashleigh's sitting-room, Nor- 
 man entertained them with stories of his tour 
 and accounts of the persons he had met, and 
 Violet listened attentively to his descriptions 
 of those places of which she had heard and 
 read, but which seemed so very strange and 
 far off to her. 
 
 Had she not known it before, she would 
 have seen now Mrs. Ashleigh's great love for 
 her son, shown in every look that rested so 
 proudly on his fine face and noble form, and 
 in the gladness she could not conceal at his 
 return. She was standing by his chair during 
 a pause in the conversation, her hand play- 
 ing fondly with his dark locks. 
 
 " Do you know, Norman, I have been 
 giving Violet very grand accounts of your 
 musical powers, and am going to ask you now 
 to exhibit them," and she went to her son's 
 piano and opened it. 
 
 *' You will not find it rusty, Norman. 
 Violet has kept it in tune for you. Now, do
 
 84 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 your best," she said, merrily, "^ or Violet will 
 be disappointed." 
 
 ^' Pray don't be, Miss Mortimer," and Nor- 
 man looked smilingly at Yiolet as he rose and 
 went to the piano. Yiolet moved nearer and 
 stood with Mrs. Ashleigh by Norman as he 
 played with a master touch that caused her 
 to listen in rapt delight. As he played on, 
 passing from one air to another without 
 speakiug, Yiolet could hardly restrain an ex- 
 clamation of pleasure, and when he ceased 
 and half turned round from the instrument, 
 she said at once, '' Oh ! thank you, Mr. Ash- 
 leigh," so very earnestly, that Norman looked 
 at her fixedly for a moment, and seeing the 
 real pleasure and emotion in her soft brown 
 eyes, he said kindly, — 
 
 '^I am very glad, indeed, to have afforded 
 you pleasure. Do you know, mother, I never 
 meet with a piano I like so well as this. It 
 is because it is an old friend, I suppose," 
 he added, with a smile. 
 
 " Yery likely, Norman," and then tm'ning 
 to Yiolet, Mrs. Ashleigh took her hand, as she 
 said, '^ Now, my love, you will give us a song, 
 won't you ? " 
 
 " Of course she will, mother. I was just
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 85 
 
 going to ask her," and Norman rose from the 
 piano ; but Yiolet hesitated, for she felt some- 
 what nervous and afi'aid to sing so soon before 
 Norman, himself so good a musician. 
 
 '' I would rather not sing to-night, grand- 
 mamma." 
 
 ^' Why, Violet ! I shall think you really 
 are afraid of Norman, after all." 
 
 ** Am I so very terrible. Miss Mortimer ? " 
 
 But though he smiled as he spoke, and as 
 Violet looked up at him, she thought Norman 
 might be offended if she still refused, and it 
 struck her that it was foolish of her to ima- 
 gine that he could expect much from her. So 
 she went to the piano and sat down. 
 
 " What shall I sing, grandmamma ? " 
 
 '^ You have so many pretty songs, my love, 
 but I think that little Swiss air is one of 
 the best. It is very sweet." 
 
 So Violet sang, timidly at first, and gaining 
 confidence as she went on. Her voice was 
 not very powerful yet, but very sweet and 
 soft, and she had a great power of expression 
 which always made Mrs. Ashleigh love to 
 hear her, and caused Norman to listen full of 
 pleasure and with deep interest. 
 
 ** Thank you, " he said earnestly as she
 
 86 VIOLET MOETBIEK. 
 
 finished; ^^ yon must not think me tiresome 
 if I often ask you to sing in future, will you ? " 
 and as Violet looked up she met the gaze of 
 Norman's grey eyes bent kindly upon her. 
 
 ^' Oh,no, Mr. Ashleigh," she replied, blushing 
 with pleasure. 
 
 ^' Violet has had all the burden of enter- 
 taining me with her music ever since she 
 came," said Mrs. Ashleigh; adding to Violet, 
 '' Norman will share it with you now, love." 
 
 That night Violet retired a few minutes 
 before Mrs. Ashleigh and Norman, and when 
 she was gone, the former said to her 
 son, — 
 
 ^' Well, Norman, I do not think you will 
 quarrel with me for the addition to our family, 
 for giving Violet a home in your house ? " 
 
 The young man's gaze rested tenderly on 
 his mother's face as he replied, — 
 
 ^* My house, mother, is yours too, and 
 whoever you may bring here must always be 
 welcomed by me, but apart from this. Miss 
 Mortimer is very interesting, and able to 
 win a welcome for her own sake. But she 
 is so young yet ; how may she not change 
 when she has seen the world a little ? At 
 her age I have no doubt others were just
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 87 
 
 as perfectly guileless and unaffected," and 
 Norman spoke bitterly just then. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh placed her hand softly on 
 her son's arm. '^ Scarcely, Norman, for if 
 I mistake not, whatever may be her faults, 
 Violet must always be true-hearted and 
 generous. Norman, I hoped you had for- 
 gotten long ago," and his mother looked at 
 him with anxious solicitude. 
 
 ^^ And so I have, do not fear, mother," 
 replied Norman quickly and earnestly. '^ I am 
 glad, for your sake," he added smiling, '' that 
 Miss Mortimer is what she is, for if she had 
 been the most disagreeable girl imaginable, 
 and yet lonely and neglected, you would 
 have taken her under your wing all the same, 
 and have tried to make her happy, though 
 she might not have crept into your heart 
 as this little girl seems to have done." 
 
 ** God has blessed me with love and happi- 
 ness always, Norman. Could I do less than 
 extend them to one who had a claim on me, 
 and yet was so bereft of both ? " 
 
 As Violet went upstairs to bed she had 
 paused with her candle in her hand to look at 
 Kupert Ashleigh 's portrait again now that she 
 had seen Norman. Yes, they were very much
 
 88 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 alike, but the face of the picture was but 
 still and changeless, while the beauty of 
 Norman's was enhanced by the power of vary- 
 ing expression. Though not feeling quite at 
 home with him yet, Violet felt her shyness 
 towards him rapidly disappearing, and again 
 she wondered at the happiness that sur- 
 rounded her now, so unlike the old life in 
 London, when she had dreamed and read 
 and amused herself all alone, and no one had 
 cared whether she were happy or otherwise.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 89 
 
 CHAPTEK VI. 
 
 And the next day, when Mrs. Brownson said 
 to her, — 
 
 ^^Well, you like my young master, don't 
 you. Miss?" 
 
 Violet answered, — 
 
 **Yes, Mrs. Brownson, I am sure I shall 
 like him." 
 
 Very often now in her rambles Violet was 
 accompanied by Norman, and under his 
 protection she explored and wandered farther 
 among the hills and valleys surrounding her 
 new home than she had hitherto done. Gra- 
 dually her shyness and half dread of Norman 
 wore away completely, for he was always 
 constant in his kindness to her, and there 
 was something about him new to Violet, 
 something which told her, young as she was 
 and little as she knew of the world, that he 
 was wholly unlike and superior to the fashion- 
 able dandies whom she had seen occasionally 
 at her stepmother's entertainments, to which
 
 90 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 Eleanor's beauty as much as Mrs. Mortimer's 
 invitation attracted them. 
 
 It may perhaps have been at first his 
 devotion to his mother and consequently a 
 wish to show kindness to her 'protege^ that 
 made proud Norman Ashleigh exert himself 
 to amuse and show kindness to the young girl 
 whose home was now under his roof. It may 
 have been so, and he told himself it was so ; 
 but certain it is that before two or three weeks 
 were passed, Norman was aware that Violet's 
 society was agreeable to him for her own 
 sake, for she interested him strongly in spite 
 of himself. He took pleasure in making her 
 talk and in hearing how stoutly she could 
 defend her opinion of anything if he asked her 
 to give it. He would lead her on to speak of 
 herself, and sometimes before she was aware 
 of it she was telling him of her past life, of 
 her love for her father, and often of those 
 favourite dreams and thoughts which had 
 been her world in the lonely days before she 
 knew Mrs. Ashleigh. And Norman liked to 
 gaze on her earnest face and her expressive 
 eyes, as her enthusiastic nature was stirred 
 by any new beauty he pointed out or that 
 she discovered in the scenery during their
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 91 
 
 rambles. She was so unaffected, and so child- 
 like yet in many ways, that the young man, 
 who had seen much of the world and its 
 inhabitants, felt a kind of rest and a wholly 
 new pleasure in the friendship of the little 
 girl who had crossed his path. And she was 
 never forward or obtrusive, for her old dread 
 of intruding upon Norman and his mother was 
 in her still, and on days when he did not seek 
 her or notice her as usual, Yiolet, fully as 
 proud as himself, kept out of his way, and 
 when not with '^ dear grandmamma," to whom 
 she became dearer every day, she went down 
 to Mrs. Arnott's pretty cottage, or took her 
 accustomed solitary rambles, for it was nothing 
 new to Yiolet to be left to her own resources. 
 But as the days went on, this was seldom the 
 case, for the more Yiolet avoided him, the 
 more Norman seemed to take pleasure in 
 her society. In a few weeks he began to call 
 her ''Yiolet." It seemed to come naturally; 
 she was so young and so much now one of 
 the family. It gave Mrs. Ashleigh much hap- 
 piness to see that her son, — haughty, some- 
 what exclusive Norman, — felt no regret at the 
 addition to their household, but was so soon 
 quite at home with the young orphan she had
 
 92 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 taken to her heart. And good Mrs. Brownson 
 would often say to herself, — 
 
 ** How Mr. Norman does take to that young 
 thing ! But it is no wonder ; she is a sweet 
 young creature. To see him with her makes 
 one think how it would have been if he had 
 had a sister. It was a happy day that brought 
 her here, for what my mistress would do v^ith- 
 out her now I cannot tell, and I'm sure she 
 has done Mr. Norman good. I don't think he 
 has looked half so serious since he has been 
 at home this time as he used to do." 
 
 In the evenings now when the days were 
 shortening, they would all three remain in- 
 doors, generally sitting in Mrs. Ashleigh's 
 room, and Norman would often read aloud to 
 his mother and Violet. He had a rich, melo- 
 dious voice, which rendered his reading very 
 agreeable to listen to, and to Violet's fancy 
 the beauty of his pale, intellectual face always 
 seemed enhanced when he became absorbed 
 in what he read. And Violet never lost 
 any of her first delight in hearing Norman 
 play, and some of her happiest hours were 
 passed in this enjoyment. She was never too 
 shy to sing for him now, and he shared his 
 mother's admii'ation of her sweet young
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 93 
 
 voice, and very often accompanied her him- 
 self on the piano. 
 
 Often too they v^ould all three go down to 
 Mrs. Arnott's cottage and spend the evening 
 with her ; indeed, she was almost Hke one of 
 the family, her hushand having been one of 
 the few who were on terms of intimate friend- 
 ship with Norman Ashleigh. And as they 
 walked home at nights along the lonesome, 
 moonlit road, with the dark hills rising on one 
 side, Yiolet would feel at times almost awe- 
 struck at the scene, new as it still was to her, 
 but she could never be afi'aid when Norman 
 was with them. She was too young to think 
 of defining her feelings towards him, or to 
 wonder why she always felt so perfectly happy 
 in his company. She only knew that he 
 commanded her entire trust and confidence, 
 and that she prized his friendship, so kindly 
 given, very, very much. In her letters to 
 Mrs. Mortimer and Eleanor, Violet would 
 write of Norman freely and naturally as she 
 did of his mother ; but Eleanor's heart burned 
 with envy at the mention of every fresh kind- 
 ness received from him, and as the days 
 passed on and no fresh overtures came from 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, Mrs. Mortimer began to fear
 
 94 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 that she intended holding entu'ely aloof from 
 them, and she almost regretted having parted 
 with Violet without a struggle, and thus having 
 practically lost control over the young girl 
 and her large fortune. 
 
 *' Mamma," said Eleanor to her one day on 
 which they had heard from Yiolet, ^' if I ever 
 become acquainted with Norman Ashleigh, I 
 know I shall hate him." 
 
 As she said this, more to herself than to 
 her mother, Eleanor's handsome face was 
 not pleasant to look on, with the cold light 
 in those still blue eyes and the haughty deter- 
 mination about the mouth, unusual in one so 
 young. 
 
 ^'Nonsense, my dear; I don't see why you 
 should, though certainly he is foolish to waste 
 so much of his time on a child, for whom he 
 can care nothing, like Yiolet. But he will 
 soon grow tired of her ; there is not much 
 company near Ashleigh Court, and he is glad 
 of any new face for a change, no doubt." 
 
 Eleanor smiled contemptuously. She knew 
 her mother built great hopes on what would 
 be the result if she and Norman Ashleigh were 
 to become acquainted. And so the mother 
 and daughter continued to mingle in scenes of
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 95 
 
 gaiety and fashion, where Eleanor attracted 
 by her beauty, but often repelled by her cold, 
 haughty demeanour, in little fear of losing her 
 own heart to any of her admirers, for with her 
 prudence and discernment she was not easily 
 to be caught. Eleanor Gordon meant to 
 marry for a rich home, a good name, and an 
 establishment, all of which she doubted not 
 lier beauty would one day secure for her. 
 And if her heart should happen to be given to 
 the possessor of all these, well and good ; if 
 not, it mattered nothing to her. She was not 
 troubled with much romance in her nature, 
 and her education had not been such as to 
 teach her that mutual love was necessary to 
 render marriage happy.
 
 96 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 Norman Ashleigh had been at home two 
 months ; five months had elapsed since Violet's 
 arrival at Ashleigh Court, and it was growing 
 time for her long, pleasant holiday to come 
 to an end, time for her to think of study and 
 lessons again. Not pleasant, desultory study, 
 such as she indulged in now on her favourite 
 subjects, and with which she whiled away many 
 an hour in the library, but real hard work, 
 such as had been interrupted during these few 
 happy months. Mrs. Ashleigh knew that it 
 was best to begin again now when winter 
 was coming, because in any case Violet would 
 necessarily be kept much indoors, and so 
 would not feel the change so keenly. The 
 young girl had become as a daughter to Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, who knew how she would miss her 
 during the hours she must devote to study; 
 but it must be so, and Mrs. Ashleigh began 
 to look out for a governess and to engage 
 masters for Violet. She had taken her son's
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 97 
 
 advice on the subject, and she thought, if she 
 guessed aright, that he seemed as sorry as 
 herself that Violet's holiday was over. 
 
 ^' It V70uld not be orthodox, I suppose, 
 mother, for you to allow her education to be 
 considered as completed, for a year or more 
 yet ? And yet she has information of which 
 many a woman twice her age cannot 
 boast." 
 
 ^* Poor Violet ! she was kept very hard at 
 work before she came here. She is nearly 
 sixteen now, Norman, and in a year's time 
 a governess may be dispensed with." 
 
 One day, before anything was finally settled, 
 as Mrs. Ashleigh and Violet were sitting to- 
 gether, the former said smilingly, — • 
 
 '' How nice it would be, my love, if know- 
 ledge could be acquired without settling down 
 to study with a governess and all these teachers, 
 would it not, Violet ? " 
 
 ^^ Grandmamma," said Violet after a pause, 
 quickly, as if wishing to get it said, '^ would 
 it be better for me to go to school ? " 
 
 For some days Violet had been pondering 
 in her own mind whether Mrs. Ashleigh and 
 Norman might not find it unpleasant to have 
 a governess residing in the house, and which 
 
 VOL. I. 7
 
 98 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 would be inevitable on account of their dis- 
 tance from town. This, with the necessity of 
 having masters coming to the house, would be 
 all obviated if she were to go to school, and 
 she began to think that Mrs. Ashleigh perhaps 
 considered it to be the best plan, but would 
 not mention it for fear of causing her grief; 
 besides, Violet knew that her dear protectress 
 would be sorry to part with her. It did not 
 take long for a sensitive girl like Yiolet to 
 conjure up these ideas and to resolve to broach 
 the subject herself. It cost her a very painful 
 effort, though Mrs. Ashleigh' s last words 
 spoken so unconsciously helped her on. 
 What if it should really come to pass that 
 she had to leave Ashleigh Court and go to 
 school ! The idea brought a strange sinking 
 of her heart as she waited for Mrs. Ashleigh' s 
 answer to her suggestion. She did not know 
 that Norman had entered the room, the door 
 of which stood open, and had heard her 
 question. Her back was turned towards him, 
 and she started at his voice as he came for- 
 ward before Mrs. Ashleigh could reply. 
 
 '^ Violet ! what put such a notion into your 
 head ? Are you not happy here, that you wish 
 to leave my mother and go to school ? "
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 99 
 
 He spoke quickly and with pain in his tone, 
 and Violet, looking up, saw that he was very 
 serious. Her eyes filled with tears as she 
 said to him, — 
 
 *'I don't wish to leave her, Mr. Ashleigh. 
 You know I am very happy here, and I should 
 not like to go away, but, I thought — " and 
 Violet stopped. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh drew her towards her, saying 
 very tenderly, — 
 
 ^^ My love, I think I can guess what you 
 would say, and I am going to make you pro- 
 mise not to think of it again. Why, Violet, 
 do you think I brought you home here to 
 part with you so soon ? And as to the idea 
 you have been making yourself unhappy with, 
 don't you know I would spend six months in 
 trying to find a suitable governess sooner 
 than send you away. So now," she added 
 merrily, "never name school again in my 
 hearing.'' 
 
 Violet thanked Mrs. Ashleigh with a very 
 loving glance. 
 
 "Two against one, you see, Violet. You 
 were very soon vanquished," said Norman, 
 smiling. 
 
 Something in his look of pleasure made
 
 100 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 Violet think tliat perhaps he was glad, how- 
 ever little, that she was not going away. She 
 had known that Mrs. Ashleigh woald be sorry 
 to part with her, hut that Norman could care 
 anything about the matter, she had not ven- 
 tured to think, and now the idea that he did 
 made her feel strangely happy, though she 
 scarcely knew why. 
 
 ^' And I can't help feeling glad that I was 
 overcome, Mr. Ashleigh," she said, laughing. 
 
 '* Violet, don't call me ^ Mr. Ashleigh ' any 
 more." 
 
 Somewhat confused, Violet looked at Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, who smiled very kindly, — 
 
 '* You are one of us now, you know, my 
 love. He calls you ^ Violet ' ; call him 
 ' Norman.' " 
 
 She saw they wished it, so she said play- 
 fully, though a little timidly, " Well, then, 
 Norman, I will ; " and it was very pleasant to 
 Norman to hear her address him thus fami- 
 liarly for the first time. 
 
 '* Thank you, Violet," he said. ^^ And now 
 I have to ask you to forgive me for supposing 
 it to be because you were not happy here that 
 you thought of leaving us, will you ? " 
 
 ^'I will, if you will promise never to think
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 101 
 
 SO again/' she answered, laughing happily. 
 And so the matter was settled. 
 
 Shortly afterwards a governess was found 
 for Yiolet in the person of a Miss Lyndsay, an 
 amiahle and talented lady, who had been a 
 friend of Mrs. Arnott's before her marriage, 
 and had been compelled by family reverses 
 to earn her own bread. Now that Violet 
 was fairly to begin her lessons again Mrs. 
 Ashleigh set apart for her use as a school- 
 room a small, pleasant room in front of 
 the house, and here, after Miss Lyndsay's 
 arrival, Violet spent the greater part of her 
 mornings. She liked her governess from the 
 first, and soon found she was one of whom she 
 could make a friend, and she devoted herself 
 with ardour to her studies under her tuition. 
 Miss Lyndsay was a perfect lady, having 
 been reared in deUcacy and refinement, and 
 was possessed of every accomplishment ; but 
 during the four or five years during which 
 she had been employed as a governess she 
 had never been in any family where she was 
 treated with such consideration and so much as 
 an equal as at Ashleigh Court. After a time 
 she began to spend most part of the evening 
 with Mrs. Ashleigh and her son and Violet.
 
 102 VIOLET MORTmER. 
 
 It was a great pleasure to Mrs. Arnott to have 
 a friend of her girlhood so near her, and 
 very often Miss Lyndsay and Violet would go 
 together to see her when study hours were 
 over. Necessarily, Norman had much less 
 now of Violet's society. When not engaged 
 with her studies she often walked out with 
 Miss Lyndsay, and most of her spare time she 
 gave of course to Mrs. Ashleigh. 
 
 None knew how Violet hegan to miss the 
 long, pleasant ramhles with Norman, during 
 which she had grown to love hearing him talk 
 to her, and had learnt to be so proud of his 
 friendship. It may have been that he him- 
 self missed his girlish companion from his 
 side, during his walks, for they became less 
 frequent, and when merely taking a stroll or 
 not accompanying his mother, Norman rarely 
 went further than his own grounds. He re- 
 mained more in the library or his own room, 
 reading or writing, during the hours in which 
 he and Violet had been accustomed to go out 
 together. Whenever he went into town, Nor- 
 man nearly always rode, and more than once 
 Violet looked after him with longing eyes, 
 wishing she too might mount on horseback, 
 for she had never enjoyed that exercise since
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 103 
 
 her father's death. More than once, too, Nor- 
 man had wished she could do so under his 
 protection ; but Mrs. Ashleigh dared not trust 
 her on any horse they possessed, so he 
 had to forego his wish. The room in w^hich 
 Violet usually took her music lessons and 
 practised was near the library, and several 
 times when Norman was reading and heard 
 her engaged on some piece in which she 
 seemed to find difficulty, he would leave his 
 book and go in to her, as if by accident, and 
 show her how to master her difficulty; and 
 somehow Yiolet found her practising very 
 easy when Norman was with her, and she 
 seemed to learn better from him than from 
 the master who taught her. 
 
 The month of February arrived, and in due 
 course came the day which was Violet's six- 
 teenth birthday. She was to have a holiday, 
 and rejoiced to find the morning fine when she 
 awoke. At breakfast she received the warm 
 congratulations of Mrs. Ashleigh, Norman, and 
 Miss Lyndsay, and Mrs. Ashleigh gave her a 
 beautiful little watch, which delighted her. 
 She kissed her dear guardian so heartily as she 
 thanked her for her present, and the soft eyes 
 beamed with such a loving expression that
 
 104 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh looked at her with fresh tender- 
 ness and admiration. Norman, too, regarded 
 her attentively, but said nothing until the meal 
 was over. Then he rose and said smiling, — 
 
 ^^ I am afraid, Violet, you will think me 
 rather behindhand with my present, but un- 
 fortunately I cannot bring it to you. You 
 will have to let me take you to it." 
 
 Violet looked curiously at Norman, and at 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, who laughed kindly and bade 
 her go with Norman. She went with him 
 from the room, and he led the way to the hall 
 door, which stood open, and looking out, 
 Violet saw one of the grooms holding a most 
 beautiful chestnut pony saddled and bridled. 
 She uttered an exclamation and stood still, 
 scarcely knowing whether to go towards it 
 or not. Norman smiled at her embarrassment. 
 
 '^ Don't you like him, Violet ? He is yours, 
 if you will have him." 
 
 Violet's eyes were raised to Norman's face. 
 
 ^'Norman! is that lovely pony really for 
 me ? You have really given him to me ? " 
 
 ^^ Certainly I have ; don't you like my 
 present?" 
 
 But Violet did not answer at once; she 
 went out and stood by the pony, caressing
 
 VIOLET MOKTiaiER. 105 
 
 him, and the beautiful creature did not seem 
 averse to feel her soft little hand on his neck. 
 The groom had gone, and Norman came and 
 stood by Violet's side as she stroked and 
 patted the pony. All at once she seemed to 
 recollect herself, and as she looked up, Nor- 
 man saw the tears in her eyes. 
 
 ^' Oh, Norman ! I have never thanked you, 
 and you have given me what I was always 
 longing for and never dreamt of really having ! 
 You know what I would like to say, Norman, 
 but I can only thank you very, very much ; " 
 and she held out her hand to him, which he 
 took, saying very kindly, — 
 
 ^' Never mind thanking me, Yiolet ; pro- 
 mise me instead to take your first ride with 
 me to-day. My mother will let you go now 
 without being afraid." 
 
 ^' Oh, how delicious ! indeed I will promise ! 
 thank you, Norman ; " then in a lower tone, 
 she said, '^ Do you know, it made me think so 
 of papa, because I have never ridden since he 
 died. And the poor little pony I had then ! 
 I wonder if he is alive yet ! He was called 
 Charley; Norman, shall I call this one after 
 him? He is handsomer than my fii'st dear 
 little Charley, though,"
 
 106 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 Norman laughed. ^'' Then we shall be re- 
 versing English liistory, Yiolet, for I beUeve 
 the second Charles was not so handsome 
 as the first by any means, was he ? How- 
 ever, it cannot be helped, for ^ Charley ' 
 this little individual is to be called ; isn't 
 it settled?" 
 
 '^ Well, I should like it to be," said Violet. 
 ^* Norman, have grandmamma and Miss Lynd- 
 say seen him yet? " 
 
 '^ I fancy they have had a private view of 
 him before now," he replied, smiling. 
 
 ^' Oh, but I must bring them to look at him 
 again," she said, with a very earnest glance. 
 '^ I tvish you knew how I want to thank you, 
 Norman. How I shall love him ! dear old 
 fellow ! " and she patted the animal play- 
 fully on the neck. 
 
 ^* Don't thank me too much, Violet, for you 
 do not know whether I may not have a selfish 
 motive in giving him to you. Perhaps I am 
 getting tired of riding alone, and as, for some 
 time at least, you must not ride Charley unless 
 under my protection, I shall have company, 
 you see. You have given me very little of 
 your society since Miss Lyndsay came, you 
 know, Miss Violet."
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 107 
 
 ''Well, you voted for my having a gover- 
 ness, you know," said Yiolet mischievously, 
 as she turned away, partly to go for her gover- 
 ness and Mrs. Ashleigh, but partly also that 
 Norman might not see her face as she thought 
 of what he had just said. Did he then care so 
 much for her society ? For though he had 
 spoken playfully, Yiolet knew by the look in 
 his deep grey eyes that Norman was in 
 earnest, and the thought caused the rosy 
 colour to mount to her pale, olive cheek, for 
 did she not value Norman Ashleigh's friend- 
 ship very, very much ? and was it not very 
 sweet to know that he, so proud, so gifted, to 
 whom she must appear little more than a 
 child, prized hers in return? That day was 
 a very happy one for Violet, when, mounted 
 on her beautiful pony, she rode by Norman's 
 side for the first time. Norman had bought 
 and chosen the pony himself, and Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh felt no fears for Yiolet now, as with a 
 pleased smile she watched her and Norman 
 ride away together. Yiolet looked very well 
 in the pretty riding costume which Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh had prepared for her. It was evident 
 that Norman thought so as he looked at her. 
 She sat as easily and gracefully as though she
 
 108 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 had ridden but yesterday, although six years 
 had elapsed since she had last done so. 
 
 ^' Oh, it is delightful, Norman, the feeling 
 of being on horseback again ! I am not the 
 least afraid, so don't take too much trouble 
 looking after me ; " and she laughed merrily 
 as she called out to Mrs. Ashleigh, ^' You are 
 not afraid to trust me now, are you, grand- 
 mamma ? " 
 
 ^' No, my darling, not on that pony, and 
 with Norman." 
 
 How Yiolet enjoyed the air that bright, 
 frosty February morning as they galloped 
 through the lanes under the shadow of the 
 hills ! After some time they went at walking 
 pace to rest the horses, and Yiolet appeared ab- 
 sorbed in thought. Then she said suddenly, — 
 
 *^ Norman, how did you know I should 
 like so much to ride, and that it would please 
 me so to have a pony ? I have never said 
 much about it that I remember ; " and she 
 looked eagerly at Norman for an answer. 
 
 " No, Yiolet, but you have thought about it ; 
 do you think I could not tell that by your face 
 when I have expressed a wish to my mother 
 in your presence that we had a horse on 
 which she could trust you? And you have
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 109 
 
 forgotten that the day on which we first made 
 acquaintance you told me how you used to 
 ride long ago, and why you had to give up 
 your pony. You did not tell me, little Violet, 
 what it cost you to give it up, hut did you 
 think I could not guess ? Well, I could not 
 give you back your identical pony, but there 
 was nothing easier than to give you this one, 
 in hopes it would afford you pleasure, and I 
 think it has done so." 
 
 Norman spoke so earnestly, almost pas- 
 sionately, as though he meant more than 
 the mere words conveyed, that Violet was 
 startled ; she had not expected so earnest an 
 answer to her half-playful question. 
 
 ^' You are very, very kind ! " was all she 
 could say now. How well he had guessed 
 her thoughts and wishes, how well he had 
 even remembered what she had said to him 
 at their first meeting, though he had seemed 
 not to notice it at the time ! 
 
 And Violet was so silent and abstracted 
 for a few minutes that Norman tried to rouse 
 her by talking gaily on indifferent subjects, 
 and soon succeeded in making her banish her 
 thoughts and laugh and talk to him as usual. 
 
 Very often now on fine days, when not
 
 110 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 engaged with her lessons, Violet rode out 
 under Norman's protection, and Miss Lyndsay 
 found herself solitary in her walks. A new 
 life seemed to have begun for Violet since her 
 sixteenth birthday, a life exquisitely happy, 
 which made her wake every morning with a 
 feeling of indescribable joy, and sometimes to 
 lie awake at nights, wondering at her happi- 
 ness, and thinking of her past loneliness in Lon- 
 don as a sorrowful dream never to trouble her 
 more. But it was no wonder she was happy, 
 she told herself; feeling Mrs. Ashleigh, Nor- 
 man, and everyone so kind to her, and loving 
 Ashleigh Court as she did, with its beautiful 
 gardens and the mountains and sea so near. 
 She laughed to herself sometimes when she 
 thought of how she had dreaded Norman's 
 return home, for had not she and dear grand- 
 mamma been happier than ever since he 
 came ? and was it not a beautiful thing to see 
 the love subsisting between himself and his 
 mother ? Once or twice a sudden fear broke 
 in upon Violet's happiness, a fear that some- 
 thing might occur to interrupt this untroubled 
 joyous life, that it could not go on always 
 like this. And on these occasions it was 
 somehow always of Norman she thought — that
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. Ill 
 
 it might be something connected with him 
 that would come to spoil her bliss — that he 
 would have to go away, or he might marry, 
 as Brownson had more than once told Yiolet 
 was very desirable. And as she thought of 
 this last contingency a strange coldness would 
 creep over Violet's heart, for if Norman 
 married, there would be an end of their fami- 
 liar friendship, their pleasant intercourse. 
 And afterwards Yiolet would reproach herself 
 that it was not of Mrs. Ashleigh she had 
 thought, that no fear concerning her had 
 crossed her mind, and yet might not she be 
 the one she would lose, dear grandmamma, of 
 whose sweet, unalterable affection she felt so 
 certain, it which only death could take from 
 her ? But these gloomy thoughts did not 
 trouble her often, for Yiolet was very young, 
 light-hearted, and full of hope. Her life looked 
 long and bright before her, and kindness was 
 all around her now. Sometimes as she and 
 Norman rode out together the old house- 
 keeper would watch them from some window, 
 and on one occasion her thoughts ran as 
 
 follows, — 
 
 aor f Lnf. fliATr lonV ix7p11 f,r,„ 
 
 *'Eh, dear! but they look well together, 
 those two ! She has been just like a happy
 
 112 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 l^ird lately, has Miss Violet, and my proud 
 young master takes to her so, he that for such 
 a time has never seemed to care for any lady 
 but his mother, though I'm sure he has plenty 
 of opportunity. What if he — eh, no, but I'm 
 forgetting ; she is too young, far too young. 
 It struck me, looking at them together ; but 
 of course she is too young; " and Brownson 
 banished her idea, whatever it was. 
 
 And Violet's happy, quiet life went on, for 
 quiet it was, living there at Ashleigh Court, 
 at a distance from the town, which she sel- 
 dom visited. She was too young yet to be 
 included in the invitations which were sent 
 to Mrs. Ashleigh and Norman, and when 
 they two or three times had company at Ash- 
 leigh Court, Violet, though she enjoyed it as 
 she did eveiything — for everything wore the 
 charm of novelty and was delightful to her, 
 in her young happiness — still felt it was the 
 every-day existence that she loved and that 
 formed the joy of her life. Though she knew 
 it net, though she thought not of it, this girl, 
 young as she was, was verging on a discovery 
 which she was yet prevented making by the 
 quiet depth of uninterrupted happiness in 
 which her days flowed on.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 113 
 
 CHAPTEK VIII. 
 
 One day early in April Violet came out of the 
 house to go down to the seashore, carrying 
 two or three books with her, as she intended 
 to study a lesson for the next day, sitting in 
 her favourite nook among the cli£fs. It was 
 one of those sweet, balmy days which make 
 one feel that spring has really come, and when 
 nature looks so fresh and bright that one 
 cannot but yield to its influence and be joyous 
 too. 
 
 It was almost the first day that Violet had 
 been able to sit in the open air since the pre- 
 vious summer, and she hailed it with enthu- 
 siastic delight. She and Norman were going 
 to spend that evening with Mrs. Amott, who 
 had asked them to meet two or three friends, 
 and Violet intended to study her next day's 
 lesson for one of her masters now, as she would 
 not be at home to do so at her usual study 
 hour. In the garden she met Norman, and 
 
 VOL. I. 8
 
 114 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 told him her intention. He smiled as he 
 said, — 
 
 *^ You are going to study on the seashore? 
 If I were you, Violet, I would stay in the 
 house to do it, or here in the garden, if you 
 %uill be out." 
 
 *' Norman, why?" but before he could 
 answer she went on, '^ Oh, no, I must go ; it 
 is so long since I sat on the shore, and it is 
 such a lovely day. At half-past four I shall 
 have to come in to dress," and she left him, 
 singing gaily to herself. 
 
 Norman looked after her very earnestly, 
 with a peculiar smile upon his lips. 
 
 On reaching her destination, Yiolet sat down 
 and began to study, though after a few minutes 
 she found it hard to keep her attention fixed 
 on her books. Every time she looked up her 
 gaze became riveted on the sea, and the fasci- 
 nation of watching the waves as she sat there 
 in her nook among the cliffs for the first time 
 after the long winter was irresistible. At last 
 she forgot herself altogether ; the books sHpped 
 unnoticed from her knee, and with her chin 
 resting on her hands she sat leaning forwards 
 and was soon lost in her own thoughts, insen- 
 sible to everything but the scene before her.
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 115 
 
 It may have been a bad habit, but it was a 
 very pleasant one while it lasted, that of be- 
 coming utterly lost in her own happy thoughts o 
 The soft, gentle air and the delicious monotony 
 of the waves lulled her into a kind of waking 
 doze, from which after about an hour she was 
 aroused by approaching footsteps and hearing 
 Norman's voice, — 
 
 ^' Violet, it is half-past four." 
 
 She looked up at once, and saw him gazing 
 down at her with an amused smile in his grey 
 eyes. 
 
 She was fully aroused now, and hardly 
 knew where to look, in her vexation at her- 
 self. She stood up, and turning her blushing, 
 disturbed countenance away from Norman, 
 said, — 
 
 *' It is no use ; I shall never try to study 
 here again. I cannot." 
 
 " I could have told you that an hour ago, 
 Violet," said Norman, smiling still. 
 
 '' Is that what you meant, when you advised 
 me not to come ? Why did you not tell me ? " 
 asked Violet, forgetting she had not given him 
 time to do so. 
 
 ''Supposing I had done so, I am afraid 
 it would not have prevented your coming
 
 116 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 
 
 to try for yourself. Am I not right?" asked 
 Norman, laughingly. ^^ But I knew that, 
 sitting alone here with the sea before you 
 to study, you would never study anything 
 else." 
 
 '* Especially German," said Violet ruefully. 
 " I don't know a lino of it, and Mr. Hein- 
 bach comes to-morrow at ten o'clock. You 
 will have to go to Mrs. Arnott's without me, 
 Norman ; I can't go, of course. We pro- 
 mised to be there very early, and I have not 
 time to dress and study my German too." 
 
 *^ You will have time in the morning, won't 
 you ? " and Norman took up the books 
 from the ground to carry them home for 
 her. 
 
 *'No; I have my lessons to do for Miss 
 Lyndsay then. I shall have to stay at 
 home this evening, of course ; it does not 
 matter," said Violet, trying to look uncon- 
 cerned as they turned towards Ashleigh 
 Court. 
 
 ^' Shall I try my powers of persuasion on 
 Miss L3nidsay to see whether she will let you 
 off to-morrow morning and give you time to 
 study this unfortunate German ? " 
 
 ^* Oh, no, don't, thank you, Norman; I
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 117 
 
 would rather you did not, for I have had a 
 hoHday two or three mornings lately, you 
 know, to go out riding. It is my own fault, 
 of course, and I must stay at home." 
 
 *' And what shall I say to Mrs. Arnott, 
 Violet ? " 
 
 ^' Oh, you can tell her the real reason. 
 Oh, dear ! I wish now it had not been such 
 a lovely day," sighed Violet, forgetting her 
 attempted unconcern. 
 
 Norman said no more just then ; but on 
 reaching the house he went straight to seek 
 Miss Lyndsay, whom he found sitting with his 
 mother, and made his request on behalf of 
 Violet. 
 
 ^'My poor Violet!" exclaimed Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh, smiling, attempting to learn a German 
 lesson, sitting by the sea, on a day like this! " 
 
 ''A less enthusiastic person could do so, 
 and Violet must have thought she could do 
 the same," said Miss Lyndsay. *' I suppose I 
 must not refuse you, Mr. Ashleigh ? " 
 
 ^' I know that Mrs. Arnott wishes Violet 
 very much to go there this evening, and early 
 too, or else, Norman, don't you think it is too 
 hd^ to come so often with these requests to 
 Miss Lyndsay ? "
 
 118 VIOLET MORTIMEK, 
 
 *'I am afraid Violet's lessons would get on 
 badly if they were left to your direction, Mr. 
 Ashleigh," said Miss Lyndsay, laughing; *^but 
 she had better go and dress at once now." 
 
 ''Thank you, Miss Lyndsay. I promise 
 not to beg another favour for a long time," 
 laughed Norman as he left the room and went 
 to Violet in the schoolroom. 
 
 '' Put away that obnoxious German, Violet. 
 I have orders for you to go and dress as 
 quickly as you can, to come to Mrs. Arnott's." 
 
 '' Oh, Norman ! have you been to Miss 
 Lyndsay, after all ? What did she say ? " 
 
 " Well, she granted my request and was 
 seconded by my mother. Are you satisfied ? " 
 
 '' Of course; but you should not have done 
 it. Why are you so kind to me ? " she added 
 earnestly and quickly, as she raised her beau- 
 tiful eyes to his face. He looked at her for 
 a moment and seemed about to reply, but 
 Violet turned away and left the room. 
 
 And so they went together to Mrs. Ai'nott's 
 that evening. The day might come when they 
 would both wish that Norman had gone alone ; 
 but now none but bright thoughts were theii^s 
 as they set out from Ashleigh Com-t together. 
 
 Among the friends Mrs. Arnott had invited
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 119 
 
 were an elderly lady and gentleman, who had 
 been great friends of her husband's, and who 
 lived at about two miles' distance, nearer the 
 town. They had brought with them to-night 
 a Mr. Louis Wilmot, a second cousin of the 
 lady's, who happened to be on a visit to 
 them at the time. He looked about thirty 
 years of age, and Mrs. Arnott told Norman 
 that all she yet knew of him was that he had 
 lived many years abroad, and she believed he 
 was possessed of a small fortune, as he was 
 not engaged in any business or profession. 
 His cousin had lost sight of him during 
 several years, until he had returned to Eng- 
 land shortly before the present time. Mr. 
 Wilmot had a great deal of the Frenchman 
 about him, both in appearance and manners, 
 and he evidently seemed bent on makiug 
 himself agreeable. He was about the middle 
 height and very handsome, with dark, melan- 
 choly eyes, which were spoiled by their rest- 
 less, uneasy expression, that never allowed 
 them to look straight or full at the person he 
 addressed. He had thin lips and very white 
 teeth, and his face looked somewhat worn and 
 haggard, so as to give him a dissipated air. 
 He was most elaborately dressed, and his
 
 120 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 manners had the perfect ease of a gentleman, 
 in spite of those shifting eyes of his, which 
 never looked long steadily at anyone. 
 
 From the first moment of introduction 
 Norman Ashleigh could not hring himself to 
 like Mr. Wilmot. Something in that gentle- 
 man's fascinating smile even seemed to fill 
 him with distrust. At first Mr. Wilmot 
 devoted himself with careless politeness to 
 Violet, only hecause young ladies were scarce 
 in the room ; but after he had been for some 
 minutes in conversation with his cousin's hus- 
 band he again went and sat down by her and 
 began to talk to her very earnestly, showing' 
 her marked attention. 
 
 Violet let him talk on, conscious of his being 
 very handsome and agreeable, but in no other 
 way thinking particularly about him, except 
 how very unlike Norman he was. And Nor- 
 man sat looking at them, feeling almost as 
 though he would hke to annihilate Mr. Wilmot 
 as he continued exercising his fascinations on 
 Violet, and still knowing that if that gentleman 
 chose to be polite to her, he, Norman, had 
 not the slightest right to prevent it. 
 
 ** Cannot he see how young she is ? " said 
 Norman to himself in his indignation.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 121 
 
 When at last Violet looked across at Nor- 
 man she saw his gaze fixed npon Mr. Wilmot 
 with that stern expression that made the like- 
 ness to Rupert Ashleigh's portrait so strong. 
 
 ** What is the matter with Norman?" she 
 thought ; ^' he cannot like Mr. Wilmot, or he 
 would not look like that. But they have 
 scarcely spoken to each other," and Violet 
 became abstracted, and answered Mr. Wilmot 
 absently. It was her own happiness which 
 disposed her to be pleased with everyone, and 
 had made Mr. Wilmot appear so agreeable ; 
 but now that something seemed amiss vdth 
 Norman she began to perceive that there was 
 something in the countenance of her new 
 acquaintance which did not please her, though 
 she could not tell exactly what it was. 
 
 *^How unlike he is to Norman ! " was her 
 ever-recurring thought. 
 
 When the evening was over, Mr. Wilmot 
 still kept up his marked attention to Violet, 
 and was offering his arm to lead her to the 
 carriage, when Norman interfered, and said in 
 a tone that admitted of no dispute, — 
 
 *' Pardon me, I will escort Miss Mortimer.'* 
 
 Then giving his arm to Violet, he led 
 her away, having first bowed haughtily and
 
 122 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 coldly to Mr. Wilmot, who darted at liim a 
 fierce look of his restless eyes for his interfer- 
 ence. In that moment, when Louis Wilmot 
 met the steady gaze of Norman Ashleigh's 
 piercing grey eyes, a close observer might 
 have foretold that no cordiality was destined 
 to exist between these two young men. 
 
 **Yiolet," asked Norman rather suddenly, 
 when they were seated in the carriage, " what 
 do you think of Mr. Wilmot ? " 
 
 '^ Well, I think he is very handsome and 
 very polite, don't you?" said Violet, rather 
 mischievously, thinking to make Norman tell 
 her what he thought of him himself. 
 
 *^ Yiolet, do you like him ? " he asked, for- 
 getting he had scarcely a right to expect her 
 to answer. 
 
 It was a dark night, and Violet could hardly 
 see Norman's face ; but the almost painful 
 eagerness of his tone fltartled her into serious- 
 ness, and she replied slowly, — 
 
 ^' I don't think I do, Norman, but I can't 
 tell you why." 
 
 He appeared satisfied, and said no more on 
 the subject. There was an impression on 
 Norman's mind that Louis Wilmot was not 
 a good man, and knowing so little about him,
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 123 
 
 he determined to treat him coldly and with 
 only distant pohteness, however long he might 
 remain in the neighbourhood and on whatever 
 occasions they might meet in future. 
 
 And as he thought of him, a wish came over 
 his mind that he had let Violet have her own 
 way and stay at home to study that evening. 
 
 Miss Lyndsay met them in the hall when 
 they reached home. 
 
 '^ Mrs. Ashleigh wishes to see you in the 
 library," she said to Norman. 
 
 ^^ Is my mother ill ? " he asked quickly. 
 
 '^ Oh, no, Mr. Ashleigh," she replied, and he 
 left them at once. 
 
 '' Miss Lyndsay, is anything the matter ? " 
 asked Yiolet, fearing she knew not what. 
 
 ^^ Mrs. Ashleigh has received bad news, 
 Yiolet. A letter came this evening, telling 
 her that her sister-in-law in India has lost 
 her husband and is herself in very bad health. 
 Mrs. Ashleigh has not told me any more ; but 
 she is in trouble about it, and seemed very 
 anxious for Mr. Ashleigh to come home. 
 They are sure to be some time together, so 
 you had better go up to bed now, dear. Mrs. 
 Ashleigh would not like you to wait up." 
 
 Violet knew she was right, and though she
 
 124 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 would have liked very mnch to see Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh to-night, she said good-night to Miss 
 Lyndsay, and went up at once to her own 
 room. 
 
 Of course Violet had very often heard Mrs. 
 Ashleigh and Norman speak of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lacy, their relatives in India. Mrs. Lacy 
 was the youngest and the only surviving 
 sister of Norman's father, who, as Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh had often told Yiolet, had regarded her 
 with intense affection, though she was eigh- 
 teen or nineteen years younger than himself. 
 
 Norman had heen a great favourite with his 
 aunt when a hoy, anl ever since she and her 
 hush and had left England for India they had 
 kept up a close correspondence with Ashleigh 
 Court. Yiolet had more than once read por- 
 tions of their letters, and she felt sorrow and 
 concern for the sake of Mrs. Ashleigh and 
 Norman, knowing it must be a blow to them 
 to hear of Mr. Lacy's death and his widow's 
 ill health. This was the saddest night Yiolet 
 had experienced since her arrival at Ashleigh 
 Court, for the evening at Mrs. Arnott's had 
 not been so pleasant as usual, owing to the 
 dislike Norman had taken to Mr. Wilmot and 
 the not very agreeable impression that gentle-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 125 
 
 man had made on herself. She began to wish 
 devoutly now that they had never met him, for 
 it was easy to see that he and Norman could 
 never be on terms of cordiality. 
 
 When Norman had gone into the library 
 he had found Mrs. Ashleigh leaning her head 
 on her hand and looking pale and sorrowful 
 and in deep thought. When he entered, 
 she took up a letter from the table, and 
 silently put it into his hand, looking up ear- 
 nestly into his face as he read it. It was 
 from his aunt, Mrs. Lacy herself, and was 
 written in a trembhng hand in her first an- 
 guish of grief for her husband's death. He 
 had been taken from her after three days' 
 illness, and she had been so prostrate since 
 that it was only now after the funeral that 
 she was able to write the sad news. She 
 herself had never been strong, and now in her 
 desolation she was told by the doctors that 
 consumption threatened her. She was terribly 
 alone, she said, for she and her husband had 
 always lived very quietly and retired on their 
 estate which he had purchased near Calcutta. 
 She was almost entirely without friends, and 
 her husband had always been so strong until 
 struck down by fever that it had been her
 
 126 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 own death of whicli she had always thought 
 more than of his. It was her first and ear- 
 nest desire to return to England, she said, 
 to Ashleigh Court, but she was prevented 
 by her doctors, who told her that a winter in 
 England would be her death, and even if she 
 ever recovered sufficiently to risk it, she must 
 not travel alone, and, with the exception of 
 one or two faithful English servants, she had 
 no one who could accompany her. *^You 
 will know how I must long to be with you 
 now," she wrote, ^' but I feel I shall never see 
 England again." 
 
 And in the midst of her trouble she had 
 just heard that some relatives of Mr. Lacy's 
 who had come out to India a few years 
 previously, but with whom they had never 
 been on friendly terms, intended to dispute 
 her right to a considerable portion of the 
 money he had left her. In her grief and 
 ill health and difficulties she had no one to 
 lean upon or to help her, and though she 
 made no direct request for someone to come 
 to her, there lay a mute appeal in every word 
 of her distressing letter. Norman was very 
 pale, as he looked up from it and met his 
 mother's eyes fixed upon his face. He sat
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 127 
 
 down by her, and after a pause lie said with 
 pain but still very firmly, — 
 
 *' Mother, I must go to her." 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh's voice was very low as she 
 answered, — 
 
 *^ I knew you would say so, Norman. Yes, 
 it is right for you to go ; your father would 
 have wished it. Poor Mary." 
 
 *'I must be prepared to stay some time if 
 necessary, mother. It is easier for me to 
 leave you now than if you had not Yiolet. 
 
 *^ I must let you go, Norman, for I am 
 strong, thank God, though I am so much 
 older than Mary. I have a happy home, and, 
 as you say, I have Violet, while poor Mary 
 is desolate and vnthout friends in her weak 
 health and difficulties. Norman, who would 
 have thought it, your imcle Lacy, who was 
 so strong and healthy! " 
 
 Then Mrs. Ashleigh mentioned that Mrs. 
 Lacy's letter had been through carelessness 
 omitted to be given to their messenger who 
 went that morning as usual to the post- 
 office, and on the omission being discovered, 
 it had been sent on specially this evening, 
 as Mrs. Ashleigh was known always to be 
 anxious about the arrival of her letters
 
 128 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 from India. And as Norman heard this, in 
 the midst of his sorrow for his uncle's death 
 and his aunt's desolation, there arose the 
 thought that if the letter had arrived that 
 morning, as it ought to have done, he and 
 Violet would not have gone to Mrs. Arnott's, 
 and so might never have made the acquain- 
 tance of Mr. Louis Wilmot On how slight a 
 thing does the course of our lives depend ! 
 There was a feeling in Norman's heart that he 
 could have gone away to India more easily, 
 with less anxiety, if he had not known of the 
 existence of Mr. Wilmot, at least if he had 
 not knovni him as one likely to remain for 
 some time in the neighbourhood of Ashleigh 
 Court. 
 
 The mother and son sat very long together 
 that night. The shadow of approaching se- 
 paration was over them, and it was only natural 
 that the mother's heart yearned with a feverish 
 regret that her son had to leave her. But 
 she had known it must be so from the first 
 moment of reading Mrs. Lacy's letter, and 
 she would not grudge Norman to his aunt, 
 his father's favourite sister, in her hour of 
 trial. To many this parting would not have 
 seemed much — a few months' absence in India
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 129 
 
 might have appeared hut little ; but all are 
 not loved, and so unselfishly, as v^as Norman 
 Ashleigh. He was the joy of his mother's 
 life, doubly treasured because he had been 
 given to her so late ; he had ever been her 
 pride and consolation, and how did she know 
 that she would ever see him again, when she 
 parted from him this time ! She was no 
 longer young ; she might die without his being 
 near her ; but, more than all, she was think- 
 ing, ^^ What if anything should befall him so 
 far away ! " 
 
 Violet in her own room knew not all that 
 was passing dovnistairs, or sleep would not 
 have come to her so soon that night. In the 
 morning she was down first in the breakfast 
 room, and was sitting alone when Norman 
 entered. He shook hands with her as usual. 
 
 *' Norman," she said, gently, "I am very 
 sorry. Miss Lyndsay told me last night about 
 Mr. Lacy." 
 
 And as she looked up, Violet saw that 
 Norman's pale face was strangely moved, 
 and his eyes, so attractive always, were bent 
 on her now with an almost tender expres- 
 sion. 
 
 '* Violet, would you care, would you be 
 
 VOL. I. 9
 
 130 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 sorry if I were to go away, for some months, 
 perhaps a year ? " 
 
 ^^ But you are not going, really, Norman ? " 
 she asked, feeling as though she could not 
 breathe freely until he had reassured her. 
 ^' Yes, Yiolet, I am going away to India." 
 ^' Going away to India ! " she said, echoing 
 his words. " Ohj Norman ! " and the excla- 
 mation came with a kind of gasp. She was 
 looking out blankly before her, feeling as 
 though she had just been awaked out of a 
 happy dream, and the happiness had gone 
 with the dream. For a minute all she could 
 think of was that Norman was going away, 
 and of course for an indefinite time ; then 
 came the thought of Mrs. Ashleigh, and of 
 how hard would be the long separation be- 
 tween the mother and son ; and there rose 
 in Violet's mind, too, visions of perils and 
 accidents that might befall Norman. Then 
 he told her all about his aunt's illness, and 
 her other difficulties, and Violet could not 
 wonder at his decision. But she could say 
 nothing yet, she could only think, think of 
 the happy time now coming to an end, and 
 the first indistinct glimpse of some discovery 
 seemed breaking in upon her as she stood
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 131 
 
 there with Norman's familiar voice sounding 
 in her ears, v^ith his face, w^hose beauty had 
 so attracted her from the first, looking down 
 upon her, knowing as she did that so soon he 
 would be far away, his form no longer visible 
 to her eyes. And he had asked her whether 
 she would care, whether she would be sorry, 
 knowing not the desolation that was creep- 
 ing into her heart as she thought of it. And 
 so much might happen in a year. 
 
 '' A year is a long time, Norman," she said 
 at last, sadly, but very quietly. ^' What will 
 grandmamma do ? " 
 
 He saw she was grieving at his approach- 
 ing departure, that she was sorry, for she had 
 not yet learnt to think of hiding her feelings 
 from him ; but he could not know how much, 
 or to what extent. Looking at her very ear- 
 nestly, but with a sad smile, he said, — 
 
 '^ Let us hope the time will pass quickly, 
 Violet; and that on my return I shall find 
 you and my mother both well, and as glad to 
 see me as I shall to be with you again. And," 
 he added, ^' heaven grant that I may bring 
 my aunt with me, restored to health. It 
 would have been very hard for me to leave 
 my mother now for so long if she had not
 
 132 YIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 you. Violet, you will take care of her for me 
 •whilst I am away ? " 
 
 ^^ Yes, Norman, I will," and Violet's heart 
 throbbed with secret pride at the trust re- 
 posed in her, as she gave him her little hand 
 as if to ratify her promise.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 133 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 All too qiiickly passed the days that inter- 
 vened before Norman's departure for India. 
 He had vrritten to his aunt, telHng her of 
 his coming, and the letter would precede his 
 arrival by a few days. Whatever may have 
 been Norman's own feelings at this time, 
 he kept them to himself, and strove to cheer 
 his mother, that dear mother who could 
 not conceal her sorrow at the prospect of the 
 long separation from her idolized son. Per- 
 haps it was well for her that Norman had 
 often to be away great part of the day, making 
 preparations and arrangements for his depar- 
 ture, for sometimes when they were together, 
 as she gazed on the fine face and form of 
 which she had always been so proud, the 
 thought would come over her that her son 
 might be leaving her for ever, or that he 
 would only return perhaps to find her dead, 
 and the unbidden tears would rise at the 
 thought. It often needed aU Norman's efforts
 
 134 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 and Violet's loving devices to restore Mrs. 
 Ashleigh's calmness, for she was oppressed 
 with anxiety also on Mrs. Lacy's account. 
 Something told her she would never see her 
 again, that death was surely claiming her 
 sister-in-law for his own ; but it was some 
 little consolation to know that all she could 
 do she was doing for the sister her husband 
 had loved so well, that she was sending Nor- 
 man to her to aid her in her difficulties ; if 
 not to bring her home, to be with her in her 
 last hours and lay her in the grave. Norman 
 was more sanguine ; he hoped that, her grief 
 calmed and her other annoyances disposed of 
 by his help, his aunt would recover and that 
 he would bring her back with him to England 
 and Ashleigh. Court. But anyone observing 
 Norman closely, seeing him as he was when 
 alone, might have guessed that there was 
 some other emotion that was troubhng him, 
 terribly at times. And a look would come 
 over his face sometimes as if he were in some 
 perplexity, some doubt. More than once 
 Yiolet noticed it and wondered at it when 
 he was talking to her very earnestly, almost 
 tenderly, as he did now during these days 
 previous to parting. He would seem about
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 135 
 
 to say something, and then all at once would 
 check himself suddenly and leave her without 
 explanation. And Yiolet herself? Ah, what 
 a dreary weight seemed to have fallen on her 
 heart ! How hard it was to keep her atten- 
 tion fixed on her daily lessons, how much 
 harder now than on the day so lately when 
 she had been unable to study for looking 
 at the sea and thinking of her happiness ! 
 Norman was going away ! and she knew all 
 could never be quite the same when he came 
 back. There was no one hke him in the 
 world, and he was going away, and oh, how 
 everything might change in a year ! She 
 would be grovel up then, a young lady, and 
 he would treat her as such, and the familiar 
 friendship of the past happy days would be 
 over. And yet how kindly, how longingly 
 he spoke of his return, and how earnest he 
 had been when he asked her to be everything 
 to his mother for him during his absence. 
 No, it was not in his nature to forget her 
 entirely, and then there would come over her 
 that half- awakened knowledge, that conscious- 
 ness that seemed coming to her so quickly, 
 but which she dared not think about. 
 
 Before Norman left he and Yiolet saw
 
 136 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 Mr. Wilmot once again. They had heard 
 from Mrs. Arnott that he was still in the 
 neighbourhood, and she fancied he must he 
 staying for an indefinite time. Norman 
 and Yiolet had been taking a walk among 
 the hills when someone came up behind them. 
 It was Louis Wilmot, looking as handsome 
 and languishing as ever. He shook hands 
 with Violet and made a speech about his de- 
 light at meeting her again, accompanying it 
 by a glance of his dark eyes, which caused 
 Norman to look very stern and that perplexed 
 frown to contract his forehead. He could not 
 refuse his hand to Mr. Wilmot when the latter 
 ofi'ered his ; but if distant, haughty pohteness 
 could have annihilated a man, Norman's must 
 have had that effect. It was powerless, how- 
 ever, against Louis Wilmot, who continued 
 walking by Violet's side, talking freely and 
 evidently bent on making himself agreeable to 
 her. He did not appear to cherish any malice 
 against Norman for his behaviour on the 
 evening they met at Mrs. Arnott's, but Nor- 
 man fancied he detected a tone of triumph in 
 his voice as h^ told him he had heard of his 
 approaching departure for India, and as he 
 wished him a safe arrival there. ^' For my-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 137 
 
 self," he continned, speaking to Yiolet, '^ I 
 am happy to say that my good cousins will not 
 hear of my leaving them yet, and thus I am 
 afforded an opportunity to remain some time 
 in this charming neighbom'hood, and to keep 
 up my acquaintance vnth the very agreeable 
 people I have met here." And he went on 
 to speak in profuse praises of the smTOunding 
 scenery, sa3ring how fully he appreciated it, 
 of all which Norman heheved not one word. 
 He told himself he was unjust to Mr. Wilmot, 
 that he judged him rashly, without waiting to 
 know anything of him or his character. But 
 do what he would, the instinctive dislike re- 
 mained, and it was helped on by Mr. Wilmot's 
 behaviour to Violet. What did he mean by 
 it ? Why was he so persistent in pursuing 
 his acquaintance with her? She was hardly 
 one with whom a man like Louis Wilmot 
 would care to carry on a passing flirtation. 
 She must seem httle more than a child to 
 him, who knew nothing of her. Could he 
 
 really mean ? and Norman's suspicion 
 
 brought that troubled look with intensity to 
 his face. If he were only not leaving home 
 just now, if he were not so powerless to pre- 
 vent Mr. Wilmot from seeing Violet during
 
 138 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 Ms absence, at least until they knew more 
 of him ! It was useless to speak to Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh, thus giving her fresh anxiety, for he 
 knew she would never invite any such stranger 
 as Mr. Wilmot to the house during his 
 absence. And as Louis Wilmot talked on, 
 Yiolet was feeling very uncomfortable. She 
 did not like him, and the knowledge that Nor- 
 man positively disliked him made her hardly 
 able to follow all he said and answer him, for 
 she was wishing him away and that she and 
 Norman were alone again. What could he 
 care for talking to her, and the time was so 
 precious now, so near the day of Norman's 
 departure. When they reached Ashleigh 
 Court, if Louis Wilmot had hopes of being 
 invited to enter, he was disappointed, for 
 bidding him a coldly polite adieu, Norman 
 opened the gate for Yiolet and passed in with 
 her, Mr. Wilmot being left to pursue his way 
 alone. They walked on silently for a minuta 
 or two, and then, as they neared the house, 
 Norman turned suddenly to Yiolet, and as ha 
 looked down into her face, said earnestly, but 
 in a low voice as if with an effort. — 
 
 '' Yiolet, will you promise me something, 
 promise me as if I were your brother ? "
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 139 
 
 She looked surprised, and he went on, — 
 
 *^ I may be wrong, but I should not ask you 
 if I did not think it best and reasonable. Do 
 not think me impertinent if I ask you to see 
 as little of Mr. Wilmot as possible during his 
 stay here. Yiolet, you know I do not mean 
 at some future time, when we may know more 
 of him, but whilst I am away, do not give 
 him any reason to think you care for his 
 society, for you have told me you do not, 
 You are not offended with me ? " and Nor- 
 man's accents pleaded more persuasively than 
 his words. 
 
 ^' Oh, Norman ! why should I be offended? 
 I ivill promise you what you ask," she said, 
 very seriously, then in a lighter tone she 
 added, '^ I don't think you need be afraid, 
 though ; why should he care to try and see 
 me ? He met us by accident to-day, you 
 know, and I suppose he felfc obliged to talk 
 then." 
 
 ^'Violet, I think differently. I believe he 
 will manage to see you, if it is only by 
 putting himself in your way and even in my 
 mother's. And we know so little of him yet," 
 he reiterated. 
 
 '' Why, Norman, you don't expect him to
 
 140 VIOLET MOBTIMER. 
 
 turn out a thief or something like that ! " 
 laughed Violet ; '' I don't suppose he is so very 
 bad after all, though we don't like him our- 
 selves." 
 
 "I hope it may be so," but Norman was 
 very serious, and did not join in Violet's 
 laughter. ^' Thank you for your promise, 
 Violet." 
 
 Violet had spoken lightly and jestingly to 
 ease Norman's fears, whatever they were ; but 
 though he did not know it, it cost her no 
 small effort to do so, for she felt sadly de- 
 pressed and sorrowful just then, and their 
 meeting with Mr. Wilmot had not tended to 
 cheer her. What was Norman afraid of? 
 He must have had some good reason to in- 
 duce him to ask her so openly to make that 
 promise to him. And he had feared her being 
 offended! As if she could dream of such a 
 thing, when everything he did seemed to her 
 the best and nearest to perfection that could 
 be done ! And that intense longing that he 
 were not going away, that feeling of desola- 
 tion and wonder as to what her life would be 
 like when he was gone, came over Violet with 
 overwhelming force, as it so often did during 
 these last days.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 141 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 It came to the last evening. Norman was 
 leaving Ashleigh Court early in the morning, 
 full tv70 hours before the usual hour for 
 rising. Mrs. Ashleigh would of course be up 
 to breakfast with her son and intended going 
 with him to the station ; but Violet must say 
 good-bye to Norman to-night. How gladly 
 would she have stayed up all night to put off 
 that adieu until morning if possible, but it 
 could not be. There was no reason that she 
 should rise early in the morning to see Nor- 
 man as there was that his mother should do 
 so. If Violet had suggested it, Mrs. Aslileigh 
 in her kindness and unconsciousness would 
 have told her not to think of doing so. 
 And so they sat together this last evening, 
 and Norman played for them on his favourite 
 piano, as he was wont to do. His mother 
 sat close by him, looking wistfully at him 
 as she listened to his beautiful, soul-stirring 
 music, not knowing how long it might be
 
 142 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 before she could hear it again. And Violet 
 sat near too, very quietly, no one knowing 
 that her heart felt like to burst with pain 
 as the precious minutes flew by. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh knew that Yiolet liked Nor- 
 man, that she was sorry for his departure, and 
 would miss him very much; but the young 
 girl kept all sign of her deeper grief carefully 
 hidden from her dear protectress, and exerted 
 herself to divert and comfort her in a manner 
 that made Mrs. Ashleigh feel more than ever 
 how precious she had become to her, and 
 caused Norman to thank heaven a thousand 
 times that his mother had taken Yiolet Morti- 
 mer to her care. But to-night it was very 
 hard for the brave little heart to keep the 
 tears back and to hide the emotion that 
 seemed welling up cruelly every moment as 
 they sat there to all appearance so much as 
 usual, while she knew that to-night she must 
 hear Norman's voice speaking to her for the 
 last time for so many months, that he was 
 really going, so very, very soon. 
 
 Miss Lyndsay went early to her room, 
 saying she had letters to write, having first 
 bidden Norman good-bye and expressed her 
 best wishes for his safe return. Then Norman
 
 VIOLET MOBTIMEE. 143 
 
 asked Violet to sing, only just one song, lie 
 urged, and she could not refuse, though she 
 was afraid to trust herself, with that choking 
 sensation in her throat. She went to the 
 piano and, with an effort clearing her voice, 
 she began to sing one of Norman's favourite 
 songs, one he had given to her. She went on 
 bravely until she had got about half through, 
 and then — why, then it was no use, the effort 
 was too much, she could keep up no longer, 
 and turning aside she buried her face in 
 her hands and wept freely. She would have 
 given whole worlds to have been able to 
 restrain it ; she felt terribly ashamed ; but, to 
 her relief, Mrs. Ashleigh did not seem sur- 
 prised at what seemed to her not extraordi- 
 nary in a sensitive, affectionate girl like Violet. 
 Norman had been very kind to her, and they 
 all had been very happy, so what wonder if 
 Violet were sad ? And dear Mrs. Ashleigh 
 kissed her and consoled her, saying they 
 ought not to have asked her to sing. Norman 
 did not speak, but his eyes were bent on 
 Violet with an expression of sorrow and 
 tenderness, and yet with something of glad- 
 ness in his countenance, whatever were its 
 pause. He would not notice Violet's emotion
 
 144 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 while it lasted, knowing how hard she must 
 have tried to restrain it ; but when in a few 
 minutes she was calm again, he went and sat 
 down by her and talked to her just as usual 
 to put her at her ease, and yet with something 
 tender in his manner, as though he would 
 thank her for her sorrow on his account. 
 
 And when at last the moment came to say 
 ^^ good-bye," when they could prolong the 
 evening no more, Norman, as he stood by 
 Violet's side, turned to Mrs. Ashleigh mth a 
 smile, but with emotion in his voice, which, 
 proud as he was, he could not hide then, and 
 said, — 
 
 ^^ Mother, Violet has promised to take care 
 of you for me while I am away, and you know 
 how well she can do it. Mind, little Violet," 
 he added, turning to her, " that when I come 
 home you must look more pleased to see me 
 .than you did the first time we met. But 
 we know each other better now, don't we," 
 and as he took her hand for the final adieu, 
 he looked at her with peculiar, almost trem- 
 bling earnestness for a moment. His mother 
 looked at him and saw instinctively what he 
 wished to ask but could not. 
 
 ^'Violet, let' him kiss ^ you," she said, and
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 145 
 
 some thonglit to wliicli she had been blind 
 before seemed to strike her as she looked at 
 them; ''it is good-bye; you have been such 
 good friends, and it may be long before — " 
 and she stopped and turned aside. 
 
 Then, still holding Violet's trembling httle 
 hand, Norman stooped and for the first time 
 kissed her forehead, earnestly and gravely, as 
 ' a brother might have done. 
 
 '' Thank you, Violet," he whispered. 
 ^' Good-bye, and may God bless you ! " he 
 added very, very earnestly. 
 
 '' Good-bye, Norman," and Violet looked up 
 once more with the dawn of a new emotion 
 in her blushing face. She could say no 
 more, and in another minute she was gone. 
 
 Straight up to her own room she went, 
 never pausing or looking aside until she 
 reached it, and when safe there in its seclu- 
 sion, she sat down by the bed and cried as she 
 never remembered to have done since the day 
 her father died, with this difference, that then 
 she was a child, while now she seemed, with- 
 in the last few days, to have become a woman. 
 All the pent-up feelings that were partially 
 restrained before Norman and Mrs. Ashleigh 
 burst forth freely now. With Norman's kiss 
 
 VOL. I. 10
 
 146 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 lingering on her forehead, with his whispered 
 ^' God bless you " still ringing in her ears, 
 Violet knew she loved him, not with any 
 child's fondness, not with only a sister's affec- 
 tion, hut with all her passionate woman's heart 
 and deep, loving nature. Young as she was, 
 only sixteen, and little as she had seen of the 
 world, Violet knew now that her life's great 
 love had come to her thus early ; whether 
 for joy or sorrow, whether to meet with a 
 return or not, it was there. Norman or she 
 might die, and he would never know of her 
 love, or, if they lived, he might not care or ask 
 for it ; but there it was in her heart, forming 
 part of herself. The knowledge of it had only 
 seemed to come to her when he who had 
 formed all her happiness was leaving her ; 
 light had only dawned on her now because in 
 the maze of her wonderful joy she had never 
 paused to inquire from whence it came ; only 
 when the joy was going away from her had 
 she begun to see it truly. And there was 
 something bev^ldering to one so young in 
 finding how greatly she loved, something 
 which made the careless, independent happi- 
 ness of a child seem to have vanished for ever, 
 to be replaced by the woman's restless longing
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 147 
 
 for happiness which it depended upon an- 
 other to bestow. 
 
 And as Yiolet wept for the long, dreary 
 days that were to come, the thought came to 
 her that it might be that Norman would one 
 day love her, or even, but it could not surely 
 be, loved her now ! And she thought of all 
 his kindness, so constant, so unvarying, so 
 tender even, at times ; and every look, every 
 word of his came back to her ; every expression 
 of his face, in its attractive beauty, she re- 
 membered now, and there was untold rapture 
 in the retrospect. But could it be ? Was it 
 likely that proud Norman Ashleigh, with his 
 rare gifts, with his numerous advantages, 
 would dream of loving her, a young girl of 
 sixteen, little more than a child ? Did he not 
 loek on her rather with a friend's affection, 
 as one whom he might regard as a young 
 sister, wishing she had been really such ? 
 And still that hope would not be stilled, that 
 hope that she did not love in vain would 
 rise in the yearning heart, and oh ! what an 
 earnest prayer for Norman Ashleigh's safe 
 return went up to heaven that night before 
 sleep came at last to Violet's wearied eyelids. 
 
 When she awoke, she found that Norman
 
 148 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 must have been gone more than an hour. 
 She had dreaded waking in time to hear the 
 carriage drive down the avenue, and having 
 to lie there hstening to the sound as it died 
 away, knowing that each moment took him 
 further away from her. She rose and dressed, 
 and opening the window, leant out looking 
 over the sea ; then her eyes falling on the rose 
 bush growing up against the window, she 
 passed her hands caressingly over the leaves. 
 
 ^' The roses will have bloomed and withered 
 and be blooming again before Norman comes 
 back," and Yiolet sighed, wearily. But she 
 thought of Mrs. Ashleigh, and beside the 
 love she bore to her guardian for her own 
 sake, there was a strange happiness in re- 
 membering that Norman had asked her to 
 take his place, as it were, towards his mother 
 during his absence. And her earnest resolve 
 to keep her promise seemed to form a link 
 between herself and Norman. Mrs. Ashleigh 
 must be doubly dear to her now ! The time 
 had come when she could in part repay those 
 who had been so kind to her. And might not 
 the long, dreary time and even the knowledge 
 that her great, deep love might have to be for 
 ever silent, unsought for and unasked — might
 
 VIOLET MOBTIMEE. 149 
 
 not even this be easier to bear when she was 
 employed in love's own labour, cheering and 
 sustaining Norman's mother, doing her best 
 to make the days pass quickly for her until 
 her son's return ? 
 
 And so Violet went downstairs, where Mrs. 
 Ashleigh was waiting for her in the breakfast- 
 room, and going up to her she put her arms 
 round her and kissed her. 
 
 ^' Good morning, grandmamma," she said, 
 then half-sitting, half-kneeling by her she took 
 Mrs. xVshleigh's hand caressingly in her own 
 and looked up smilingly into her face. Brave 
 little Violet ! Very carefully did she hide the 
 traces of last night's emotion ; but it may have 
 been that the thought that had dawned on 
 Mrs. Ashleigh the previous night for the first 
 time was on her now, for as she looked ten- 
 derly on Violet's upturned face and met the 
 gaze that lovingly sought her own, she whis- 
 pered fondly and with almost a sigh, ^' My 
 darling ! " And the tone and manner almost 
 shook Violet's composure, for she turned aside 
 and hid her face on Mrs. Ashleigh' s shoulder. 
 But it was but for a moment, and then she 
 listened as Mrs. Ashleigh told her all the 
 little details of Norman's departure, unim-
 
 150 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 portant in themselves, but so interesting to 
 Violet ; and how precious were the last few 
 words of farewell he had sent to her by his 
 mother ! 
 
 ^^ I waited to see the train go," said Mrs. 
 Ashleigh; ''but I have been home nearly an 
 hour. Violet, my love, I have only you now. 
 We must try to make each other happy until 
 Norman comes back to us."
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 151 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 When Mrs. Mortimer and Eleanor Gordon 
 heard from Violet of Norman's departure, and 
 that he was likely to remain abroad some 
 time, the news afforded them considerable 
 satisfaction. Eleanor had long given up the 
 hope, and her mother was beginning to do, 
 of ever being invited to Ashleigh Court, or 
 of making Norman Ashleigh' s acquaintance. 
 Mrs. Mortimer was terribly disappointed ; 
 but Eleanor, ever since she had perceived 
 by Violet's letters how kind and attentive 
 Norman was to her, had made up her mind 
 that she did not care for his acquaintance, 
 and, to her mother's annoyance, repeatedly 
 declared that she should only hate him, if 
 ever they chanced to meet. Her nature, 
 stronger and prouder than her mother's, 
 enabled her to dismiss him from her thoughts 
 and turn to a more profitable quarter, instead 
 of fretting and sighing after that which she 
 felt it was useless to hope to obtain. But
 
 152 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 still, jealousy of what might be Violet's 
 good fortune rankled in her heart, and it was 
 undoubtedly pleasant to hear that Norman 
 Ashleigh was safely out of the way for the 
 present, for if Eleanor dreaded one thing 
 more than another, it was to see Violet 
 married before herself. 
 
 ^* She has money," she thought, '' but with 
 my small fortune I have beauty, which she 
 has not;" and Eleanor would gaze trium- 
 phantly at the majestic figure and beautiful, 
 statuesque face reflected in her mirror. 
 
 Violet had only written in very brief terms 
 of Norman's departure, and its cause. She 
 had mentioned that Mrs. Ashleigh would of 
 course miss her son very much ; but some- 
 thing kept her from expressing any concern 
 herself, even such as she might naturally be 
 expected to feel as a friend. Could Eleanor 
 Gordon have been told that Violet was in love 
 she would most likely have laughed the idea 
 to scorn, perhaps have said she was far too 
 young for such a thing, as though love were a 
 thing to come by order, or not before a certain 
 age. But then Eleanor did not believe in 
 love ; it was a thing she was far too poor 
 ever to indulge in herself, and a steadfast,
 
 VIOLET MOBTIMER. 153 
 
 all devoted love like Violet's was something 
 she would not even have understood. 
 
 The days passed on very slowly at Ashleigh 
 Court now. Norman had gone by the over- 
 land route to India, and he wrote as often as 
 possible to his mother, who never failed to 
 give his letters to Yiolet to read. And there 
 was always frequent mention of herself in 
 them, in sending her messages, or in the 
 words ^^you and Yiolet," which constantly 
 occurred. And the sight of her name written 
 so often in Norman's handwriting caused her 
 heart to thrill with joyous emotion. But how 
 strange it felt to her to be reading Norman's 
 letter, as she sat in the garden or in any of the 
 places where so lately he had sat by her side 
 and talked to her, and now he was gone, and 
 each day took him farther and farther away ! 
 
 Miss Lyndsay might have been excused for 
 thinking it rather well than otherwise that 
 Norman had had to go away. There were no 
 interruptions now to her studies, as had been 
 before, when he used to petition for Violet to 
 go with him for a ride, or a walk, or when he 
 would come between her and her lessons, as 
 he had done that evening they went to Mrs. 
 Amott's, the evening the news arrived of
 
 154 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 Mr. Lacy's death. No excuse came now to 
 take Violet from the schoolroom, and her 
 governess could not but be pleased at the way 
 in which she devoted herself to her studies, 
 for being naturally clever, she progressed 
 rapidly. Miss Lyndsay could not know the 
 strongest reason why her pupil applied to her 
 lessons more than she had ever done before ; 
 she could not know that it was because they 
 kept her from thinking too much, that it 
 was in order that she might not lose herself 
 in the thoughts that came over her so often, 
 and because the studies helped to pass the 
 long, weary days. 
 
 No one knew how in these early days of 
 Norman's absence Violet often lay awake 
 at night, thinking of the past and wondering 
 what the future would be, thinking of her 
 love, not daring to think it was returned, 
 or ever might be. And imaginations would 
 crowd into her mind, almost over sensitive, 
 of dangers that might beset Norman in the 
 far-off country to which he had gone. 
 
 What if he should take the fever and 
 die, like Mr. Lacy ? The idea made Violet 
 shudder and feel as if there would be nothing 
 then for her but to die too.
 
 VIOLET MOBTIMEK. 155 
 
 It is very possible that Yiolet might have 
 fallen ill at this time if she had not had her 
 lessons to divert her mind from the one sub- 
 ject occupying it. And after a few days she 
 grew interested in them, and found relief in 
 them, as we have said before ; but at first it 
 had seemed terribly hard and irksome to apply 
 to anything in the soreness of her spirit. 
 Poor Yiolet ! she had a harder lesson than 
 any comprised in her education, to learn thus 
 early, that of keeping buried in her heart the 
 secret of her love and having to appear cheer- 
 ful and happy outwardly, so that none might 
 know when she felt doubt and care within. 
 
 The happiest hours of her life now were 
 those spent alone with Mrs. Ashleigh. She 
 never felt so peaceful and contented as when 
 with her, and every moment that was not 
 engaged in the schoolroom was spent in her 
 society. There was something soothing v in 
 the thought that she was fulfilling her pro- 
 mise to Norman when cheering and divert- 
 ing his mother. And Mrs. Ashleigh often 
 wondered what she would have done in her 
 loneliness if she had not had Yiolet to cheer 
 her home and heart. 
 
 Yiolet was forcibly reminded now of the
 
 156 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 days of her first corning to Ashleigh Court, 
 bright, happy, careless days, when she and 
 grandmamma were alone, 'and she had wanted 
 no other company ; but those days were gone, 
 never to return ; they were gone with the last 
 remnant of her childhood, which seemed to 
 have slipped away from her grasp and left her 
 a woman, vdth a woman's heart and feeling 
 at her girlish years. 
 
 Violet took the old accustomed solitary 
 rambles very rarely now. She was almost 
 invariably with Mrs. Ashleigh in her walks 
 or when she drove to town ; but roaming alone 
 among the hills seemed to have lost its charm 
 for her. She had tried it once or twice, 
 taking the dog Carlo with her ; but the loneli- 
 ness of the hills was oppressive, though she 
 had loved it so much in the old days before 
 she knew Norman. Every path, every turn 
 amongst them, and every nook in the valley 
 reminded her, oh, how painfully ! of the times 
 she had wandered there with him by her 
 side, rejoicing and so happy, never thinking 
 of the awakening that was to come so 
 soon. 
 
 '' I may never wander about here again with 
 Norman, perhaps," she sighed as she turned
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 157 
 
 her steps homewards. Others might come 
 hetween them in the future, and they would 
 be Httle more than strangers. And so for the 
 present Yiolet kept away from the dear, beau- 
 tiful hills, and was content to view them from 
 a distance. She rode Charley sometimes, 
 attended by a steady groom, because it did 
 her good, and Mrs. Ashleigh thought she en- 
 joyed it. How she recalled, every time she 
 mounted the pony, the happy day Norman 
 had given him to her. He had left her many 
 injunctions to take care of herself when riding. 
 ^' Not that I mistrust Charley," he had said, 
 smiling ; '^ but he might feel inclined to take 
 hberties, as I shall not be there to keep him 
 in order." 
 
 One place Yiolet did not forsake, one place 
 where she always felt less sad and oppressed 
 than anywhere else, and that was the sea- 
 shore. She did not know how it was, but 
 here, by the side of the changeless and yet 
 ever changing sea, painful thoughts did not so 
 overpower her. It seemed so familiar, like 
 an old friend that she had known even in 
 the days before she came to Ashleigh Court, 
 and its loneliness was not like that of the 
 silent hills, though she loved the hills best
 
 158 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 perhaps. But then they reminded her so 
 painfully of Norman, that a feehng of deso- 
 lation came over her as she thought of the 
 times he had v^andered with her amongst 
 them, whereas, the sight and sound of the 
 waves were invariably cheering and brought 
 companionship. It was here by the seashore 
 that moments of happiness came oftenest to 
 Violet, whose naturally joyous spirit could not 
 exist entirely without hope. It was in these 
 moments that a radiant feeling, almost amount- 
 ing to a conviction that Norman loved her, 
 would take possession of her heart, causing it 
 to bound v^ith delicious joy as she thought of 
 his constant attention, his unfailing interest 
 in all that concerned her, and the earnest, 
 almost impassioned tone which his voice had 
 so often lately assumed when addressing her. 
 Oh ! it could not be that he thought of her 
 only as a child knowing nothing of love, with 
 its joys and pains. But these joyous moments 
 would pass, leaving the young heart sad and 
 full of doubt as before. Sometimes Violet 
 would try to remember when she had first 
 loved Norman, for it all seemed to have grown 
 upon her as part of herself, and she could not 
 analyze what had been her feelings during the
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 159 
 
 past dream of happiness. She thought that, 
 without knowing it, she must have loved him 
 from the first moment she had seen him, when 
 she first looked up into his face and he had 
 introduced himself to her as Norman Ash- 
 leigh, and she had been so shy and ungracious. 
 Then sometimes it seemed to her that it was 
 on her sixteenth birthday that the fall tide of 
 happiness had flowed in upon her, that day 
 when she had first ridden by Norman's side 
 and he had spoken those few words to her in 
 that earnest, passionate tone, and she had 
 been silent vdth wonder and joy. She did not 
 know, she could not tell which of these it 
 was ; but she knew that Norman Ashleigh, at 
 whatever time of her hfe she met him, must 
 have been the one to win her heart. No 
 other could ever occupy it, and if this love, 
 which had come to her so early, were never 
 returned, never sought for by him to whom 
 alone she could give her affection : why, then 
 — But Violet was very young, and she could 
 scarcely bear yet to think of the desolate 
 life hers might be, and of the terrible 
 effort she might have to make to root out 
 or deaden the love so strongly planted in 
 her heart.
 
 160 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 If anyone, knowing not the depths of this 
 young girl's character, had told her that in time, 
 if need he, she would be able not only to over- 
 come this first attachment, but to love again, 
 Yiolet would only have listened in utter dis- 
 belief, and perhaps have smiled mournfully as 
 she thought how little they knew her and how 
 little they knew of Norman, to think that after 
 having known and loved him she could ever 
 dream of anyone else. But there was no one 
 to talk to her in this way, and so she went on 
 undisturbed, hiding her secret and trying to 
 look happy for grandmamma's sake, singing 
 for her and doing everything as she had been 
 used to do in the old days. And the portrait 
 of Eupert Ashleigh was more than ever now 
 an object of attraction to Violet. She would 
 stand for minutes together, with her eyes 
 fixed intently on it, tracing the likeness to 
 Norman in the features of the young cava- 
 lier. She remembered how he had ralHed 
 her more than once on having discovered, 
 like everyone else, his resemblance to the 
 portrait, and she had laughingly told him 
 it was as much like him and more so than 
 some of the likenesses really meant for him. 
 How closely he resembled it that evening at
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 161 
 
 Mrs. Arnott's, when she had seen him 
 watching Mr. Wilmot ! 
 
 Meanwhile Mr. Wilmot was still in the 
 neighhourhood of Ashleigh Court, staying 
 with his cousins. Yiolet had met him in the 
 roads twice when out with Mrs. Ashleigh, but 
 she had merely bowed politely and passed on. 
 If she had given the least encouragement, he 
 would certainly have stopped and requested 
 an introduction to Mrs. Ashleigh ; but, as it 
 was, he had to content himself with making 
 Yiolet an elaborate bow. On the first of these 
 occasions Violet had explained to Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh that he was the Mr. Wilmot they had 
 met at Mrs. Arnott's and whom she had heard 
 them mention once or twice. ^^ I don't think 
 Norman liked him, grandmamma ; " and Mrs. 
 Ashleigh had thought no more of him. Mrs. 
 Amott did not conceal from Yiolet that she 
 herself did not much like Mr. Wilmot, and 
 could not help feeling distrustful of him. 
 She did not know how long he intended stay- 
 ing in the neighbourhood, but she told Violet 
 that his cousins were just the kind of easy, 
 good-natured people to make him welcome as 
 long as he chose to remain, and did not make 
 himself absolutely disagreeable, which, with 
 
 VOL. I. 11
 
 162 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 his powers of fascination, lie was not likely 
 to do. He had called once or twice on Mrs. 
 Amott with his cousin Mrs. Lester, but as 
 yet Yiolet had not chanced to encounter him 
 alone since Norman's departure.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 163 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 NoEMAN had arrived at Calcutta, and had 
 written home to Mrs. Ashleigh from his 
 aunt's house. Mrs. Lacy had been anxiously 
 expecting him, having received his letter. 
 Norman could not but tell his mother that he 
 found his aunt very ill and looking sadly 
 changed from the aunt he had known in his 
 boyish days. Her grief for her husband's 
 death was much calmer, and her medical 
 attendant had told Norman that now, having 
 a member of her own family with her, and 
 the comfort of knowing that she was no longer 
 alone and unaided, she might, with care, raUy 
 and be almost herself again for a time. It 
 might be so, but he could give no decided 
 opinion yet, and he had told Norman that his 
 aunt must not be left alone for months yet ; 
 and even should she recover, it was extremely 
 uncertain whether it would be safe for her to 
 undertake a journey to England and make 
 her residence there. Norman did not con-
 
 164 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 ceal anything from his mother of all this, 
 for she had hegged him, hefore he left her, 
 always to let her know the worst, whatever 
 it might be. Before concluding his letter 
 he gave his mother a description of his aunt's 
 Indian home. As yet he could only go out 
 early in the morning or late in the evening, 
 on account of the extreme heat to which he 
 was so unaccustomed. He bade his mother, 
 however, to be perfectly at ease, as he was 
 quite well in spite of the heat. He was 
 intending to call upon Mr. Lacy's relations 
 in a day or tWo, to try and prevail on them to 
 withdraw the claim they had set up to part 
 of the property left to his aunt. The latter 
 was afraid his efforts would be useless, but he 
 was going to try at least. 
 
 By the same mail which brought Norman's 
 letter there came one also from Mrs. Lacy. 
 "Weak as she was, the grateful invalid, could 
 not refrain from writing to thank her sister- 
 in-law for sending her her son. 
 
 '' It makes me feel so selfish," she wrote, 
 *^ knowing that I am keeping him from you. 
 Now that I have seen him I feel and know 
 better even than before what it must have 
 cost you to part with him. You had told me
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 165 
 
 that Norman had grown up a fine, handsome 
 young man, and I knew he was your pride 
 and joy, hut even your motherly praises did 
 not do him justice. It does me good only 
 to look at Norman and know that he is really 
 my nephew, Henry's boy. He was a noble, 
 promising lad, but he has exceeded even my 
 sanguine expectations. If my poor husband 
 could but have seen him again ! God grant 
 I may not keep him from you long, Margaret!" 
 and it was very sweet to the mother's heart 
 to read these praises of her son. 
 
 One thing was certain, that Norman's 
 absence would be a long one, as they had 
 feared. How often, as the warm summer 
 days came on again, did an unspoken fear 
 take possession of Mrs. Ashleigh and Violet, 
 as they thought of him so far away, that the 
 hot chmate might be injurious to him, or that 
 he might even be struck dovni fatally in his 
 youth and strength. It was perhaps a foolish, 
 uncalled for dread ; but loving hearts are apt 
 to entertain foolish fears and fancies concern- 
 ing those they hold so dear. A few days 
 after the arrival of Norman's letter, Violet 
 had strolled to her accustomed spot on 
 the seashore, and sat as usual enjoying the
 
 166 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 
 
 soft summer sea breeze with Carlo by her 
 side. Happening to glance northwards, she 
 saw a solitary figure approaching, which as 
 it came nearer proved to be Mr. Wilmot. 
 Eemembering her promise to Norman, Yiolet 
 had always dreaded this, meeting Louis 
 Wilmot when out alone. He came towards 
 her, and to hide her trepidation, Violet bent 
 down and caressed the dog, feeling glad Carlo 
 was with her. 
 
 Mr. "Wilmot held out his hand, and with his 
 most fascinating smile expressed his delight 
 at meeting her. Then sitting by her side on 
 her ledge of rock, he began to talk to her in 
 a somewhat melancholy, sentimental strain, 
 complaining of his solitary, wandering ex- 
 istence, and saying how intensely he should 
 feel leaving this neighbourhood, which had 
 become strangely dear to him in so short a 
 time. 
 
 *' I do not know how I shall tear myself 
 away from it at all. Miss Mortimer, unless 
 ydth a prospect of very, very soon returning," 
 and he bestowed another of his restless, 
 melancholy glances upon her. 
 
 Even if Norman had not distrusted Mr. 
 Wilmot, Yiolet would have felt shy and un-
 
 I VIOLET MORTIMER. 167 
 
 comfortable, unaccustomed as slie was to 
 society, at being here alone with a gentleman 
 who was little more than a stranger ; but 
 now, as he talked in this strain, she became 
 positively nervous, and saying it was time for 
 her to return home, rose from her seat. As 
 she did so, Mr. Wilmot at once offered to 
 accompany her. She knew that part of his 
 way hopie was the same as hers, so she could 
 not but thank him and consent, thinking, poor 
 child, that it would be gross rudeness to tell 
 Mr. Wilmot she preferred being alone. As 
 they walked together along the lonely road, 
 Violet wondered to herself what Norman 
 would have thought could he have seen them. 
 And as Mr. Wilmot talked on in his usual 
 gentlemanly and yet pointedly attentive style 
 to her, becoming now and then sentimental 
 and poetical in his allusions, it flashed upon 
 Violet that he was reaUy paying her serious 
 attention and wished her to perceive it. 
 
 Young as she was, Violet had read a 
 great many novels, and they stood her in 
 good stead now, for they enabled her to 
 know what this kind of behaviour was sup- 
 posed to mean, though she had not thouglit 
 of it before in her own case, as it had not
 
 168 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 entered her head to suppose Mr. Wilmot 
 could dreara of paying serious attention to 
 one so very young as herself, and one so 
 little known to him too. She had often 
 wondered what Norman had feared about 
 Mr. Wilmot, and had thought that he did not 
 like her, in whom he took so kind an interest, 
 to he much in the company of a stranger of 
 whose character they knew so Httle. But 
 now, was this what Norman had feared? Had 
 he taken a dislike to Mr. Wilmot because 
 he saw that he might mean to follow up his 
 acquaintance with her and show he was in 
 earnest when he paid his attentions to her ? 
 Could it be so, and would it then matter to 
 Norman so very much ? The question caused 
 a strange thrill to pass through Yiolet*s heart, 
 and she scarcely heard the words Mr. Wilmot 
 spoke during the moments the thought was in 
 her mind. If there had ever been any, latent, 
 unawakened disposition to flirt in Violet's 
 nature, it had been effectually stamped out 
 and crushed by her early love, so deep, so 
 real. She began to feel very helpless, for she 
 knew that if her fear proved true, Mr. Wilmot 
 would not be easily repulsed. 
 
 Oh ! if he would only go and leave her in
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 169 
 
 peace. What could he want with her, a girl 
 not yet out of the schoolroom ? What could 
 such a one as Mr. Wilmot see in her, who 
 had never talked anything but commonplaces 
 to him, and whose heart had always been 
 elsewhere while speaking to him ? And Nor- 
 man was so far away, and it was useless to 
 cause Mrs. Ashleigh any fresh anxiety. In 
 her youth and inexperience she had only one 
 friend of whom she could ask advice, Mrs. 
 Arnott, and it might be hard to speak even to 
 her on the subject. But her true, brave heart 
 being strengthened by resolving anew to keep 
 her promise to Norman, and knowing now 
 what Mr. Wilmot's attentions might mean, 
 Violet was enabled to put aside her fear of 
 seeming rude to him, and when they reached 
 the turning in the road which led to Ash- 
 leigh Court, she paused and bade him adieu in 
 such a distant, pointedly cold manner, as to 
 astonish him very considerably. Still he 
 would not be daunted, and wished to accom- 
 pany her to the gates ; but she found courage 
 to say firmly, though gently, that she needed 
 no escort, and would not trouble him. So 
 he was forced to leave her, and if Violet 
 could have seen him as he looked back after
 
 170 YIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 her, she would have perceived an expression 
 of scowling anger on his handsome face, 
 which was succeeded by a contemptuous 
 smile and curl of his thin lips. But she did 
 not see this, and pursued her way quickly, 
 and when she was safe within the gardens 
 of Ashleigh Court, some impulse made her 
 bend down and caress Norman's dog. 
 
 '' We don't like Mr. Wilmot, do we, Carlo ? 
 And it won't be kind or gentlemanly of him 
 if he forces his company on us again after 
 to-day, will it ? Eh ! dear old Carlo, I won- 
 der how long it will be before you see your 
 master again 1 " and Yiolet sighed wearily as 
 she walked on to the house. 
 
 A few days after this Violet went down to 
 Mrs. Arnott's, and as they sat together in a 
 shady seat in the garden, after a pause in 
 the conversation, asked Mrs. Arnott if she 
 had seen Mr. Wilmot again, or if she had 
 heard when he was leaving the neighbour- 
 hood. From Violet's manner, her friend saw 
 she had some motive for asking, but merely 
 answered, — 
 
 '^ No, Violet, I have not seen him since he 
 called with Mrs. Lester, and he said nothing 
 then about leaving. I do not know what
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 171 
 
 keeps him here so long ; but as lie has no 
 particular home and apparently has time and 
 money at his disposal, perhaps it i^ as agree- 
 able to be here as elsewhere. The Lesters 
 like him immensely. He is Mrs. Lester's 
 relation, you know ; his mother was her first 
 cousin, but having lost sight of him so entirely 
 during the years he was abroad, he was almost 
 like a stranger to them when he returned to 
 England lately. He was an only child, Mrs. 
 Lester told me, and I fancy his father left 
 him well provided for, but beyond this I know 
 nothing of him." 
 
 Violet had meant to confide in Mrs. Arnott, 
 to tell her of the way in which Mr. Wilmot 
 had spoken and of his manner to her the other 
 day, but now she could not bring herseK to do 
 so. Her supposition might be wrong after all, 
 and Violet's pride made her shrink from ap- 
 pearing foohsh, even to Mrs. Arnott, so she 
 only said, — 
 
 *' I met him when I was on the shore 
 the other day, and he walked part of the 
 way home with me. Did you know that 
 Norman did not like him much, Mrs. 
 Arnott?" 
 
 '' Violet's embarrassed tone and manner half
 
 172 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 revealed to Mrs. Arnott what was on Violet's 
 mind, and she replied, — 
 
 '' Yes, I saw that the night they met here. 
 I have never said so to you before, but I saw 
 it very plainly." 
 
 There was silence for a few minutes, and 
 then Mrs. Arnott said laughingly, — 
 
 '' But, Violet, I have a request to make of 
 you, and you must not refuse me. You know 
 I am going into Wales with the children, 
 and I am bent on taking you with me. It 
 is rather a long journey, but you will not 
 mind that. We shall only be a month away, 
 and I am sure Mrs. Ashleigh will agree with 
 me that it will do you good. So now promise, 
 my love." 
 
 But Violet half turned aside as she answered 
 in a low tone, — 
 
 ''Oh, Mrs. Arnott, I cannot! You are 
 very, very kind, and I should like to go 
 away with you very much, but indeed I 
 cannot." 
 
 " My love, why not ? You sm-ely cannot 
 disappoint me and refuse to come ? ' ' and 
 Mrs. Arnott took Violet's hand caressingly. 
 
 Violet looked earnestly at the gentle, sweet 
 face of her friend, and replied, —
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 173 
 
 *' I cannot leave grandmamma now, Mrs. 
 Arnott. I must stay with her while Norman 
 is away. Don't think me unkind, but I could 
 not be happy away from grandmamma," and 
 Mrs. Arnott could not resist her simple 
 appeal. 
 
 Was a glimpse of Violet's secret revealed 
 by her clinging so to Norman's mother, by 
 her looking so sacredly upon her promise to 
 him to take care of her during his absence ? 
 At all events, Mrs. Arnott felt that further 
 persuasion would be useless, and kissing 
 Violet, she said kindly, — 
 
 ''You are right, Violet; I cannot ask you 
 to leave her. Forgive me, my dear girl." 
 
 And as Violet left her, Mrs. Arnott looked 
 after her sadly. ''Dear httle Violet! and 
 she so young! " she sighed to herself. "Well, 
 I must find some other way." 
 
 For all Violet's loving attention and efforts 
 to be gay and cheerful for her sake, Mrs. 
 Ashleigh was beginning to perceive that her 
 darling was not her old bright, joyous self. 
 With all her care, Violet could not always 
 keep that wistful look from betraying itself, 
 or prevent Mrs. Ashleigh from sometimes 
 finding her in a reverie, with her thoughts
 
 174 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 far away from the scene around her, which 
 always made her dear guardian think of the 
 lonely life in London from which she had 
 taken her. She was rapidly coming to the 
 conclusion that Violet was not well, or at 
 least wanted a change. Much as she knew 
 Violet loved Ashleigh Court and its vicinity, 
 it might he that a little change from such 
 quiet country life was necessary for a time. 
 And now that Norman was away there was 
 no one to ride with her or to accompany her 
 in the long ramhles she was so fond of. Mrs. 
 Ashleigh could not hut notice that Violet's 
 walks hecame fewer and shorter, for within 
 the last few days the young girl had been 
 haunted by the fear of again meeting Mr. 
 Wilmot. Mrs. Ashleigh knew nothing of this 
 new trouble, for Violet could not bring her- 
 self to cause her any fresh anxiety, and so 
 never mentioned Mr. Wilmot to her. Nor 
 could her kind protectress know the real 
 cause of Violet' s altered ways ; her thought 
 at the time of Norman's departure was but 
 a suspicion of what might be, and it had 
 passed away now for a time. She had 
 been so accustomed to see Norman and 
 Violet together, to witness their daily inter-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 175 
 
 course, that she had grown to fancy that her 
 son looked on Violet as a young sister. 
 
 Perhaps the old housekeeper, who had not 
 heen mixed up so closely with them, was 
 nearer the truth in her thoughts about Violet 
 at this time. 
 
 *^ Poor Miss Violet ! it is plain to see she is 
 not quite herself, and to my mind she has 
 not heen since my young master went away. 
 Perhaps I*m wrong, but it strikes me, though 
 she tries to hide it, that she has only half a 
 heart left here and the rest is away in India. 
 Lately, when she has come into my room, 
 I believe, dear young thing, she would never 
 have thought of stirring for hours if I had 
 gone on talking about Mr. Norman and telling 
 her tales of what he did when he was a boy. 
 Well, we shall see ; God bless both of them ! " 
 
 And so the long days passed on, and Violet 
 clung to her dreary lessons as a kind of refuge, 
 and was always telling herself she ought to be 
 ashamed for not feeling contented and happy 
 when everything was the same around her and 
 all looked as beautiful and bright as when she 
 first came to Ashleigh Court. But it was no 
 use, things would not seem the same, and 
 she could no more help feeling weary and full
 
 176 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 of that wistful longing than she could lay aside 
 her love and forget it. She had a strong will 
 and a brave heart, hut she was very young, and 
 the strain to seem happy and unconcerned 
 was almost too much for her at times. Even 
 when playing on Norman's piano for Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, to keep it in tune for him, as he had 
 asked her, she was powerless to prevent an 
 exquisitely painful sensation as she touched 
 the keys and played the music she had so 
 loved to listen to when Norman was the 
 performer. 
 
 When Mrs. Arnotfc had named her wish 
 to take her away with her, a strong desire 
 had arisen in Violet's heart that she could 
 have gone, to he away from the dear familiar 
 scenes for a time ; not that she was weary or 
 tired of them, oh, no ! but their very fami- 
 liarity was painful in these early days to the 
 sore spirit. And she would have been safe 
 from Mr. Wilmot for a time at least ; that 
 alone would have been a strong induce- 
 ment to Yiolet. But never for an instant did 
 she swerve from her resolution not to leave 
 Mrs. Ashleigh ; how could she be happy away 
 from her ? Violet's holidays were just com- 
 mencing, Miss Lyndsay had gone home to
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 177 
 
 her own friends for a time, and Mrs. Ashleigh, 
 though she had not yet spoken of it, was con- 
 sidering where she should take Violet for a 
 change. For herself, she would never have 
 thought of leaving home, having seldom 
 done so for years ; hut thinking that Yiolet 
 required it after her quiet year at Ashleigh 
 Court, she laid aside her ovni inclination. 
 
 One evening, a day or two after Violet had 
 seen Mrs. Arnott, the latter came to see Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, with an earnest request that she 
 and Violet would hoth accompany her into 
 Wales. 
 
 ^' I am sure you ought to take a holiday 
 this summer. It will do you both good, and 
 I'm sure Norman would wish it. And it will 
 make the time pass more quickly, dear Mrs. 
 Ashleigh," said Mrs. Arnott, gently. 
 
 The arrangement suited Mrs. Ashleigh's 
 plans so exactly that she told Mrs. Arnott all 
 she had been thinking, and so it happened her 
 acquiescence was gained at once, much sooner 
 than Mrs. Arnott had expected, though at 
 first the former had expressed a wish to Violet 
 that she should go alone with Mrs. Arnott. 
 
 *' You will do very well without me ; I am 
 better at home," she said, smiling. 
 
 VOL. I. 12
 
 178 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 But Violet's look and tone as she exclaimed, 
 *^ Oh, grandmamma! you know I cannot go 
 without you ; Mrs. Arnott knows that I shall 
 stay at home if you do," settled the matter. 
 And when Mrs. Arnott was leaving, Violet 
 went after her to thank her for her kindness 
 in proposing the arrangement. 
 
 "Even if grandmamma had not been think- 
 ing of going away (she had not named it yet 
 to me, you know) I am sure she would have 
 consented when you proposed it, Mrs. Arnott." 
 
 And so they left the lonely Cumberland 
 hills and the unfrequented seashore, and 
 went amidst the beautiful scenery of Wales, 
 staying part of their time at one of the 
 favourite watering places, where Violet gazed 
 at the sea from the pier or watched the waves 
 dash up close to the handsome, fashionable 
 promenade, thinking the while how different 
 it was from the lonely seaside she had left, 
 and yet it was the selfsame sea ! Inhere, at 
 home, as she sat among the cliffs or on the 
 sands, she might be hours without seeing 
 any creature save herself, and perhaps, now 
 and then, a solitary fisherman : here, not a 
 moment but she saw or was amid crowds of 
 people, old, young, children, pleasure-seekers,
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 179 
 
 or health-seekers, or those who, like her- 
 self, had come for change from their accus- 
 tomed life, so that she was never solitary. 
 But it did her good, this coming for a time 
 among fresh scenes and heing away from 
 the dear, famihar spots, with their memories 
 and associations bringing so forcibly to her 
 mind the knowledge that the past happy 
 days might perhaps never be renewed. And 
 when at the month's end they came home to 
 Cumberland once more, Mrs. Arnott learnt 
 from the Lesters that Mr. Wilmot had leffc 
 them about a fortnight previously to go 
 abroad.
 
 180 VIOLET MORTIMER. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 Almost a year had elapsed since Norman 
 went away, and all was going on the same 
 at Ashleigh Court. His last letters had 
 been full of good accounts of his aunt's 
 health, and it was probable that the threat- 
 ened consumption might be warded off for 
 years. The claim laid to part of her property 
 by her husband's relations had been at 
 length relinquished through Norman's inter- 
 vention, and her affairs being settled with 
 his assistance, and her health having become 
 so far re-established, Mrs. Lacy, much as 
 she would feel the loss of his presence, 
 was very anxious that he should return to 
 England. 
 
 But Norman lingered with her still, and 
 as yet had fixed no time for his departure 
 for the dear, far-off home. For, to his sorrow, 
 he could not, as he had hoped, take his aunt 
 with him, the doctors having warned him that 
 this, her temporary restoration to health, was
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 181 
 
 but a precarious one, and that to go to Eng- 
 land would be certainly dangerous and perhaps 
 fatal. And so to preserve her life as long 
 as might be, she must give up the hope of 
 seeing her sister-in-law again and of dying 
 at Ashleigh Court, her childhood's home. 
 Norman vdshed her to let him take her to 
 some place nearer home, the island of 
 Madeira, for instance, where she could take 
 up her future residence and be within easier 
 access ; but Mrs. Lacy always replied, as 
 Norman told in his letters, — 
 
 '' No, Norman, I could not bear to be so 
 near England and yet not see home. I shall 
 remain here to the end, for it is my home, 
 after all, where everything speaks to me of 
 my husband. We were very happy here, and 
 I could not leave it for a place which would 
 be entirely strange to me. When you leave 
 me, Norman, and it must be soon, I shall 
 have my two faithful English' servants with 
 me, and they v^ll give me every care." And 
 to Mrs. Ashleigh she wrote, '^ If I had had a 
 son of my own, he could not have been more 
 to me than Norman has been. I feel it has 
 been his presence that has been instrumental 
 in restoring me to health thus far. He came
 
 182 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 to me in my trouble and first grief, wlien 
 I had need of help ; but I am not happy at 
 keeping him longer from you now." 
 
 And so they knew at Ashleigh Court that 
 it would not be long before Norman came 
 home again. He had not forgotten Violet's 
 birthday this year, though so far away from 
 her. About the day on which she completed 
 her seventeenth year, she had received a letter 
 from Norman, with a present of ornaments 
 of exquisite Indian workmanship. As Violet 
 held in her hands and rested her eyes on this, 
 her first letter from Norman, if anything had 
 been needed to show her how, stronger than 
 ever as the time had passed on, had grown 
 the deep love in her heart, the assurance 
 was given her then. The rapture that thrilled 
 in every vein, the joy, so hard to hide, in her 
 heart, because Norman had thus remembered 
 her, all told the tale anew. And now that 
 the dreary winter was over, and the long even- 
 ings were passing away during which she and 
 grandmamma had sat together without Nor- 
 man to entertain them with the ever fresh 
 charm of his conversation or with the music 
 they loved somuch, it was not strange that 
 Violet's spirit rejoiced and that the gladness
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 183 
 
 shone in her soft eyes again as she thought that 
 before the bloom of the coming summer faded, 
 Norman would return, would be at home once 
 more ! And Mrs. Ashleigh's joy at the pros- 
 pect of her son's return was enhanced by the 
 knowledge that his aunt was restored to com- 
 parative health, though she shared Norman's 
 sorrow that Mrs. Lacy could not accompany 
 him home, for now it was only too certain that 
 she and her husband's favourite sister would 
 never meet again on earth. 
 
 Mrs. Ashleigh and Violet had been very 
 quiet and retired this winter. Mrs. Mortimer, 
 determined to make one more effort, had 
 invited them both to come and visit her in 
 the early part of the year ; but Mrs. Ashleigh 
 had gently and politely, but very decidedly, 
 declined to accept the invitation. She had 
 an excuse at which no one could take 
 offence, namely, her reluctance to leave home 
 dm'ing her son's long absence, and her anxiety 
 on her sister-in-law's account. And Violet 
 wrote, thanking her stepmother, but saying 
 it was impossible for her to leave Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh, and as she did not wish to leave home 
 at present, she, Violet, could not think of 
 doing so.
 
 184 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 She was right; Mrs. Ashleigh could ill 
 have spared from her side the young girl she 
 had taken to her heart, and whose winning 
 love so well repaid her care. 
 
 Eleanor Gordon had become engaged during 
 the winter to a gentleman considerably her 
 senior, and possessed of great wealth. He 
 had been fascinated by her beauty, and for 
 a short time continued devoted to her, 
 until some disagreement arose between them, 
 and then the haughty coldness of her be- 
 haviour had astonished and deeply offended 
 him ; his illusion was dispelled, and he saw 
 Eleanor Gordon's true nature, and hated 
 the beauty which had ensnared him. He 
 accused her of having accepted his addresses 
 merely on account of liis wealth, and she, 
 in her wilful haughtiness, caring not to deny 
 it, though later she knew she would regret 
 it, made no effort to keep him at her side, 
 and, to her mother's vehement disappointment, 
 the match was broken off. More than one 
 stormy scene took place between the mother 
 and daughter after this — angry, fretful, re- 
 proaches on the one hand, and scornful, 
 self-willed retorts on the other. The educa- 
 tion she had given her daughter was bearing
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 185 
 
 its fruits now against the vain, v^eak, and 
 too indulgent mother. 
 
 Mrs. Mortimer had wiitten with ill-con- 
 cealed triumph to Mrs. Ashleigh, announcing 
 Eleanor's engagement, and it was no small 
 annoyance to her to be obhged to tell of its 
 ending, which she did as well as she could 
 without explaining the circumstances. 
 
 Violet had heard nothing more of Mr. 
 Wilmot. It had been with a real feehng of 
 relief that she had heard on their return 
 hame from Wales the previous summer that 
 he had left the neighbourhood. She had 
 almost forgotten him, and when she thought 
 of him at all, it was only to smile at her 
 own foohshness, for such it appeared now, in 
 having supposed he had meant anything 
 serious by his attentions to her. 
 
 '^It cannot have been that Norman was 
 afraid of," she would say to herself; ''what 
 should Mr. Wilmot see in me to admire, 
 knowing me so little ? " And the proud flush 
 of annoyance at what seemed to have been 
 her vain imagination mounted in Violet's 
 clear, ohve cheek. " I am not beautiful, like 
 Eleanor," she thought. 
 
 Poor Violet ! she forgot that she possessed
 
 186 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 that charm which with many men would out- 
 weigh any other, namely, the charm of wealth. 
 She knew, of course, that she was rich, that 
 her father had left her a large fortune ; but 
 as yet she had had very little occasion to 
 think about the fact. Eetired from the gay 
 world as she had lived, it had not yet come 
 home to her that what she had read of might 
 be her own case, that for the attractive prize 
 with which she was endowed, men, feeling 
 indifferent to her, might put on the semblance 
 of love, and seek to gain her for the sake of 
 her money. She forgot that all were not like 
 Norman Ashleigh, true and noble-hearted, and 
 scorning deceit. There were times when 
 Violet sighed for beauty, not for its own 
 sake, much as she loved it. "If I had been 
 beautiful, Norman might have loved me,'* she 
 sighed at times, when the hope that he did 
 so grew faint in her heart. She knew him 
 too well to think for a moment that outward 
 charms alone would attract him or even weigh 
 anything with him ; but Norman loved beauty, 
 was possessed of it himself, and it might have 
 been the first step towards making him regard 
 her with other sentiments than those with 
 which at least she believed he looked on her
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 187 
 
 now, of a brother towards a .young sister. 
 "And Norman ought to have a beautiful 
 wife," she would say, with a sigh, as she 
 thought of his fine face and noble form, which 
 had almost unconsciously riveted her admi- 
 ration before she had heard more than a word 
 or two from his lips. 
 
 Miss Lyndsay was leaving Ashleigh Court 
 during the coming summer; Yiolet's school- 
 days would then be over, and her lessons, with 
 the exception of one or two which she received 
 from masters, would be at an end. She would 
 be considered a woman then, ready to enter 
 into all the ways and pleasures of the world. 
 It felt very strange to her at times as she 
 remembered her seventeen years, and knew 
 she had long ceased to be a child. Would 
 Norman feel the difference when he came 
 home ? 
 
 She would have time in future for the rides 
 and rambles which were as dear to her as ever ; 
 but would Norman seek her company in them 
 as he had done before ? It was a season of 
 alternate hope and doubt in Yiolet's heart. 
 There were times, when she and grandmamma 
 sat together, that a thought of the future 
 would come suddenly upon her, as she felt
 
 188 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 that her dear protectress might be taken from 
 her, that at no very distant time Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh might die, and then — it would be the 
 old London life again, with Mrs. Mortimer 
 and Eleanor ! She must leave Ashleigh Court, 
 with the lonely seashore and the beautiful 
 hills, where her heart had found a home, and 
 perhaps, too (oh ! how her heart turned cold 
 at the thought), see Norman Ashleigh, with- 
 out whom her world would be desolate, with a 
 wife by his side, one fairer and happier than 
 herself. And the brave, tender heart must 
 bear it and rejoice in his happiness ; but what 
 would be the inner anguish ? 
 
 And when these thoughts oppressed her 
 Violet would unconsciously cling closer to her 
 dear guardian, and the loving look in her 
 eyes would grow so intense that Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh almost read the fear that was in her 
 heart, and for Violet's sake she prayed for 
 life a little longer, until the young orphan 
 should need her care no longer. 
 
 The letter came at last from Norman that 
 told Mrs. Ashleigh he was coming home. He 
 would reach England during the early part of 
 July, and it was now approaching June, and 
 as the mother read the news, her fond heart
 
 VEOLET MOETIMEK. 189 
 
 yearned impatiently towards her idolized son 
 after these weary months of absence. There 
 was a letter from Mrs. Lacy, too, by the 
 same mail. ^' I have at last prevailed on 
 Norman to promise to leave me soon," she 
 wrote ; ^^ it is with unwillingness I have kept 
 him so long from you, as you know, and I 
 can never tell you sufficiently all his presence 
 has done for me." 
 
 She went on to say that Norman had had 
 a slight attack of illness, but had been per- 
 fectly recovered for the last few days. " I 
 don't think he names it to you himself, for 
 he made very light of it ; but I cannot help 
 telling you how relieved I feel now he is 
 better. Norman laughs at me when I tell 
 him of my anxiety during those few days he 
 was ill ; but I may be excused, Margaret, for 
 dreading those feverish attacks, especially for 
 one unaccustomed to the climate. My hus- 
 band was strong and I thought proof against 
 illness, and yet he was taken from me before 
 I had time to realise it. But forgive me for 
 vn*iting so gloomily. I shall rejoice almost as 
 much as yourself at the thought of your having 
 Norman home again, for I know now all he is 
 to you."
 
 190 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 And so Norman was coming home ! How 
 Violet's heart thrilled at the thought, and 
 what an earnest prayer of thanksgiving rose 
 from it for that Norman's illness had been no 
 worse, that he was coming hoiiie safe to the 
 loving, longing hearts awaiting him ! It 
 might have been with him as with his 
 nncle, the letter which now told of his return 
 might have conveyed far different tidings, and 
 for a moment. Violet pictured the darkness, 
 the shuddering desolation which would have 
 fallen on them. But she could not bear the 
 thought, and her grateful heart shook off the 
 morbid imagination and rejoiced in the coming 
 gladness. It was impossible to hide the inner 
 happiness altogether ; unconsciously Violet's 
 step grew lighter and her eyes shone more 
 brightly, her swxet voice was heard again 
 carolling about the house, or when she sat 
 alone in the gardens, as it had been in the old 
 days. Mrs. Brovoison would say to herself at 
 times, thinking of Violet, '' They may say 
 Miss Violet's not handsome, and I suppose she 
 isn't exactly, but to my mind she is some- 
 thing better, what I call lovely." 
 
 And Miss Lyndsay would often find Violet 
 so abstracted during her studies as to require
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 191 
 
 her to notice it, and then the young girl would 
 blush deeply for having let her happy thoughts 
 absorb her so completely, and would apply 
 with eagerness to the neglected lesson. 
 
 It was no longer painful to ride Charley, for 
 Violet could fondly teU him, as she patted his 
 neck, that he who had given him to her was 
 coming home and would soon ride by her side 
 again ; she could ramble again among the 
 hiUs, thinking vd.th trembling hope of the 
 days that she might walk here with Norman 
 once more. And as she sat in the gardens, 
 rich again with the bloom of summer, as 
 she hstened to the birds singing, the burden 
 of their song seemed to her always, ^' Norman 
 is coming home ! " and the voice of the ever- 
 sounding waves seemed to say the same, 
 ^' Norman is coming home ! " and her glad 
 heart echoed the words. She knew her joy 
 might be all a dream, that it might be better 
 for her that Norman never returned to show 
 her how vain were her happy imaginings ; she 
 knew this too well, but her young heart clung 
 to happiness, and putting aside for a time her 
 gloomy thoughts, her doubting fears, she dwelt 
 only on the idea that soon she would see him 
 she loved again, that she would look again
 
 192 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 upon his matcMess face, and hear his famihar 
 voice speaking to her once more. This was 
 sufficient happiness, and she would not dwell 
 upon the knowledge that it would only render 
 more hitter what might come afterwards. 
 
 It was yet' about three weeks from the 
 day on which they expected Norman home, 
 and Violet was walking along the road on her 
 way to call on Mrs. Arnott, whom she had not 
 seen for some days. Just as she came to a 
 point where two roads met, both leading into 
 the one near which Mrs. Arnott's house stood, 
 Yiolet happened to look up the other road, and 
 for a moment her senses seemed to stand still, 
 for she saw coming towards her, not many yards 
 distant, the person who a moment before had 
 been farthest from her thoughts, Louis Wil- 
 mot. She could hardly define the feeling that 
 broke in upon her happiness when she saw one 
 who had caused her such uneasiness, but 
 who had been almost forgotten, only a few 
 paces from her at the moment when she 
 deemed herself safest from him. Almost before 
 Yiolet had realised it, Mr. Wilmot had shaken 
 hands with her and in his blandest voice was 
 expressing his pleasure at meeting her. Per- 
 haps for the first time he looked at her with
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 193 
 
 something like genuine admiration, for the 
 past months had improved the natural grace of 
 Violet's figure, and she did herself an injustice 
 in thinking she was devoid of all beauty. Her 
 brown eyes alone were worth a hundred other 
 beauties, and her clear brunette complexion 
 and the wonderful power of expression in her 
 countenance made one forget that her features 
 were uTegular and not hesitate to call her 
 charming, for that was the word which best 
 described her expressive faoe. Her rich 
 masses of brown hair were arranged in a singu- 
 larly becoming style about her low, square 
 forehead, for Violet had the eye of an artist, 
 and had easily found how to dispose her 
 abundant hair so as best to suit her face. 
 
 She was not tall, but slight and very grace- 
 ful, especially now that the undeveloped 
 childishness of her figure was disappearing 
 as she entered womanhood. Mr. Wilmot had 
 doubtless perceived all this as he stood speak- 
 ing to Violet. 
 
 '^ This is an unexpected pleasure. Miss 
 Mortimer," he said, '^ to meet you so soon. 
 I only arrived in this neighbourhood yes- 
 terday. I . could not resist my cousin Mrs. 
 Lester's invitation, remembering my very 
 
 , VOL. I. 13
 
 194 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 agreeable visit last year." And he fixed 
 those melancholy eyes of his on Violet's 
 face. ^^ May I hope that our ways are the 
 same, and that you will allow my pleasure 
 to be prolonged ? " he asked, seeing that 
 Violet made a movement to walk on. 
 
 ''I am going to Mrs. Arnott's," she said, 
 almost mechanically, in her bewilderment at 
 the meeting. What could she do but tell 
 him the truth ? He must have guessed where 
 she was going, and she could not think just 
 then of any excuse to turn back. It was 
 better to go on, for they would soon be at 
 Mrs. Arnott's, and Mr. Wilmot doubtless 
 meant to go whichever way she did. Were 
 her fears of last year right after all ? Would 
 Norman think she had neglected her promise 
 when he came home and found Mr. Wilmot 
 here again ? And rousing herself, she exerted 
 all the dignity of her seventeen years to 
 behave vdth as much coldness as was consis- 
 tent with politeness to Mr. Wilmot, who 
 said with a smile that he too was fortunately 
 going to Mrs. Arnott's house, expecting to 
 find Mrs. Lester there, and continued to walk 
 by Violet's side. 
 
 Perhaps Violet ought to have felt flattered
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 195 
 
 by the evident admiration of so handsome a 
 man as Louis Wilmot, but she could not feel 
 so. The repugnance with which he had in- 
 spired her from the first seemed to increase, 
 and the very way in which he looked at her 
 struck her as impertinent. " Does he think 
 I am too young to know that it is ungentle- 
 manly of him to force himself upon me, when 
 he must see I don't like him ! " and the 
 proud heart chafed indignantly. 
 
 " I was surprised to hear from my cousin 
 that Mr. Ashleigh is still away. I hope he 
 is well. Miss Mortimer? " 
 
 ^^ He was quite well when Mrs. Ashleigh 
 heard last, thank you, Mr. Wilmot. He will 
 be at home, we expect, in three weeks;" 
 and Yiolet did her best to speak those last 
 words calmly and coldly. Oh, that the day 
 would come quickly ! was her thought. 
 
 '' In three weeks ! " and there was the 
 faintest elevation of Mr. Wilmot 's pencilled 
 eyebrows as he spoke, stealing a look at the 
 same time at Violet's face. '^ But I am 
 afraid I shall not have the pleasure of re- 
 newing my acquaintance with him, for, much 
 as I should v^sh it, I do not think I can 
 remain more than a 'fortnight with my cousins
 
 196 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 this time. Mr. Ashleigh's absence has been 
 a long one, Miss Mortimer. If I had been 
 in his place, it would have been hard for me 
 to have remained so long away from so 
 charming a home, and possessed of such at- 
 tractions," he added, with a marked accent 
 and another glance of his dark eyes. ' 
 
 The colour mounted to Violet's face as she 
 said quickly, and with a shade of indignation 
 in her voice, — 
 
 " Mr. Ashleigh's coming home did not 
 depend upon himself. He went to an aunt 
 who was very ill and in trouble, and it would 
 not be worthy of him to think of his own 
 pleasure when he was doing good to his aunt 
 by staying with her, Mr. Wilmot." 
 
 She did not believe he could have forgotten 
 the reason of Norman's going away, though 
 he appeared to have done so. Did he mean 
 that it was pleasant to him to be away ? Oh ! 
 how dare he speak so to her of Norman ! 
 Mr. Wilmot smiled. 
 
 *' Excuse me, Miss Mortimer, if I tell you 
 how sincerely I envy Mr. Ashleigh the warm 
 defender he has in you. Believe me, I would 
 do much to hope to gain even a Httle of such 
 praise from your lips," and he bowed slightly.
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 197 
 
 Yiolet blushed, but made no reply, not 
 wishing to give him the chance of paying her 
 another compliment. Had she betrayed her- 
 seK in her eagerness to defend Norman ? 
 But she could not help it, she would have 
 done the same for any hiend. She was 
 sincerely glad when they reached Mrs. 
 Arnott's gate, and the unpleasant tete-d-Ute 
 came to an end. Mrs. Arnott looked sur- 
 prised to see them enter together ; but Yiolet 
 quickly explained the reason of it, and the 
 look in her eyes showed her fiiend that she 
 had not willingly been in Mr. Wilmot's 
 company. Mrs. Lester was with Mrs. Arnott, 
 and Yiolet soon perceived that she had not 
 expected Mr. Wilmot to join her. 
 
 ^^ It is very good of you to come, Louis,'' 
 she said ; *^ I shall be glad of you to walk 
 home with me." 
 
 ^* Thank you, cousin," he laughed. *' I 
 hoped it would be agreeable to you, and took 
 the opportunity to pay my respects to 
 Mrs. Arnott," and he bowed to the latter. 
 "• Happily for myself, I met with Miss 
 Mortimer." 
 
 Mrs. Lester was a kind-hearted elderly lady, 
 not very deep or penetrating, and evidently
 
 198 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 
 
 very proud of her handsome young relative. 
 She knew that Mrs. Arnott and Violet were 
 on very familiar terms, and thinking they 
 might wish to talk together, she soon rose 
 to go. 
 
 Violet had managed to sit away from Mr. 
 Wilmot, and had taken refuge in talking to 
 Mrs. Arnott 's eldest little boy, with whom 
 she was a great favourite. 
 
 As she was leaving, Mrs. Lester shook 
 hands with Violet. 
 
 " Kemember me to Mrs. Ashleigh, will you, 
 my dear. I intend to do myself the pleasure 
 of calling upon her soon ; it is so very long 
 since I have seen her. Now that happily her 
 worst anxiety on Mrs. Lacy's account is over, 
 I hope to see her and you at my house very 
 soon. I am very glad, indeed, for her sake 
 that her son is on his way home." 
 
 '' Thank you, Mrs. Lester." And then 
 Violet turned to Louis Wilmot, shook hands 
 politely, and went away again quickly to her 
 little boy friend. 
 
 When they were gone, Mrs. Arnott asked 
 Violet if she did not think Mr. Wilmot 's face 
 looked even paler and more worn than last 
 year, and Violet answered, ^' Yes," somewhat
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 199 
 
 absently. She had noticed it; but somehow 
 Mr. Wilmot was an embarrassing subject to 
 speak on, and Mrs. Arnott was not slow to 
 perceive this, so merely saying that she had 
 not known of his coming until to-day, when 
 Mrs. Lester called, she dismissed him from 
 the conversation. 
 
 ^^ So Norman v^l really be at home in 
 three weeks!" she said; ^'I am so very 
 glad.'* 
 
 ^' Yes, and grandmamma is so longing to 
 see him, Mrs. Arnott." 
 
 Mrs. Arnott looked kindly at Violet's blush- 
 ing, half- averted face, and the thought passed 
 through her mind, "I think I know someone 
 else who longs for his return, too ! " but she 
 said nothing, and Violet began to tell her of 
 Mrs. Lacy's improved health, and what a dis- 
 appointment it was to Norman that he might 
 not bring her home with him. Violet was 
 longing, too, to tell Mrs. Arnott how relieved 
 she had felt on hearing from Mr. Wilmot that 
 he could only stay so short a time in the 
 neighbourhood, and would be gone before 
 Norman's retm^n, as Norman had taken such 
 a dishke to him ; but she could not bring 
 herself to do so, and she left Mrs. Arnott
 
 200 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 "witlioiit the subject having been again named 
 between them. 
 
 The very next day Mrs. Lester called upon 
 Mrs. Ashleigh, and Louis Wilmot accom- 
 panied her. Yiolet was with Miss Lyndsay 
 in the schoolroom when they came, and she 
 saw the carriage drive up as she sat near the 
 window. 
 
 " How would Norman feel if he could see 
 Mr. Wilmot coming into his house ! ' ' was 
 her thought, and she felt very thankful that 
 she was safely engaged with her lessons, and 
 need not go into the drawing-room. 
 
 Whether Mr. Wilmot were disappointed or 
 not at not seeing Yiolet, he concealed his feel- 
 ings under a quiet, gentlemanly demeanour, 
 for it was impossible to behave to Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh otherwise than with the utmost respect. 
 She consequently was not so unfavourably 
 impressed as Norman had been, though she 
 remembered now that Violet had told her 
 what a dislike he had taken to Mr. Wilmot. 
 But then Norman's reasons, if he had any, 
 for disliking Mr. Wilmot so vehemently, were 
 perhaps altogether wanting to Mrs. Ashleigh. 
 
 Mrs. Lester's husband was a retired phy- 
 sician of very respectable family, and Mrs.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 201 
 
 AsKLeigh had been on terms of acquaintance 
 with them ever since their arrival in the 
 neighbourhood; but of late the intercourse 
 had been restricted to a call now and then, 
 as Mrs. Ashleigh had almost entirely given up 
 visiting. To-day, however, Mrs. Lester came 
 with an invitation for her and Violet to dine 
 with them on the following day. " We shall 
 be quite alone, you know," she said, " and it 
 is so long since you have been with us, that 
 I'm sure you cannot refuse." 
 
 And Mrs. Ashleigh felt she could not 
 decline this time, especially as it would be 
 a Httle change for Violet ; so she accepted 
 the invitation, and Mrs. Lester went away 
 satisfied. 
 
 When Violet heard of the invitation, she 
 would have given worlds to have escaped 
 going to the Lesters'; but she could not bring 
 herself to tell Mrs. Ashleigh how much she 
 disliked Mr. Wilmot, and that she would prefer 
 to remain at home rather than go where she 
 must meet him. No, she must go and do her 
 best to keep him at a distance and show him 
 how disagreeable were his attentions. Oh ! 
 that Norman were at home, was again her 
 thought. But there was protection even in
 
 202 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 the knowledge that the day of his return was 
 so very near. 
 
 Violet's dream of happiness was destined 
 to be still further broken in upon. On the 
 morning after Mrs. Lester's call, Mrs. Ash- 
 leigh received a letter from a very old friend 
 of hers, a Mrs. Woodford, the wife of a Major 
 Woodford who had retired fi^om the army 
 some years ago. The Woodfords possessed a 
 beautiful residence at Windermere, which had 
 been left to Mrs. Woodford by an uncle, to- 
 gether with a considerable fortune, shortly 
 after her marriage. Since the Major's retire- 
 ment they had made their Windermere house 
 their home, until they had left it about two 
 years previously for a temporary residence in 
 London, where they were still hving, with 
 their family, consisting of a son and two 
 daughters. Mrs. Woodford had stayed a few 
 weeks at Ashleigh Court a short time before 
 they went away to London, and since then Mrs, 
 Ashleigh had not seen her, but they had occa- 
 sionally corresponded. Her letter to-day was 
 to tell Mrs. Ashleigh that in a few days they 
 were leaving London and coming home again. 
 
 ^'We are all dehghted," she wi'ote, '^ that 
 we shall soon see our dear lake again. We
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 203 
 
 are going to celebrate our return liome by 
 entertaining as many of our northern friends 
 as we can for a short time, and as you, 
 dear Mrs. Ashleigh, rank first with us, you 
 really must not refuse to join us, and bring 
 with you your ward. Miss Mortimer, whose 
 acquaintance we are very desirous to make. 
 I know that your worst anxiety on Mrs. Lacy's 
 account is removed, so that you cannot refuse 
 to come to us. Most of our company we 
 expect on the 4th of next month, and I hope 
 you can be with us by then, as the girls have 
 planned several excursions and amusements 
 for which we should like Miss Mortimer to be 
 present. I only wish we could be so fortunate 
 as to expect Norman to accompany you. You 
 will remember you told me he would soon be 
 returning home, when last you wrote. If he 
 is back by the time you come to us he really 
 must give us the pleasure of his company. 
 Why has he been such a hermit for the last 
 three or four years ? Tell him he must re- 
 deem his character by joining our party if 
 possible. You must not think of remaining 
 with us less than three weeks, so that if Nor- 
 man will not be home in time to come on the 
 4th, and as I know you will wish to be at
 
 204 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 home when he arrives, you must send Miss 
 Mortimer before you and follow her as soon as 
 you can. The girls insist on having a hall, 
 which we have fixed for a night or two before 
 our friends leave us. In this way we shall be 
 able to entertain all our acquaintances who hve 
 within easy distance. I have written to our 
 old friends the Lesters, asking them to join us. 
 The last time I heard from Mrs. Lester, she 
 mentioned that they were expecting a cousin 
 of hers to visit them, a Mr. Wilmot. I dare- 
 say you will have met him, as she says he was 
 with them last year. I was afraid his being 
 with them might prevent their accepting our 
 invitation, so I have told her we shall be glad 
 to welcome him also if he will accompany 
 them. You know I should always be pleased 
 to entertain any relative of Mrs. Lester's. I 
 am enabled to ask Mr. Wilmot more easily, as 
 another gentleman has disappointed us, and 
 we cannot afford to leave a gentleman's place 
 vacant. I hope their answer may be favour- 
 able. You vdll perhaps be surprised to hear 
 that you will also meet Miss Gordon here, Mrs. 
 Mortimer's daughter. We have made .their 
 acquaintance lately, and Louisa and Miss 
 Gordon have become rather friendly. How
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEK. 205 
 
 strangely things happen ! My husband knew 
 her father, Captain Gordon, before either of 
 them were married, but had lost sight of his 
 widow and daughter since his death. What 
 a handsome, elegant girl Miss Gordon is ! 
 Louisa admires her very much, and it is 
 partly through her persuasion I have invited 
 her. She will accompany us from London. 
 Nelly persists in not liking her, I'm sure I 
 don't know why. It must be because Eleanor 
 Gordon is so very different to herself, for, as 
 you know, Nelly is almost childishly merry 
 and outspoken. Miss Gordon tells me that it 
 has so happened that she and Miss Mortimer 
 have not seen each other since the latter 
 went to live with you, so that it will be a 
 pleasure for them to meet after such a long 
 separation, as they must, of course, feel 
 almost like sisters, having been brought up 
 together. I shall have great pleasure in intro- 
 ducing you to Charles Acton, to whom Louisa 
 is engaged, who wiU join us a few days 
 after our arrival at Windermere.*' Mrs. 
 Woodford concluded her letter by again ex- 
 pressing a hope that Norman would be at 
 home very soon, and that Mrs. Asbleigh's 
 answer would be in all respects favourable.
 
 206 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 CHAPTEK XIY. 
 
 *^ You must go by all means, my love," said 
 Mrs Ashleigli, as she finished reading the 
 letter to Violet. *^You v^ill have a most 
 pleasant visit, and I shall be glad for you to 
 know the Woodfords. They are a very nice 
 family, and are among our oldest friends, as 
 you have often heard me say. I am 
 very sorry I shall not be able to go at first 
 with you, for when I am at the Woodfords T 
 hardly feel as if I were away from home. I 
 am very glad they are coming north again. 
 Let me see, Mrs. Woodford asks us for the 
 4th, and Norman will be home on the 8th ; I 
 must persuade him to follow with me a day 
 or two after. I know Mrs. Woodford will be 
 disappointed if we refuse. When Norman 
 arrives in Paris I must write to him about 
 it." Then taking Violet's hand, she added, 
 ^' How strange that you and Eleanor will 
 meet again there ! Poor Eleanor ! time may 
 have rendered her more amiable and kindly
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 207 
 
 disposed to you, my love, and in any case 
 we must do our best to show her we do not 
 cherish unkindness towards her. I can fancy 
 that she and httle Nelly Woodford will not 
 get on well together. So now you must 
 promise to enjoy yourself, my love." 
 
 Violet smiled, she could not speak what 
 was in her heaii : " Let me wait until Nor- 
 man comes, and go with you then." What 
 right had she to stay at home to welcome 
 him ? So, subduing her temporary emotion, 
 she only said, — 
 
 ^^ Thank you, grandmamma, I'll try. But I 
 shall not enjoy it half so much unless you 
 come afterwards with Norman." 
 
 '' That I think I can almost promise 
 you, my love. Norman was always rather a 
 favourite with Mrs. Woodford, and I do not 
 think he will disappoint her. Harry Wood- 
 ford and he were schoolfellows"; but Harry 
 is some years younger, and remained some 
 time at school after Norman left for the 
 University." 
 
 ''I am sure I shall like Mrs. Woodford, 
 grandmamma, and I think I shall like Nelly 
 best of her two daughters, by what you say." 
 
 *' I think you will too, Violet. It is very
 
 208 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 well that your schooldays will he just over 
 before you go, and that you will have to lose 
 no lessons through your visit. By the way, 
 Miss Lyndsay has arranged to leave us on the 
 1st, just two days after she ceases to be your 
 governess." Then Mrs. Ashleigh added with 
 a smile, '' So in a few days more you vTill be a 
 young lady, Violet, and we must treat you 
 with due respect. Norman vrill be sorry 
 not to find you at home. He will hardly 
 know ' little Violet ' when he meets her among 
 the gay company at Windermere." 
 
 And so Violet's dream of meeting Nor- 
 man again in the quiet and amid the sweet, 
 familiar surroundings of home was dispelled. 
 They would meet among strangers, or at best, 
 new friends to her, and the half-joyous, half- 
 trembling expectation would have to be con- 
 cealed under an appearance of careless enjoy- 
 ment. 
 
 Norman could not have forgotten her, or 
 ceased to look on her at least vdth regard, 
 else why had he remembered her bui;hday 
 so well, and written that letter to her, which, 
 though short, expressed so much kindness 
 and which she kept as her most precious 
 treasure ! It was her first, and it might be
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 209 
 
 her last letter from Norman, and tlie day 
 might come when it would no longer be 
 innocent or right for her to read it through 
 agaiji and again with the same sentiments 
 and joyous feeling with which she so often 
 lingered over it now in the privacy of her own 
 room. In how short a time might not this 
 letter, which was now her treasure, become a 
 cruel pain ! 
 
 Violet had with difficulty restrained an 
 exclamation when Mrs. Aslileigh came to 
 that part of Mrs. Woodford's letter which 
 told of Mr. Wilmot having been included 
 in her invitation to the Lesters. Surely it 
 could not be that even there she was to be 
 haunted by Louis Wilmot's presence, that 
 for three whole weeks they must be under 
 the same roof and meet in daily intercourse. 
 And Norman and he would come together 
 again ! 
 
 Violet, as she remembered that Mr. Wil- 
 mot had told her his stay was limited to a 
 fortnight this time, clung to the hope that 
 he would be unable to accept Mrs. Wood- 
 ford's invitation ; but still she could not 
 divest herself of the conviction that he would 
 manage to avail himself of it, if even at some 
 
 VOL. I. 14
 
 210 VIOLET MOETDIEE. 
 
 inconvenience. Violet was so occupied T^dth 
 these ideas, that she did not, as otherwise 
 she would have done, give much thought 
 as to how she and Eleanor would meet. 
 Doubtless Eleanor would make a show of 
 affection, so that others might not discover 
 what had been her former relations with 
 Violet, and the latter felt that it might be 
 the beginning of mutual goodwill between 
 them. It might be hard at first, with the 
 remembrance in Violet's heart of past unkind- 
 ness and neglect, but her generous nature 
 could not cherish unforgiveness long, less 
 than ever now when she was so happy in the 
 new home and friends she had found. 
 
 That day was spent by Violet in a state 
 of suspense, and she looked forward half 
 with di^ead and half with eagerness to the 
 hour at which they must arrive at the 
 Lesters'. When it came, her suspense was 
 soon put at an end. As they entered the 
 drawing-room Louis Wilmot came towards 
 her with that look and manner which made 
 Violet shrink from him, and having taken a 
 seat by her side, after a few minutes' conver- 
 sation began, as she had expected, to speak 
 of Mrs. "Woodford's invitation, which they
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 211 
 
 had received tliat morning, and did not leave 
 Violet long in uncertainty that he meant to 
 avail himself of it. 
 
 ^' Mrs. Lester will not hear of my refusing 
 to go, and by her persuasion I have postponed 
 my previous engagement. M}^ cousin is elo- 
 quent in praises of Major and Mrs. Wood- 
 ford and their family ; but need I say, Miss 
 Mortimer, that this is not my greatest in- 
 ducement;" and as he spoke in a lower 
 tone, he fixed his dark eyes on Violet's face. 
 '^ May I not confidently hope to meet you 
 at Windermere ? I was not wrong in promis- 
 ing myself such a pleasm-e ? ' ' 
 
 So Violet's fears had proved true ! As 
 Louis Wilmot spoke there was something 
 very like hatred towards him for a moment 
 in her heart. But she recovered herself, 
 and answered quietly, without looking at 
 him, — 
 
 ^' Yes, I am going, and most likely Mrs. 
 Ashleigh will follow with Mr. Ashleigh when 
 he arrives at home, two or three days after." 
 
 Mr. Wilmot could not repress a slight 
 frovm as he heard this, but Violet did not 
 see it as she left him and went to talk to 
 Mrs. Lester. All thi'ough the evening Louis
 
 212 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 
 
 Wilmot was indefatigable in his attentions 
 to Violet. When she sang he stood by, and 
 seldom took his eyes off her, so much so that 
 it was with difficulty she sang at all under 
 the oppression of his close presence. He was 
 a good vocalist, and wished to sing a duet 
 with her, and Mrs. Lester begged Violet to 
 consent ; but she would not let him think 
 she showed him so much favour as to sing 
 with him, so saying she felt tired, she gently 
 refused Mrs. Lester's request. Many a time 
 that evening Violet tried to tell herself that 
 Mr. Wilmot perhaps merely paid her passing 
 attention, such as any gentleman might do, 
 and that she was foolish to think so much 
 of it, but it was useless. Not only by his 
 words, but his looks and manner did he show 
 Violet that he wished her to think he was in 
 earnest. She could not feel grateful for his 
 visible preference, or feel pity for him on ac- 
 count of her insensibility to his efforts to gain 
 her smiles, as she might have done in the case 
 of any other than Louis Wilmot. There was 
 an indescribable something about him w^hich 
 struck her as insincere, as though he were 
 acting a part, for he overdid his attentions 
 sometimes in his eagerness and determina-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 213 
 
 tion to please her. And her growing dislike 
 was increased each time she met the glance 
 of his restless yet melancholy eyes. What 
 was her attraction for him, she asked herself 
 again ? and then suddenly for the first time 
 the thought suggested itself, — 
 
 *' Surely it is not my fortune he wants ! ' 
 and her whole soul rose in indignation at the 
 idea. ^' Was he cheating her with the show 
 of love, the price he expected her to pay for 
 it being her money, the wealth left her by 
 her dear, dead father, whose memory was so 
 sacred to her!" 
 
 The thought was so new and degrading to 
 this young girl, so inexperienced in the world's 
 ways, so shocking to her true, tender heart, 
 with' its own deep love, that she was almost 
 frightened at the storm of indignation which 
 filled her soul as the idea gained upon her. 
 It is most likely the notion might never have 
 occmTcd to her, had she not so continually 
 asked herself what it was about her that made 
 Mr. Wilmot pay her such attention from the 
 first hour of their acquaintance. Even now 
 Violet was too generous and naturally un- 
 suspicious not to blame herself for condemn- 
 ing Louis Wilmot, when perhaps his apparent
 
 214 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 admiration, though distasteful to her, was real 
 and not allied to mercenary motives. 
 
 Mrs. Lester had proposed to Mrs. Aslileigh 
 that Yiolet should go to Windermere with 
 them, thinking she might not like her to 
 travel alone, though it was not a very long 
 distance, and Mrs. Ashleigh had thanked her, 
 and agreed that it would be very pleasant for 
 Violet to have their company and protection, 
 and it was almost settled that it should he so. 
 As Mr. Wilmot hade Violet '^ good-night," he 
 said in a low tone, — 
 
 "You have never seen Windermere, nor 
 have I yet. Miss Mortimer. May I say 
 that to me the pleasure of beholding its 
 beauties for the first time will be enhanced 
 by the fact of being in your company. Good- 
 night," and Louis Wilmot retained Violet's 
 hand for a moment mth a pressm-e which 
 caused her to withdraw it quickly, mth a 
 proud flash kindling in her eyes of which he 
 had perhaps never supposed them capable. 
 
 When they were in the caiTiage together, 
 Violet tui^ned to Mrs. Ashleigh, — 
 
 "Grandmamma, don't let me go to Win- 
 dermere with the Lesters. Indeed I would 
 rather go alone ; I shall not mind at all."
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 215 
 
 There was something so earnest and anxious 
 in Violet's tone that Mrs, Ashleigh rephed 
 without hesitation, — 
 
 '^ Then you shall not go with them, my love. 
 We can easily make an excuse for you to be a 
 day later, if you prefer 'being alone.'" 
 
 And Violet felt that Mrs. Ashleigh divined 
 her reason, which she did, for Mr. Wilmot's 
 behaviom^ to Violet to-night had not escaped 
 her observation, and somehow she was coming 
 to the conclusion that she too could not like 
 him. But seeing that Violet did not seem to 
 wish to speak of him, Mrs. Ashleigh did not 
 distress her by her own dawning uneasiness, 
 but inwardly resolved more than ever to go to 
 Windermere as soon as Norman should reach 
 home. 
 
 Miss Lyndsay left Ashleigh Court on the 
 appointed day, and after her departure Violet 
 began to think still more seriously of the 
 coming visit, which under other circumstances 
 would only have caused her glad thoughts 
 and pleasing expectations, natural to a young 
 girl going for the first time among gay scenes 
 and to strangers who hoped quickly to become 
 friends. Now, there was a strange care at lier 
 heart, a wonder as to what would be her re-
 
 216 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 turn to Ashleigh Court, joyous and hopeful, or 
 sad and desolate, with the knowledge that she 
 was nothing to him who had her whole heart, 
 with its pure, ardent, almost worshipping love. 
 How strange it was that it had come about 
 so naturally that Norman and Mr. Wilmot, 
 Eleanor and herself should meet in this way ! 
 Would it have any influence on their fature 
 lives, or would it, on the other hand, be unim- 
 portant and productive of no results? Violet's 
 heart was full of these thoughts as she bade a 
 temporary adieu to Mrs. Aslileigh and Mrs.. 
 Arnott at the station, and she was soon alone 
 on her journey to Windermere. The Lesters 
 and Louis Wilmot had gone the previous day. 
 Mrs. Ashleigh had apologised for Violet's not 
 accompanying them, on the plea that she was 
 not quite ready, which was in a great measure 
 true, as she had taken care that her ward 
 should have everything requisite for her visit 
 and her position as an hehess, and Eleanor 
 Gordon would have no reason now for stig- 
 matizing Violet as ^' plain and dowdy." But 
 perhaps Louis AVilmot was not quite without a 
 secret misgiving as to the reason why Violet 
 had contrived to be unable to arrive at the 
 Woodfords' in his company.
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 217 
 
 CHAPTEE XY. 
 
 The Woodfords' residence was one of the 
 largest of those charming villas which He so 
 delicionsly embosomed along the shores of 
 Lake Windermere. It was situated nearer 
 the Ambleside end of the lake, and was almost 
 faced by Wray Castle on the opposite shore. 
 Violet was met at the station, according to 
 promise, by yomig Woodford and his sister 
 Helen, or ^' Nelly," as she was always called, 
 and by their hearty friendliness made to feel 
 at home with them at once. Henry Woodford 
 was a gentlemanly young man of scarcely two- 
 and-twenty, with a singularly pleasant counte- 
 nance, and very truthful, laughter-loving blue 
 eyes, which impressed one with an idea that 
 their owner had hardly ceased yet to enjoy fun 
 and mischief, though perhaps of .a more digni- 
 fied kind than he had loved as a boy. His 
 sister Nelly was nineteen, but looked even 
 younger. She was about Violet's height, and 
 in looks somewhat resembled her brother.
 
 218 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 
 
 Her eyes were like his, but lier liair was 
 darker, and as she shook hands with Violet, 
 smiling brightly the while, the latter inwardly 
 ejaculated, " What a pretty face ! " 
 
 Nelly was all merriment and animation, 
 and was withal possessed of so very tender a 
 heart that she was an immense favourite with 
 all her acquaintances. As to Nelly's lovers, 
 their name was legion ; but she herself was 
 happily free and heart-whole as yet. 
 
 As the three drove along the roads which 
 were white vdth dust this warm July day, 
 Nelly chatted freely, and succeeded in insph- 
 ing Violet with some of her own lighthearted- 
 ness. 
 
 '' You can't think, Miss Mortimer, how 
 glad we are to come home again. Of coui'se 
 we enjoyed living in London very much, and 
 I'm not quite sure I shan't feel lonely when 
 all our visitors have gone, with Harry here, 
 too, going away so soon to that stupid study- 
 ing for the Bar. But still it is home, and I 
 can ramble about and do as I Hke, here ; and 
 then Loo's wedding will be soon, and I shall 
 be ' Miss Woodford ' — just fancy ! I'm so glad 
 you've come. Miss Mortimer. I've made up 
 my mind we are to be hiends, and you must
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 219 
 
 promise yoii will consent, and of course you 
 are to enjoy your visit, or I shall be so dis- 
 appointed." 
 
 Violet could not resist the merry blue eyes, 
 and she laughed with Nelly, as she replied, — 
 
 "I don't think I can help enjoying my 
 visit. Miss "Woodford ; and, indeed, I will 
 promise to be yom- friend ; " and as Violet 
 looked in her face, Nelly thought she had 
 never seen such beautiful eyes before. 
 
 '' Thank you," she said. '^ Then of com^se 
 you are to call me ' Nelly,' and if you ^dll 
 let me, I will call you ' Violet.' What a 
 pretty name you have ! I often wonder what 
 they were thinking of to call me ' Helen.' 
 Such a name ! It doesn't suit me at all, I'm 
 sm^e ! I'm not half grand and classical- 
 looking enough ! Now do you think it suits 
 me ? " she asked. 
 
 ^' No, but Nelly does, and, do you know, I 
 like the name so much ; I'm not saying it 
 because it is yom- name, though of com'se I 
 shall Hke it better now because it is." 
 
 " Oh, you flatterer ! " exclaimed Nelly, 
 shaking her head. '^ Violet (you see I'm be- 
 ginning at once), I don't mind telling you 
 now I've seen you, for I know you won't mind.
 
 220 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 Harry and I have had a wager about yon, and 
 I have won it. He said yon would turn out 
 to be fair, he was sure, and I said I was cer- 
 tain you would be dark. I don't know why I 
 should have felt so certain : perhaps because 
 Miss Gordon is fair, and I did not fancy you 
 at all like her. You see I was right, Harry. 
 I'm sure you think it silly of me to have a 
 wager about such a thing, Violet, but I would 
 have it, and " 
 
 *' I told her. Miss Mortimer," interrupted 
 Harry, ^'that as everyone knows she is silly, 
 it did not much matter what else she did to 
 add to the impression," and he looked laugh- 
 ingly at his sister. 
 
 ^'For shame, Harry, how rude you are ! I 
 won't allow it, sir, remember I'm nineteen. 
 Do you know, A^iolet, I longed to ask Miss 
 Gordon what you were like, light or dark; 
 but I could not fancy making so free with her 
 yet, and though Loo and she are great friends. 
 Loo is far too dignified to ask anyone such a 
 silly question, unless it came round naturally. 
 
 " NeUy talks so fast. Miss Mortimer, that 
 I am forced to remain silent," said Hany. 
 *' But I really am so glad we may expect 
 Norman Ashleigh. He was a fine fellow at
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 221 
 
 school, and I have always missed meeting 
 him since. Though he was a little inclined 
 to be proud and exclusive, he was a favourite, 
 especially with us younger boys ; for he always 
 defended us against our elders when any were 
 cowardly enough to attack us. Do you know, 
 I have been told he has grown morose and 
 disagreeable, and I want to ask you if it is 
 true." 
 
 Violet's eyes were raised in astonishment, 
 and a blush rose to her face that made Nelly 
 look at her with fresh admiration. 
 
 " No, indeed, Mr. Woodford, and whoever 
 told you so is greatly mistaken. When he 
 comes you will see that he is neither morose 
 nor disagreeable,'* and Violet smiled at the 
 idea. Had he not been all too much the 
 other way for her peace, stealing away her 
 whole heart before she was even aware of it ? 
 
 '' You cannot think how glad I am to hear 
 you say so. Miss Mortimer. I don't know 
 whether I ought to let you into the secret, but 
 you and Nelly must promise not to let it out 
 if I betray the name of my informant. It 
 was Mr. Wilmot." 
 
 " Mr. Wilmot ! " and again the indignant 
 blush rose to Violet's face. " How could he
 
 222 VIOLET MORTIMEB. 
 
 \ 
 
 say so wlien lie scarcely knows Norman ? " she 
 exclaimed, forgetting in her eagerness that 
 she never called Norman simply by his Chris- 
 tian name before strangers. " They only met 
 twice, last year;" then recollecting herself she 
 continued, " Mr. Ashleigh may have seemed 
 a little proud and distant to Mr. Wilmot, for 
 there are persons who have thought him so at 
 first, but he is ^rrong in calhng him morose 
 and disagreeable." 
 
 ^' And he has no right, of course, to form an 
 opinion at all on so slight an acquaintance," 
 said Harry. 
 
 ''You have knoT\m Mr. Wilmot some time, 
 yourself, have you not, Violet ? " asked Nelly. 
 
 " I have met him two or thi^ee times lately ; 
 but before that I had not seen him since last 
 year, when he first came to the Lesters' and 
 we met him once or twice. I do not feel as 
 if I knew him very well." 
 
 "If I had not known differently before- 
 hand," said Nelly, " I should have thought by 
 his looks Mr. Wilmot was an Italian. I sup- 
 pose his having spent so much time abroad 
 has given him a foreign air. Yiolet, do you 
 know, I think him so very handsome, and Harry 
 does not agree with me. I'm sure it is be-
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 223 
 
 cause lie envies liim his dark eyes," and Xelly 
 looked very mischievous. 
 
 " They happen to be the feature I covet 
 least of liis/' rejoined Harry. '' I say, Nelly, 
 you had better stop talking so much about 
 Mr. Wilmot, or Miss Mortimer and I shal^ 
 think seriously you are going to fall in love 
 with him." 
 
 Nelly shrugged her shoulders contemptu- 
 ously, and looked poutingly out of the carriage 
 windov^. 
 
 They soon arrived at the house, but before 
 going in Nelly made Yiolet accompany her 
 to that part of the garden from which she 
 could best look down on the lake below. It 
 looked so peaceful and lovely, that as Yiolet 
 gazed around she said almost audibly, '' How 
 very beautiful ! " 
 
 She had already visited some of the more 
 northern lakes with Mrs. Ashleigh and Nor- 
 man, having made a day's excursion from 
 Ashleigh Court, and the scenery there might 
 be grander and more rugged, but Windermere 
 struck Yiolet as being eminently beautiful and 
 enchanting. 
 
 " I shall persuade Harry to take us out 
 on the lake some night by moonlight," said
 
 224 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 Nelly; *^lie does sometimes, but papa and 
 mamma think it rather dangerous ; hut we'll 
 promise to be very steady. I'm sure you 
 would like it — don't you think you would ? — 
 it is so delicious ! " 
 
 ^^ Indeed, yes, it is just what I should 
 enjoy; " and Yiolet and Nelly tmrned to enter 
 the house, where Yiolet received a warm wel- 
 come from Mr. and Mrs. Woodford, who made 
 her feel at home with them at once. Major 
 Woodford was a very gentlemanly, genial 
 man, tall and military looking, and his wife, 
 though not handsome, was very elegant in 
 appearance, with a very sweet voice and plea- 
 sant manner. She kissed Yiolet with motherly 
 kindness, and bade her welcome very heartily, 
 saying at the same time how pleased they 
 were that they could confidently expect Mrs. 
 Ashleigh and Norman. 
 
 '' Miss Gordon and Loo are in the di'aw- 
 ing-room, I believe," she said; '' perhaps Miss 
 Mortimer would like to see them before going 
 upstahs." ^ 
 
 '' Our madcap Nell has quite taken posses- 
 sion of you as her own especial property," 
 laughed Major Woodford, as Nelly put her 
 arm in Yiolet's and led the way to the di'aw-
 
 YIOLET MOETIMEK. 225 
 
 ing-room, where they found Miss Woodford 
 and Eleanor. Louisa Woodford came forward 
 at once and welcomed Violet kindly, but with 
 a little too much stateliness and formality to 
 put her so much at her ease as she had been 
 with the rest. 
 
 Miss Woodford was a tall, elegant girl, very 
 distinguished looking, with a pale face, very 
 dark eyes, and rich masses of jet black hair. 
 Violet did not take to her at once as she had 
 done to the rest of the family, though she had 
 spoken with politeness and sincere kindness. 
 Then Eleanor came forward, and she and 
 Violet looked at each other again after their 
 two years' separation. 
 
 ^' Could that be Violet ? " Eleanor had asked 
 herseK at her first glimpse of the simply yet 
 elegantly dressed girl who entered arm in 
 arm with Nelly Woodford. It was not that she 
 had grown much taller, but the perfect grace 
 of her shght figure, the clear dark complexion, 
 which could no longer by any stretch of the 
 irfiagination be called '' sallow," mingled with 
 the temporary glow of excitement, the be- 
 coming style of her hair, the difference alto- 
 gether from the sad, neglected-looking Violet 
 she remembered, all struck Eleanor with 
 
 VOL. I. 15
 
 226 VIOLET MGKTIMEE. 
 
 astonishment and something very like envy 
 even thus early, for she could not but perceive 
 that many would call Violet beautiful, mth 
 the beauty of soul and expression if not 
 exactly of feature. And Yiolet thought 
 Eleanor handsomer than ever, though looking 
 three or four years more than her real age, 
 which w^as but twenty. 
 
 Concealing her chagrin behind a sisterly 
 smile, Eleanor shook hands with Yiolet, and 
 kissed her with a semblance of affection, for 
 it would not do to let out the tale of the past 
 to these new friends. Yiolet's heart bm-ned 
 for a moment at the deceit, as she thought 
 of the past; but then generously resolving 
 to forget it, she calmed herself and enquired 
 after Mrs Mortimer as kindly as she could. 
 But in spite of both then efforts the meeting 
 was constrained and awkward, and it struck 
 Nelly as so, but she had too much natm-al 
 good feeling to appear to notice it. In a few 
 minutes she and Yiolet left the room together, 
 and as they went upstahs Nelly said, — 
 
 ^' You won't mind sharing the same room 
 with me, will you, Yiolet ? I think mamma 
 named it to Mrs. Ashleigh. The house will be 
 so full that we thought you would not mind."
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 227 
 
 ** Mind ! Why, I'd rather be witli you than 
 alone, and you should not have apologised, 
 Nelly. I shall feel at home sooner being 
 with you." 
 
 '' That's a darling ! " replied Nelly. ^'Violet, 
 you've not been out much yet, have you, if 
 you don't mind teUing me ? " 
 
 "" I can hardly say I have been out at all," 
 replied Violet. *' I am only seventeen, and 
 I have had a governess ifp to the last few 
 days. We live very quietly at Ashleigh 
 Court, but so happily." 
 
 And Nelly saw by the far-off look in Violet's 
 eyes that she was thinking deeply, and she 
 fancied she heard her sigh faintly. When 
 they were in the bedroom^ together, and Nelly 
 was helping Violet to take off her things and 
 take the dresses out of the trunks, she began 
 to talk again; 
 
 '^And have you never been to school, 
 Violet?" 
 
 '^ No never." 
 
 **You lucky creature, you ought to be 
 thankful. If you only knew the scrapes I 
 used to get into at school ! Then I suppose 
 you have not many young lady friends ? You 
 see I am dreadfully inquisitive."
 
 228 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 "No, I have never had any companions 
 of my own age at all, except Eleanor. I 
 have met young ladies now and then, of 
 course, hut I have never heen very friendly 
 with any." 
 
 " You were accustomed to it, of course, 
 but still it must have been rather lonely, 
 for, after all, it was great fun at school some- 
 times, though I was always in scrapes. Do 
 you really never feel lonely at Ashleigh Com-t? 
 Do you never wish for any gu'l friends, me, 
 for instance?" and Nelly's blue eyes looked 
 bewitchingly at Violet, who smiled as she 
 answered, — . * »' 
 
 " I'm sure I should have wished for you 
 sometimes, if I had known you, Nelly ; but I 
 never liked the idea of going to school, among 
 a great many girls, never. You see I have 
 been so very happy at Ashleigh Court that I 
 have never wanted any other friends than those 
 I have there." 
 
 Violet could not exactly say that she had 
 never felt lonely, for had she not known a 
 dreary lonehness of wliich Nelly could as yet 
 have no conception ? Had she not loved and 
 rejoiced, doubted and feared by tm-ns, with a 
 feehng so strong and intense that Nelly's
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 229 
 
 heart, free and happy and careless, had yet 
 never dreamed of? • 
 
 ^^And there is no one at A^hleigh Court 
 hut Mrs. Ashleigh and^ her son ? " went on 
 Nelly. '^ I don't wonder at your loving Mrs. 
 Ashleigh, Violet, for no one could help it, 
 and I should think Mr. Ashleigh cannot have 
 been so very disagreeable, or you could not 
 have been so happy in his house; but of 
 course he has been a year away, so you were 
 ^'id of him in any case. You must be in love, 
 Violet, with some handsome stranger you 
 have met roaming among the hills, and that 
 would keep anyone from feeling lonely, of 
 course. Ha ! I have found out the secret." 
 
 Nelly had spoken jestingly in her thought- 
 less way, never supposing she was so near 
 the truth ; but Violet blushed painfully, and 
 turned aside to hide her emotion, for, unlike 
 other girls, it was totally new to her to be 
 jested with on this subject. Her heart's love 
 had been a thing so sacred, so hidden, and — it 
 might be — so unhappy, that now, in the fear 
 of betraying it, she could scarcely summon 
 strength to appear unconcerned and careless 
 at Nelly's words. Poor Nelly could almost 
 have bitten out her own tongue for having
 
 230 VIOLET MOETIMEK. 
 
 spoken so now, and taking Violet's hand, she 
 drew her to the window which looked out 
 over the lake, and as they gazed across at 
 the mountains rising hefore them, she said, — 
 
 ^' Have I not a lovely view ? I meant to 
 make you admire it when we first came into 
 the room, only I got to talking so. I know 
 I do talk great nonsense ; they are always 
 telling me so, especially Loo." 
 
 ^' Well, it is very pleasant nonsense, do 
 you know, and I think it does me good," said 
 Violet gently ; and almost unconsciously her 
 arm stole round Nelly's fairy waist. 
 
 Then as they stood thus, Nelly hegan to 
 tell Violet all ahout their guests, their names 
 and what they were like. ^' For," she said, 
 ^' as you will meet them at dinner, you'll feel 
 more at home if you know all ahout them; " 
 and she told also of their plans for the week, 
 and of the coming hall, which was to he last 
 in the series of amusements. 
 
 ^' I've never heen to a hall yet in my life," 
 said Violet. 
 
 " Then you will enjoy it ! you ijiust do ! I 
 will introduce you to all the hest partners in 
 the room, those I like hest myself. Of course 
 it doesn't matter ahout your knowing the guis
 
 VIOLET MOETIMER. 231 
 
 very well at a dance, they are no good there. 
 I have so many friends, Violet, but except 
 one or two schoolfellows, I have no special 
 favourites among them ; they're all the same 
 to me. But, Violet, I shall like ijow, whether 
 you'll let me or not. I'm quite serious now, 
 I knew at once I should love you ; " and Nelly 
 did look very earnest as she spoke. 
 
 Here they were interrupted by Mrs. Wood- 
 ford, who came in to see if Violet were com- 
 fortable and had everything as she liked it. 
 
 ""■ Mrs. Lester has just come in, and was 
 asking if you had arrived safely, my love," 
 she said. 
 
 '' We may as well stay up and dress now, 
 mamma, and take our time over it,'^' said 
 NeUy. 
 
 ^' Very well, Nelly, and in that case you 
 can dispense with me, I daresay;" and Mrs. 
 Woodford left them to themselves. 
 
 ^' We dine at half-past six, and it is hardly 
 half-past five now, ^iolet, so we can be as 
 slow as we like." 
 
 But though they continued to talk, Violet 
 began to feel pertm^bed and somewhat nervous, 
 not so much on account of this her first going 
 into strange society, but because of the
 
 232 VIOLET MOKTIMER. 
 
 thought, *^ In an hour I shall have to meet 
 Louis Wilmot again ! *' 
 
 Would he persecute her even here with 
 his attentions, here where it could not fail 
 to be noticed, and Nonnan coming so 
 soon? Why had fate so cruelly sent Mr. 
 Wilmot, like an evil genius, across her path ? 
 She had almost begun to feel happy and hght- 
 hearted in the pleasure of her newly-made 
 friendship, when the thought of Mr. Wilmot 
 renewed her care and her dread of his un- 
 pleasant civilities. But there was no help 
 for it, so, armed with firesh resolutions to 
 show him her annoyance, if necessary, she 
 went down with Nelly to the drawing-room. 
 
 Here she was greeted by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lester, and the inevitable Mr. Wilmot at 
 once left the gentleman to whom he was 
 talking, and came forward at once to Violet, 
 saying, with his usual ' empressemenfy how 
 happy he was to meet her, and he would 
 have sat down by her side had not Mi's. 
 Woodford, to her great rehef, led her away 
 to introduce her to Mr. Acton, the gentleman 
 to whom Louisa Woodford was engaged, 
 and to the rest of their visitors. 
 
 " I am sorry we have not more young
 
 VIOLET MORTIMER. 233 
 
 ladies to introduce you to among our com- 
 pany, my love ; but you will meet all our 
 friends at the dance, and in the meantime 
 I daresay you will find entertainment for 
 each other." 
 
 *^ Violet is quite satisfied with me, mamma," 
 said Nelly, who overheard Mrs. Woodford, 
 *^ and I shall be jealous if she wants anyone 
 else." 
 
 ^* Then you need not be the least bit 
 jealous," and Yiolet sat down close beside 
 her. 
 
 Mr. Wilmot tried his best to be asked 
 to take Violet in to dinner, and she sat in 
 dread of his succeeding ; but Mrs. Woodford 
 assigned her to another gentleman, a young 
 lieutenant on leave of absence, to Violet's 
 great rehef, and Mr. Wilmot was forced to 
 be contented with Nelly, who kept him fiilly 
 employed, and prevented him from even once 
 addressing Violet, who sat almost opposite. 
 
 How often during that , elegantly arranged 
 dinner and amid that refined yet fiiendly com- 
 pany did Violet's thoughts wander to Ashleigh 
 Court, to grandmamma's room, where she 
 would be sitting alone at this moment think- 
 ing of Norman and his near retm-n — how her
 
 234 VIOLET MOETIMER. 
 
 thoughts flew back too to the lonely seashore, 
 to Mrs. Arnott's cottage, even to poor little 
 Charley ! and it seemed very strange to find 
 herself here among these new faces and 
 as yet unfamiliar rooms. And yet she was 
 amused and interested, she could not help feel- 
 ing so, at her first real glimpse of the outer 
 world, another world to that in which she had 
 her home, aye, and her whole heart. She got 
 on better with Eleanor now that the first 
 awkwardness was over, and they could meet 
 as friends Hving in the same house without any 
 more greetings or outward marks of affection 
 being required. They never conversed alone, 
 but always mingled with the rest, and there 
 was nothing to excite any suspicion of what 
 their former relations had been, save perhaps 
 in the mind of shrewd little Nelly, who had 
 been impressed during her conversation in 
 the bedroom with Violet with an idea that 
 she did not care to speak much of her 
 London life. 
 
 Yiolet soon perceived that Miss Woodford 
 bestowed a large share of friendship upon 
 Eleanor, who appeared to reciprocate the 
 sentiment, whether she felt it or not. Louisa 
 Woodford was a quiet, dignified ghl, with a
 
 VIOLET MOKTIMEE. 235 
 
 very sincere, constant nature, and v^as one who 
 would not easily cast from her heart anyone 
 who had once found a place there. She was 
 rather a has bleu too, though it never ren- 
 dered her pedantic or disagreeahle ; hut with 
 all her knowledge and acquirements, Louisa 
 had not one-half the discernment or insight 
 into character which her younger^ and livelier 
 sister possessed. She fancied she had foimd 
 in the beautiful and stately Eleanor Gordon 
 one whose mind was akin to her own, and of 
 whom she could make a friend. She failed to 
 see the utter selfishness and ingrained worldli- 
 ness of character through the outward appear- 
 ances w^hich Eleanor so ably sustained. She 
 could not hut perceive that she was somewhat 
 cold and haughty ; but this she attributed 
 to her strong, reserved nature, and con- 
 sidered it a fault on the right side. ^^ When 
 Eleanor loves," she thought, judging by her 
 town true, deep attachment, ''the real worh 
 of her heart will shine out fully in its un- 
 changing devotion to him who will inspire 
 it." So thought Louisa Woodford, while 
 Nelly, not so easily deceived, persisted in not 
 liking Eleanor Gordon. 
 
 "I don't care for her handsome face, Loo,
 
 236 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 nor her majestic figure," slie would say, to 
 lier sister's displeasure ; ^^ if she had only a 
 little more heart, I might get up some affec- 
 tion for her, hut as it is, I can't. You need 
 not he afraid I shall he uncivil to her. Loo, or 
 let her see I don't care for her ; hut don't ask 
 me to fall in love with her, because I couldn't 
 do it ; I could as soon fall in love with one of 
 the poplar trees in the garden. " So that at last 
 Louisa saw that her encomiums on her friend 
 fell flat upon Nelly, and was forced to be 
 silent. 
 
 This evening, when Mrs. Woodford asked 
 Violet to sing, and she modestly compHed, 
 Eleanor was again astonished by the beauty 
 of her voice, which enchanted Nelly, who was 
 delighted to find that Violet sang so sweetly, 
 and was more drawn to her than ever. Eleau or 
 herself could not sing, she could only play with 
 considerable style and execution, but with a 
 taste more acquired than natural. 
 
 All the evening Louis Wilmot hovered near 
 Violet, addressing her whenever he could, in 
 a manner so apparently earnest as to startle 
 her and make her wonder at times if his 
 admiration were after all real and genuine. 
 And when she thought this her manner be-
 
 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 237 
 
 came less distant and more gentle ; but never 
 any more, never anything that could lead him 
 to suppose she looked favourably on him. And 
 her instinctive repugnance increased, hard as 
 she strove to think more kindly of him. It 
 was impossible that Mr. Wilmot's marked 
 attention to Violet could escape unnoticed, 
 even on this first evening. Eleanor Gordon 
 was one who noticed it ; but she consoled her- 
 self for the apparent admiration Violet was 
 receiving by the thought, "Mr. Wilmot knows 
 of her wealth, and, if I am not much mistaken, 
 he has not much of his own to boast of." 
 
 Eleanor until now had not bestowed any 
 particular thought upon him since their in- 
 troduction, save as one among the many who 
 must be struck by her own beauty, and he in 
 turn had thought her a very handsome girl, 
 but had not troubled himself any further about 
 her. 
 
 That night, when alone together in their 
 room, Nelly and Violet stood long at the 
 window, gazing out at the exceeding beauty 
 of the night, as the moon cast its Hglit upon 
 the lake, and shone upon the dark trees and 
 shrubs, reflecting them in the still water, and 
 causing the distant moimtains to stand out
 
 238 VIOLET MORTIMEK. 
 
 clearly to view. Nelly's face was unusually 
 grave as she said, — 
 
 ^^Yiolet, it is almost the only time I feel 
 tempted to be melancholy, when I look out 
 on nights like this. Isn't it beautiful ? And 
 it is so very, very still and quiet that it almost 
 awes me, though I'm so used to it." 
 
 '^ It is very lovely, Nelly. One could 
 scarcely ever get thed of looking out on such 
 a night at a scene like this. I have a great 
 habit of looking out for ever so long on moon- 
 light nights, for we too have the hills, and 
 Ashleigh Court gardens are very beautiful, 
 but we have no lak6. I have a sea view 
 from my window, though, and I'm quite 
 content." 
 
 They talked on together for some time, but 
 long after Nelly was asleep Violet was wide 
 awake, thinking, thinking what a long day 
 it had seemed, how much had taken place, 
 and how many new faces she had seen since 
 she had taken leave of grandmamma, to-day. 
 She could hardly fancy she was not in her 
 own little room at Ashleigh Com't, save when 
 she listened to Nelly's peaceful breathing as 
 she lay by her side. Violet felt a real a£fec- 
 tion, even on so short an acquaintance, for
 
 VIOLET MOETIMEE. 239 
 
 merry, loving, light-hearted, Nelly, whose 
 disposition afforded a singular interest and 
 attraction to her. And they were all so very 
 kind to her; even with Miss Woodford the 
 first restraint had worn off during the evening, 
 and Violet's thoughts were full of affection 
 towards these new friends. If it were not 
 for Mr. Wilmot, Yiolet would have felt entirely 
 at ease with the Woodfords, watching the 
 time pass until Norman's coming. In four 
 days perhaps he would be here, and he who 
 had never been far fi^om her thoughts all 
 through the weary time of his absence, would 
 be near her again. And as the idea grew 
 stronger, she started up in trembling joy, and 
 then strove to calm the thrilling rapture of 
 her heart. 
 
 To so young a girl, one so imused to the 
 gaieties of the world, it was impossible that the 
 coming pleasures should not have the charm 
 at least of novelty ; but how willingly, how 
 gladly would Yiolet give them up for the quiet 
 home scenes of Ashleigh Court, for the prospect 
 of meeting Norman again as they had parted, 
 amidst them, far away from strange faces and 
 surroundings ! And then came the thought, 
 the sickening di'ead that time might have
 
 240 VIOLET MORTIMEE. 
 
 cooled and changed even Norman's friendship 
 for her, that he might look on her no longer 
 as "little Violet," but cease to distinguish her 
 from his ordinary friends. And the discovery 
 that her love, her heart's worship was wasted, 
 and that Norman was and would ever be in- 
 different to her, would come upon her here 
 among strangers, where the grief and the 
 dreary weight upon her spirit could not be 
 indulged in in privacy, but must be concealed 
 under a happy, gay exterior, more than all, 
 before Norman himself, who must never guess 
 the deep, rich store of love he could have 
 had for the asking.. And at last Violet's eyes 
 closed in sleep, shutting out the moonlit 
 room, and she was soon dreaming of Norman, 
 of Louis Wilmot and Nelly, and of Lake 
 Windermere lying so calm and beautiful 
 below the window near her. 
 
 END OF VOL. I.
 
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