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 UNIVERSITY OF .LLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 k^ 
 
 aww L 
 
 ^^^7 1975 
 APR A 
 
 l4lJ84 
 A!J6 1 8 1)94 
 
 SEP 7 
 
 1994 
 
 L161— O-1096 
 
'/ 
 
 
 a I E) RARY 
 
 OF THE 
 U N IVERSITY 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 YBt.v^ 
 v.\ 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
THE 
 
 THREE BRIDES 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLOTTE M. YONGE, 
 
 AlTHOk OK " IHE HEIR OK KEDCLVKKE," &C. 
 
 IN TIVO VOLUMES.— VOLUME I. 
 
 EIGHTH EDITION. 
 
 MACMILLAN AND CO. 
 1876. 
 
 [The Ri,^ht of TransLation and Reproduction is Kt-st'}i'cd.\ 
 
i.oxuox : 
 
 K. CI.AV, SONS, AND TAYLOK, I'KIN'TKKS, 
 
 r.READ STREET HILL, 
 
 QTEKN \ICTORIA STREET. 
 
V'l 
 
 3:: 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ^ 1 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Q,^ THE MODEL AND HER COPIES I 
 
 "^ CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE POPULATION OF COMPTON PQYNSETT I4 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PARISH EXPLORATIONS 33 
 
 <i CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ^ SHADES IN SUNSHINE 54 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ri 
 ^ A SUNDAV OF EXCITEMENT 66 
 
 ^ CHAPTER Vt. 
 
 ^ WEDDING VISITS 84 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS 99 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 UNSATISFACTORY II7 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 COLD HEART 133 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A TRUANT . 144 
 
 CHAPTER. XI. 
 
 ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE 1 64 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PASTORAL VISITING I 79 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS 200 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 NEITHER LAND NOR WATER 21 9 
 
CONTENTS. vii 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 235 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE DRTVE TO BACKSWORTH 252 
 
 CHAPTER XVn. 
 
 THE ENCHANTMENTS 280 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 DEMONSTRATIONS 
 
 299 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN 317 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 VIVIENNE 329 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 
 
 *' There is sure another Flood toward, that so many couples are coming 
 to the Ark."— As You Like It. 
 
 " Ah ! it is a pitiable case ! " 
 
 " What case, boys ? " 
 
 " Yours, Mother, with such an influx of daughters- 
 in-law." 
 
 '' I suspect the daughters-in-law think themselves 
 
 more to be pitied." 
 
 " As too many suns in one sphere." 
 
 " As daughters-in-law at all." 
 
 " There's a ready cure for that. Eh, Charlie } " 
 
 '' The sight of the mother-in-law." 
 
 " Safe up on the shelf.? Ha, you flattering boys ! " 
 
 " Well, each of the three bridegrooms has severally 
 told us that his bride was a strong likeness of the 
 mother, so she will have the advantage of three 
 
 mirrors 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 B 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 *' Ay, and each married solely for her benefit. I 
 wonder which is the truest ! " 
 
 " Come, Baby Charles, don't yo2i take to being 
 cynical and satirical," said the mother. " It would be 
 more to the purpose to consider of the bringing them 
 home. Let me see, Raymond and his Cecil will be at 
 Holford's Gate at 5.30. They must have the carriage 
 in full state. I suppose Brewer knows." 
 
 " Trust the ringers for scenting it out." 
 
 '' Julius and Rosamond by the down train at Wil- 
 lansborough, at 4.50. One of you must drive old 
 Snapdragon in the van for them. They will not mind 
 when they understand ; but there's that poor wife of 
 Miles's, I wish she could have come a few days earlier. 
 Her friend, Mrs. Johnson, is to drop her by the 
 express at Backsworth, at 3.30," 
 
 " Inconvenient woman ! " 
 
 " I imagine that she cannot help it ; Mrs. Johnson is 
 going far north, and was very good in staying with her 
 at Southampton till she could move. Poor little thing ! 
 alone in a strange country ! I'll tell you what ! One 
 of you must run down by train, meet her, and either 
 bring her home in a fly, or wait to be picked up by 
 Raymond's train. Take her Miles's letter." 
 
 The two young men glanced at one another in 
 dismay, and the elder said, " Wouldn't Nurse do 
 better .? " 
 
 "No, no, Frank," said the younger, catching a 
 distressed look on their mother's face, " I'll look up 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 
 
 Miles's little African. I've rather a curiosity that 
 way. Only don't let them start the bells under the 
 impression that we are a pair of the victims. If so, I 
 shall bolt." 
 
 ''Julius must be the nearest bolting," said Frank. 
 " How he accomplished it passes my comprehension. 
 I shall not beheve in it till I see him. There, then, 
 ril give orders. Barouche for the squire, van for the 
 rector, and the rattling fly for the sailor's wife. So 
 wags the course of human life," chanted Frank Char- 
 nock, as he strolled out of the room. 
 
 " Thanks, Charlie," whispered his mother. " I am 
 grieved for that poor young thing. I wish I could go 
 myself. And, Charlie, would you cast an eye round, 
 and see how things look in their rooms ? You have 
 always been my daughter." 
 
 " Ah ! my vocation is gone ! Three in one day ! 
 I wonder which is the best of the lot. I bet upon Miles's 
 Cape Gooseberry. — Tired, Mother darling ? Shall I 
 send in Nurse ? I must be off, if I am to catch the 
 12.30 train." 
 
 He bent to kiss the face, which was too delicately 
 shaped and tinted to look old enough to be in expec- 
 tation of three daughters-in-law. No, prostrate as 
 she was upon pillows, Mrs. Charnock Poynsett did 
 not look as if she had attained fifty years. She was 
 lady of Compton Poynsett in her own right ; and had 
 "been so early married and widowed, as to have been 
 the most efficient parental influence her five sons had 
 
 B 2 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 ever known ; and their beautiful young mother had 
 been the object of their adoration from the nursery 
 upwards, so that she laughed at people who talked of 
 the trouble and anxiety of rearing sons. 
 
 They had all taken their cue from their senior, who 
 had always been more to his mother than all the world 
 besides. For several years, he being as old of his age 
 as she was young, Mr. and Mrs. Charnock Poynsett, 
 with scarcely eighteen years between their ages, had 
 often been taken by strangers for husband and wife 
 rather than son and mother. And though she knew 
 she ought to wish for his marriage, she could not but 
 be secretly relieved that there were no symptoms of 
 any such event impending. 
 
 At last, during the first spring after Raymond 
 Charnock Poynsett, Esquire, had been elected member 
 for the little borough of Willansborough, his mother, 
 while riding with her two youngest boys, met with an 
 accident so severe, that in two years she had never 
 quitted the morning-room, whither she had at first 
 been carried. She was daily lifted to a couch, but she 
 could endure no further motion, though her general 
 health had become good, and her cheerfulness made 
 her room pleasant to her sons when the rest of the 
 house was very dreary to them. 
 
 Raymond, always the home son, would never have 
 absented himself but for his parliamentary duties, and 
 vibrated between London and home, until, when his 
 mother had settled into a condition that seemed likely 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 5 
 
 to be permanent, and his two youngest brothers were 
 at home, reading each for his examination, the one for 
 a Government' clerkship, the other for the army, he 
 yielded to the general recommendation, and set out 
 for a journey on the Continent. 
 
 A few wrecks later came the electrifying news of his 
 engagement to his second cousin, Cecil Charnock, It 
 was precisely the most obvious and suitable of con- 
 nections. She was the only child of the head of the 
 family of which his father had been a cadet, and there 
 were complications of inheritance thus happily dis- 
 posed of. Mrs. Poynsett had not seen her since her 
 earliest childhood ; but she was known to have been 
 educated with elaborate care, and had been taken to 
 the Continent as the completion of her education, and 
 there Raymond had met her, and sped so rapidly 
 with his wooing, that he had been married at Venice 
 just four weeks previously. 
 
 Somewhat less recent was the wedding of the 
 second son. Commander Miles Charnock. (The 
 younger sons bore their patronymic alone.) His ship 
 had been stationed at the Cape, and there, on a hunt- 
 ing expedition up the country, he had been detained 
 by a severe illness at a settler's house ; and this had 
 resulted in his marrying the eldest daughter, Anne 
 Fraser. She had spent some months at Simon's Bay 
 while his ship was there, and when he found himself 
 under orders for the eastern coast of Africa, she 
 w^ould fain have awaited him at Glen Fraser ; but he 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 preferred sending her home to fulfil the mission of 
 daughterhood to his own mother. 
 
 The passage had been long and unfavourable, and 
 the consequences to her had been so serious that 
 when she landed she could not travel until after a few 
 days' rest. 
 
 The marriage of the third son had been a much 
 greater surprise. Compton Poynsett was not a 
 family living ; but the patron, hearing of Julius 
 Charnock as a hard-working curate in a distant sea- 
 port, wrote to offer it to him ; and the same letter to 
 Mrs. Poynsett which conveyed this gratifying intelli- 
 gence, also informed her of his having proposed to the 
 daughter of the commanding officer of the regiment 
 stationed at the town where lay his present charge. 
 Her father enjoyed the barren honours of the Earl- 
 dom of Rathforlane, an unimprovable estate in a 
 remote corner of Ireland, burthened with successive 
 families of numerous daughters, so that he was forced 
 to continue in the service, and the marriage had 
 been hastened by the embarkation of the regiment 
 for India only two days later. The rectory had, 
 however, been found in such a state of dilapidation, 
 that demolition was the only cure ; and thus 
 the Reverend Julius and Lady Rosamond Charnock 
 were to begin their married life in the family 
 home. 
 
 The two younger sons, Francis and Charles, stood 
 on the other side of a gap made by the loss of two 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 
 
 infants, and were only twenty-one and nineteen. 
 Frank had passed through Oxford with credit, and 
 had been promised a Government office ; while 
 Charles was intended for the army ; and both had 
 been reading with a tutor who lived at Willans- 
 borough, and was continually employed in cramming, 
 being reported of as the best " coach " in the country. 
 Charlie, however, had passed a week previously, 
 and was to repair to Sandhurst in another fort- 
 night. 
 
 At half-past four there was a light tap at Mrs. 
 Poynsett's door, and Charlie announced, " Here's the 
 first, Mother ! " as he brought in a grey-cloaked 
 figure ; and Mrs. Poynsett took a trembling hand, 
 and bestowed a kiss on a cheek which had languor 
 and exhaustion in the very touch. 
 
 " She was tired to death. Mother," said Charlie, "so 
 we did not wait for the train." 
 
 '' Quite right ! " and as the new comer sank into 
 the chair he offered — " My dear, you are sadly 
 knocked up ! You were hardly fit to come.'' 
 
 " Thank you, I am quite well," answered the fagged 
 timid voice. 
 
 " Hark ! " as the crash of a peal of bells came up. 
 "Dear child, you will like to rest before any fresh 
 introductions. You shall go to your room and have 
 some tea there." 
 
 "Thank you." 
 
 " Charhe, call Susan. — She is my boys' old nurse, 
 
8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 now mine. Only tell me you have good accounts 
 rom my boy Miles." 
 
 " Oh yes ; " and the hand tightly clasped the 
 closely-written letter for which the mother's eyes felt 
 hungry. " He sent you his love, and he will write to 
 you next time. He was so busy, his first lieutenant 
 was down in fever." 
 
 " Where was he } " 
 
 " Off Zanzibar — otherwise the crew was healthy — 
 the 1 2th of August," she answered, squeezing out the 
 sentences as if constrained by the mother's anxious 
 gaze. 
 
 "And he was quite well when you parted with him .■' " 
 
 " Quite." 
 
 " Ah ! you nursed my boy, and we must nurse you 
 for him." 
 
 " Thank you, I am quite well." But she bit her lip, 
 and spoke constrainedly, as if too shy and reserved 
 to give way to the rush of emotion ; but the cold- 
 ness pained Mrs Poynsett, whose expansiveness was 
 easily checked ; and a brief silence was followed by 
 Charlie's return to report that he could not find Nurse, 
 and thought she was out with the other servants^ 
 watching for the arrival ; in another moment, the 
 approaching cheers caused him to rush out ; and after 
 many more noises, showing the excitement of the 
 multitude and the advance of the bridal pair, during 
 which Mrs. Poynsett lay with deepening colour and 
 clasped hands, her nostrils dilating with anxiety and 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 
 
 suppressed eagerness, there entered a tall, dark, sun- 
 burnt man, bringing on his arm a little, trim, upright, 
 girlish figure ; and bending down, he exclaimed, 
 "There, Mother, I've brought her — here's your 
 daughter ! " 
 
 Two little gloved hands were put into hers, and a 
 kiss exchanged, while Raymond anxiously inquired 
 for his mother's health ; and she broke in by saying, 
 " And here is Anne — Miles's Anne, just arrived." 
 
 *'Ah, I did not see you in the dark," said Raymond, 
 "There, Cecil, is a sister for you — you never had one." 
 
 Cecil was readier with greeting hand and cheek 
 than was Anne, but at the same moment the tea 
 equipage was brought in, and Cecil, quite naturally, 
 and as a matter of course, began to preside over the 
 low table, while Raymond took his accustomed chair 
 on the further side of his mother's sofa, where he 
 could lean over the arm and study her countenance, 
 while she fondled the hand that he had hung over the 
 back. He was describing the welcome at the station, 
 and all through the village — the triumphal arches and 
 shouts. 
 
 •'But how they did miss you. Mother," said Charlie. 
 '^ Old Gurnet wrung my hand m tears as he said, 
 * Yes, Sir, 'tis very fine, but it beats the heart out of 
 it that Madam baint here to see.' " 
 
 "Good old Gurnet!" responded Raymond. "They 
 are famously loyal. The J. C. P. crowned all, above 
 all the Cs and Rs, I was happy to see." 
 
10 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " ] was for Julius — not Julia," said the mother. 
 
 *' No ; J. H. C. and R. C. had a separate device 
 of roses all to themselves. Hark ! is that a cheer 
 beginning again ? Had we not better go into the 
 drawing-room, Mother ? it will be so many for you 
 all together." 
 
 " Oh no, I must see you all." 
 
 The brothers hurried out with their welcome ; and 
 in another minute, a plump soft cheek was pressed to 
 the mother's, devouring kisses were hailed on her, and 
 a fuller sweeter tone than had yet been heard an- 
 swered the welcome, 
 
 " Thank you. So kind ! Here's Julius ! I'll not 
 be in your way." 
 
 *' Dearest Mother, how is it with you .'' " as her son 
 embraced her. " Rose has been longing to be with 
 you." 
 
 "And we've all come together ! How delicious ! " 
 cried Rosamond, enfolding Anne in her embrace ; " I 
 didn't know you were come ! — See, Julius !" 
 
 But as Julius turned, a startled look came over 
 Anne's face ; and she turned so white, that Rosamond 
 exclaimed, "My dear — what — she's faint!" And 
 while Cecil stood looking puzzled, Rosamond had 
 her arm round the trembling form, and disap- 
 peared with her, guided and assisted by Nurse 
 Susan. 
 
 "Isn't she — }" exclaimed Julius, in a voice of 
 triumph that made all smile. 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. II 
 
 " Full of sweet kindness/' said Mrs. Poynsett ; " but 
 I have only seen and heard her yet, my dear 
 Julius. Susan will take her to her room — my old 
 one." 
 
 "Oh, thank you, Mother," said Julius, ''but I 
 hardly like that ; it seems like your giving it 
 up." 
 
 " On the contrary, it proves that I do not give it 
 up, since I put in temporary lodgers like you. — Now 
 Cecil is housed as you preferred, Raymond — in the 
 wainscot -rooms." 
 
 " And where have you put that poor Mrs. Miles .'' " 
 asked Raymond. " She looks quite knocked up." 
 
 " Yes, she has been very ill on the voyage, and 
 waited at Southampton to gather strength for the 
 journey. — I am so grateful to your good Rose, 
 Julius. — Why, where is the boy ? Vanished in her 
 wake, I declare I " 
 
 '' His venerable head is quite turned," said Frank. 
 " I had to get inside alone, and let them drive home 
 outside together to avoid separation." 
 
 Raymond repeated his question as to the quarters 
 of Miies's wife. 
 
 " I had the old school-room and the bed-room 
 adjoining newly fitted up," answered Mrs. Poynsett. 
 ''Jenny Bowater was here yesterday, and gave the 
 finishing touches. She tells me the rooms look very 
 nice. — Cecil, my dear, you must excuse deficiencies ; I 
 shall look to you in future." 
 
12 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 ^' I hope to manage well," said Cecil. " Had I not 
 better go up now .? Will you show me the way, 
 Raymond ? " 
 
 The mother and her two younger sons remained. 
 
 " Haven't I brought you home a splendid article } " 
 was Frank's exclamation. "Julius has got the best 
 of it." 
 
 " I back my Cape Gooseberry," returned Charles. 
 " She has eyes and hair and skin that my Lady 
 can't match, and is a fine figure of a woman 
 besides." 
 
 " Much you know of Rosamond's eyes ! '^ 
 
 " Or you either, boxed up in the van." 
 
 " Anyway, they have made roast meat of his 
 Reverence's heart ! The other two take it much more 
 easily." 
 
 " She's a mere chicken," said Charlie. " Who 
 would have thought of Raymond being caught by a 
 callow nestling "i " 
 
 " And so uncommonly cool ! " added Frank. 
 
 " It would take much to transform Raymond," in- 
 terposed the mother. " Now, boys, away with you ; 
 I must have a little quiet, to repair myself for com- 
 pany after dinner." 
 
 Charlie settled her cushions with womanly skill 
 and followed his brother. " Well, Frank, which is 
 the White Cat ^ Ah, I thought so — she's yet to 
 come." 
 
 " Not one is fit to hold a candle to her. You saw 
 
THE MODEL AND HER COPIES. 1 3 
 
 that as plain as I did, Charlie ; Eleonora beats them 
 all." 
 
 ''Ah, you're not the youngest brother, remember. 
 It was he who brought her home at last. Come, 
 you need not knock me down ; I shall never see 
 anyone to surpass the mother, and I'll have no one 
 till I do.' 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 
 
 " He \vanted a wife his braw hoose to keep, 
 But favour wi' wooin' was fashous to seek." 
 
 Laird 0* Cockpen. 
 
 In the bright lamp-light of the dining table, the new 
 population first fully beheld one another, and under- 
 stood one another's looks. 
 
 There was much family resemblance between the 
 five brothers. All were well-grown well-made men, 
 strong and agile, the countenance' pleasing, rather 
 square of mould, eyebrows straight and thick, nose 
 well cut and short, chin firm and resolute looking, 
 and the complexion very dark in Raymond, Frank, 
 and the absent Miles. Frank's eyes were soft, brown, 
 rather pensive, and absent in expression ; but Ray- 
 mond's were much deeper and darker, and had a 
 steadfast gravity, that made him be viewed as for- 
 midable, especially as he had lost all the youthful glow 
 of colouring that mantled in his brother's olive cheek ; 
 and he had a short, thick, curly brown beard, while 
 Frank had only attained to a black moustache, that 
 
THE rOPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 1 5 
 
 might almost have been drawn on his lip with char- 
 coal. 
 
 Charlie was an exception — fair, blue eyed, rosy, and 
 with a soft feminine contour of visage, which had 
 often drawn on him reproaches for not being really 
 the daughter all his mother s friends desired for her. 
 
 And Julius, with the outlines of the others, was 
 Albino, with transparent skin mantling with colour 
 that contrasted with his snowy hair, eyebrows, and 
 the lashes, veiling eyes of a curious coral hue, really 
 not unpleasing under their thick white fringes, but 
 most inconveniently short of sight, although capable 
 of much work ; in fact, he was a curiously perfect 
 pink-and-white edition of his dark and bronzed 
 brother the sailor. 
 
 The dark eyes came from the father's side ; Cecil 
 had them, and very observing orbs they seemed to be, 
 travelling about from one face to another, and into 
 every corner of the room, scrutinizing every picture 
 or piece of plate, and trying to see into the conserva- 
 tory, which had a glass door opening from one end of 
 the room. She was the youngest of the brides, and 
 her features and form seemed hardly developed, 
 nor had she attained the air of a matron ; her 
 fashionable dress of crisp white worked muslin with 
 blue trimmings, and blue ribbons in her brown hair, 
 only gave her the air of a young girl at her first 
 party, in spite of her freedom from all shyness as 
 she sat at the head of the table in contented self- 
 
l6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 possession, her little slender figure as upright as a 
 perfect spine could make it. 
 
 Very different was the bride on Raymond's right 
 hand. She was of middle height, soft, round, and 
 plump, carrying her head a little tenderly on one 
 side with a delightful degagee kind of ease, and air 
 of vivacious indolence. Her complexion was creamy 
 and colourless, her nose rather retrousse, her lips full, 
 and parting in a delicious roguish smile, answering to 
 the sleepily twinkling eyes, whose irides seemed to 
 shade so imperceptibly into the palest grey, that 
 there was no telling where the pupils ended, especially 
 as the lids were habitually half closed, as if weighed 
 down by the black length of their borders. The 
 habit of arching up one or other of the eyebrows, in 
 surprise or interrogation, gave a drollery to the other- 
 wise nonchalant sweetness of the countenance. The 
 mass of raven black hair was only adorned by a 
 crimson ribbon, beneath which it had been thrust into 
 a net, with a long thing that had once been a curl on 
 the shoulder of the white tumbled bodice worn over a 
 grey skirt which looked as if it had done solitary duty 
 for the five weeks since the marriage, and was but 
 slightly relieved by a crimson sash. 
 
 Rosamond made some apology when she saw Cecil's 
 dainty equipment. "Dressed, you correct little thing! 
 You put me to shame ; but I had no notion which 
 box my evening things are in, and it would have been 
 serious to irritate the whole concern." 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 1/ 
 
 " And she was some time with Anne," added Juh'us. 
 " Ah ! with my good will Anne should not have 
 been here ! " rejoined Rosamond. " Didn't I meet old 
 Mrs. Nurse at your threshold, with an invitation from 
 Mrs. Poynsett to dine with her in her room, and didn't 
 we find the bird flown at the first stroke of the 
 gong .? " 
 
 " Oh, I am very well ! " repeated Anne. 
 Yet she was far more colourless than Juhus, for her 
 complexion was not only faded by sickness, but was 
 naturally of the whitest blonde tint ; the simple coils 
 of her hair "lint white," and her eyes of the lightest 
 tint of pure blue. The features were of Scottish 
 type, all the more so from being exaggerated by recent 
 illness ; but they were handsome enough to show that 
 she must have been a bonnie lassie when her good 
 looks were unimpaired. Her figure far surpassed in 
 height that of both the other ladies, and was very 
 slender, bending with languor and fatigue in spite of 
 her strenuous attempts to straighten it. She was clad in 
 a perfectly plain, almost quaker-looking light dove- 
 coloured silk dress, fitting closely, and unrelieved by 
 any ribbon or ornament of any description, so that 
 her whole appearance suggested nothing but the word 
 " washed out." 
 
 It was clear that to let her alone was merciful, and 
 there was no lack of mutual communications among 
 the rest. Frank and Charlie gave their account of 
 the condition of the game. 
 
 VOL. L C 
 
1 8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 '' Do you let your tenants shoot rabbits ? " ex- 
 claimed Cecil, as if scandalized. " We never do at 
 Dunstone." 
 
 " It prevents an immense amount of discontent and 
 ill-will and underhand work," said Raymond. 
 
 " My father never will listen to any nonsense about 
 rabbits," proceeded Cecil. " If you once begin there is 
 no end to it, they are sure to encroach. He just 
 sends them a basket of game at the beginning and 
 end of the season." 
 
 *' By-the-bye," said Raymond, " I hope ours have 
 all been sent out as usual." 
 
 " I can answer for a splendid one at our wedding 
 breakfast," said Rosamond. " The mess-man who 
 came to help was lost in admiration. Did you break- 
 fast on ortolans, Cecil ? " 
 
 " Or on nightingales' tongues ? " added Charlie. 
 *' You might as well say fatted dormice and snails," 
 said Frank. " One would think the event had been 
 eighteen hundred years ago." 
 
 " Poor Frank ! he's stufted so hard that it is bursting 
 out at all his pores ! " exclaimed Charlie. 
 
 " Ah! you have the advantage of your elder, ]Master 
 Charles ! " said Raymond, with a paternal sound of 
 approbation. 
 
 " Till next time," said Frank. *' Now, thank good- 
 ness, mine is once for all ! " 
 
 The conversation drifted away to Venice and the 
 homeward journey, which Raymond and Cecil seemed 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. I9 
 
 to have spent in unremitting sight-seeing. The 
 quantities of mountains, cathedrals, and pictures, 
 they had inspected was quite appalHng. 
 
 " How hard you must have worked ! " exclaimed 
 Rosamond. " Had you never a day's rest out of the 
 thirty ? " 
 
 " Had we, Cecil ? I believe not," said Raymond. 
 
 *' Sundays 1 " gasped Anne's low voice at his elbow, 
 
 " Indeed," triumphantly returned Cecil, ''between 
 English service and High Mass, and Benediction, and 
 the public gardens, and listening to the band, we had 
 not a single blank Sunday." 
 
 Anne started and looked aghast ; and Raymond 
 said, " The opportunity was not to be wasted, and 
 Cecil enjoyed everj^thing with unwearied vigour." 
 
 " Why, what else should we have done .^ It would 
 have been very dull and stupid to have stayed in 
 together," said Cecil, with a world of innocent wonder 
 in her eyes. Then turning to her neighbour, " Surely, 
 Julius, you went about and saw things ! " 
 
 "The sea at Filey Bridge, and the Church Congress 
 at Leeds," he answered, smiling. 
 
 " Very shocking, is not it, Cecil .? " said Rosamond, 
 with mock gravity ; " but he must be forgiven, for he 
 was tired to death! I used to think, for my part, that 
 lovers were a sort of mild lunatics, never to be 
 troubled or trusted Avith any earthly thing ; but that's 
 one of the things modern times have changed ! As 
 he was to be going, all the clerical staff of St. Awdry's 
 
 C 2 
 
20 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 must needs have their holiday and leave him to do 
 their work ; indeed, one was sent off here. For six 
 weeks I never saw him, except when he used to rush 
 in to say he couldn't stay ; and when at last we were 
 safe in the coupe, he fairly went to sleep before we 
 got to the first station. — Hush ! you know you did \ 
 And no wonder, for he had been up two nights with 
 some sort of infidel who was supposed to be dying. 
 Then, that first week at Filey, he used to bring out 
 his poetry books as the proper sort of thing, and try 
 to read them to me on the sands ; but by the time he 
 had got to the bottom of a page, I used to hear the 
 words dragging out slower and slower — 
 
 " Whereon the — lily — maid — of — Astolat 
 Lay — smiling — like — a — star-fish fast asleep. ' ' 
 
 Wherewith Rosamond dropped her head and closed 
 her eyes; while the brothers shouted with mirth, 
 except Frank, whose countenance was " of one hurt 
 on a vulnerable side." 
 
 "Disrespect to Elaine.-* Eh, Frank.?" said Charlie; 
 "how many pegs has Julius gone down in your es- 
 timation } " 
 
 Frank would not commit himself, but he was evi- 
 dently at the era of sensitiveness on the poetical side, 
 Cecil spoke for him. " How very provoking ! What 
 did you do to him, Rosamond t " 
 
 " I kept off the sand-flies ! I can't say but I was 
 glad of a little rest, for I had been packing up for 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 21 
 
 the whole family for ten days past, with interludes of 
 rushing out into the town ; for whatever we hadn't 
 forgotten, the shops had not sent home ! Oh ! what a 
 paradise of quiet it was under the rocks at Filey — 
 wasn't it, Julius ? " 
 
 " We will go there again next time we have a 
 chance," said Julius, looking blissful. 
 
 " I would never go again to the same place," cried 
 Cecil " That's not the way to acquire new ideas." 
 
 "We are too old to acquire new ideas, my dear," 
 drawled Rosamond sleepily. 
 
 " What did you go to the Church Congress for ? " 
 asked Charlie. 
 
 " I hope Julius was awake by that time," said 
 Frank. 
 
 '' Not if we are to have all the new ideas tried on 
 us," said Raymond, drily. 
 
 " I went to a congress once ! " exclaimed Cecil. 
 
 " Indeed ! " said her husband, surprised. 
 
 "Yes. We thought we ought to encourage them. 
 It was the congress of Sunday-school managers for 
 our archdeaconry." 
 
 " Did you acquire any new ideas } " asked Frank ; 
 while Rosamond's very eyelashes seemed to curl with 
 suppressed diversion. 
 
 " Oh yes. We explained our system of tickets, and 
 the Archdeacon said it was a very good one, and 
 ought to be adopted everywhere." 
 
 This mode of acquisition of new ideas was quite 
 
THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 too much for Julius and Charlie, who both exploded ; 
 but Frank retained composure cnoug'i to ask, " Did 
 you explain it in person ? " 
 
 " No. We made Mr. Venn.' ' 
 
 '' The school-master "■ " said Julius. 
 
 '* No. He is otir clergyman, and he always does as 
 we tell him ; and so Dunstone is quite the model 
 parish of the archdeaconry." 
 
 Julius could not help making an odd little bend 
 of the head, half deferential, half satirical ; and Ray- 
 mond said, " Cecil, I believe it rests with you to make 
 the move." An ingenuous girlish blush mantled on her 
 cheek as she looked towards Rosamond- and moved. 
 
 The drawing-room adjoined the dining-room, and 
 likewise had a glass door leading into the con- 
 servatory ; but this, like the other windows, was 
 concealed by the pale-blue damask curtains that 
 descended from cornices gilded like the legs of the 
 substantial chairs and sofas. There was, however, no 
 lack of modern light cane and basket seats round the 
 fire, and it looked cheery and comfortable. Rosamond 
 put an arm round Anne's waist — " Poor tired dear, 
 come and lie on the sofa." 
 
 " Oh no, I couldn't. The gentlemen will come 
 in." 
 
 '' All brothers ! What, will }-ou only be satisfied 
 wath an easy-chair ! A charming room, and a charm- 
 ing fire ! " 
 
 "Not so nice as a library," said Cecil, stabbing the 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 23 
 
 fire with the poker as a sort of act of possession. 
 "We ahvays sit in the Hbrary at Dunstone. State 
 rooms are horrid." 
 
 '' This only wants to be Httered down," said Rosa- 
 mond. '* That's my first task in fresh quarters, 
 banishing some things and upsetting the rest, and 
 strewing our own about judiciously. There are the 
 inevitable wax-flowers. I have regular blarney about 
 their being so lovely, that it would just go to my 
 heart to expose them to the boys." 
 
 ''You have ahvays been on the move," said Cecil, 
 who was standing by the table examining the orna- 
 ments. 
 
 "You may say so! there are not many of Her 
 Majesty's garrisons that I have not had experience of, 
 except my native country that I wasn't born in. It 
 was very mean of them never once to send us to 
 Ireland." 
 
 "Where were you born ?" said Cecil, neither of the 
 two catching at the bull which perhaps Rosamond 
 had allowed to escape by way of trying them. 
 
 " At Plymouth. Dick and I were both born at 
 Plymouth, and Maurice at Scutari ; then we were in 
 the West Indies ; the next two v/ere born all up and 
 down in Jamaica and all the rest of the islands — 
 Tom and Terry — dear boys, I've got the charge of 
 them now they are left at school. Three more are 
 Canadians ; and little Nora is the only Irish-born one 
 amongst us." 
 
24 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I thought you said you ha<d never been in Ire- 
 land." 
 
 " Never quartered there, but on visits at Rathfor- 
 lane," said Rosamond. " Our ten years at home we 
 have been up and down the world, till at last you see 
 I've ended where I began — at Plymouth." 
 
 '' Oh what a lovely Florentine mosaic ! " exclaimed 
 Cecil, who had taken but slight interest in this 
 itinerary. " It is just like a weight at Dunstone." 
 Then opening a miniature-case, "Who is this — Mrs. 
 Poynsett when she was young ? " 
 
 " Most likely/' said Rosamond. •' It is like her now, 
 and very like Charlie." 
 
 '* Yes. Charles is quite unlike the family." 
 
 " What family ? " said Rosamond. 
 
 " The Charnocks, of course. Raymond is a perfect 
 Charnock ! " 
 
 "A vast advantage," murmured Rosamond. 
 
 "Of course," said Cecil, taking it quite seriously. 
 '* No one else could be the same thing to us. Papa 
 said there was not a match in the whole world that 
 could have gratified him so much." 
 
 " How old are you, Cecil ? " quoth Rosamond, with 
 a ripple in her voice. 
 
 " Oh, his age was no matter. I don't like young 
 men. That's not the drawback ; no, it is that horrid 
 Poynsett at the end of the name." 
 
 " You see you had better have waived your objec- 
 tions to youth, and taken a younger son." 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 2$ 
 
 "I couldn't," said this naiVe young person. "Besides, 
 there is so much more of a field for me here than at 
 Dunstone since Papa's marriage." 
 
 Whatever Rosamond had on the tip of her tongue 
 was averted by the entrance of the three younger 
 brothers. Julius seated himself beside her in the 
 cushioned fireside corner; and Cecil asked where 
 Raymond was. 
 
 "Just stepped in to see my mother," said Frank. 
 "This room opens into hers. Will you come to them.-^" 
 
 " Not yet," said Cecil. " I want you to tell me 
 about the neighbourhood." 
 
 *' Just what I want," said Rosamond. "Whenever 
 I ask, Julius always says there's Dr. Easterby." 
 
 Frank and Charlie burst out laughing. 
 
 "Dr. Easterby is one of the greatest men in the 
 English Church," said Julius. 
 
 " Precisely ! But what is the regiment at Backs- 
 worth } " and as Charlie named it, " Oh, what fun ! 
 That's where Laurie Cookson exchanged. He will 
 be sure to send us cards for everything." 
 
 " At Dunstone we never used to go to garrison 
 gaieties," said Cecil gravely. 
 
 " Oh ! I'm a military pariah," said Rosamond, 
 hastily. 
 
 "Who are the land-owners.''" continued Cecil. 
 " There was a place I saw from the line, but Ray- 
 mond didn't hear when I asked whose it was. Close 
 to the station, I mean." 
 
26 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " That is Sirenwood," said Charles. " Sir Harry- 
 Vivian's. He is just come back there with his two 
 daughters." 
 
 '' I thought Emily Vivian was dead," said JuHus. 
 " You don't mean t/mt woman ! " 
 
 " T/mt woman ? " laughed his wife. " What has she 
 done to be a ^/m^ woman ? " 
 
 *' Offended his Reverence," said Frank, in that sort 
 of jocose tone which betrays annoyance. 
 
 " A heartless mischievous woman ! " said Julius. 
 
 Rosamond cocked up her left eyebrow with an 
 ineffably droll look, which encouraged Charlie to say, 
 " Such fierceness can only be prompted by personal 
 experience. Look out, Rosamond ! " 
 
 " Come 'fess, Julius," said she, merril}^ " 'Fess and 
 make it up." 
 
 " I — I have nothing to confess," said Julius 
 seriously. 
 
 " Hasn't he indeed ? " said she, looking at the 
 brothers. 
 
 " Oh ! don't ask us," said Charlie. " His youthful 
 indiscretions were over long before our eyes had risen 
 above the horizon ! " 
 
 " Do you mean that they have really come home 
 to live here ? " demanded Julius, with singular indif- 
 ference to the personal insinuations. 
 
 " I am sorry it is so painful to you," said Frank, 
 somewhat ironically ; " but Sir Harry thinks it right 
 to return and end his days among his o^\Tl people." 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 2/ 
 
 '' Is he ill, then ? " 
 
 " I can't gratify you so far," returned Frank ; " he is 
 a fine old fellow of sixty-five. Just what humbugging 
 papers call a regular specimen of an old English 
 gentleman," he added to Cecil. 
 
 " Humbugging indeed, I should hope," muttered 
 Juhus. " The old English gentleman has reason to 
 complain ! " 
 
 ''There's the charity of the clergy!" exclaimed 
 Frank. " No forgiveness for a man who has spent 
 a little in his youth ! " 
 
 *'As an essential of the old English gentleman.?" 
 asked Julius. 
 
 " At any rate, the poor old fellow has been punished 
 enough," said Charlie. 
 
 '' But what is it } Tell me all about it," said Cecil. 
 " I am sure my father would not wish me to associate 
 with dissipated people." 
 
 " Ah ! Cecil," said Rosamond. " You'll have to 
 take refuge with the military, after all 1 " 
 
 " It is just this," said Charlie. " Sir Harry and his 
 only son were always extravagant, one as bad as the 
 other — weren't the}', JuHus .? Phil Bowater told me 
 all about it, and how Tom Vivian lost fifteen thousand 
 pounds one Derby Day, and was found dead in his 
 chambers the next morning, they said from an over- 
 dose of chloroform for neuralgia. Then the estate 
 was so dipped that Sir Harry had to give up the 
 estate to his creditors, and live on an allowance abroad 
 
28 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 or at watering-places till now, when he has managed 
 to come home. That is to sa}', the house is really 
 leased to Lady Tyrrell, and he is in a measure her 
 guest — very queer it must be for him in his own house." 
 *• Is Lady Tyrrell that woman .^" asked Rosamond* 
 " I conclude so," said Charlie. "She was the eldest 
 daughter, and married Lord Tyrrell, who died about 
 two years ago. She has no children, so she has taken 
 the family in charge, patches up Sir Harry's affairs 
 with her jointure, and chaperones her sister." 
 " And what is she like 1 " 
 " Ask Frank," said Charlie, slily. 
 " No ! " said Frank, with dignity. " I shall say no 
 more, I only excite prejudice." 
 
 " You are right, Frank," said Julius, who had evi- 
 dently recovered from the shock. " It is not fair to 
 judge people now from what they were eleven years 
 ago. They have had some terrible lessons, and may 
 be much changed." 
 
 *'Ay," said Frank; *' and they have been living in 
 an atmosphere congenial to you, at Rockpier, and are 
 hand and glove with all the St. Chrysostom folk there. 
 What do you say to that, Julius 1 I can tell you they 
 are enchanted with your curate ! " 
 " They are not in this parish." 
 
 " No, but they turn up here — the ladies, at least — 
 at all the services at odd times that Bindon has begun 
 with." 
 
 " Ah ! by-the-by, is Herbert Bowater come t " 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 29 
 
 "Yes, the whole family came over to his installation 
 in Mrs. Hornblower's lodgings." 
 
 " I saw him this morning, poor old Herbs," added 
 Frank, "looking uncommonly as if he felt himself in 
 a strait waistcoat." 
 
 '* What, are there two curates .'' " demanded Cecil, in 
 a tone of reprobation. 
 
 Julius made a gesture of assent, with a certain 
 humorous air of deprecation, which, however, was lost 
 upon her. 
 
 "We never let Mr. Venn have one," continued 
 Cecil, " except one winter when he was ill, and then not 
 a young one. Papa says idle young clergymen are 
 not to be encouraged." 
 
 ** I am entirely of Mr. Charnock's opinion. But if 
 I have exceeded the Dunstone standard, it was not 
 willingly. Herbert Bowater is the son of some old 
 friends of my mother's, who wanted to keep their son 
 near home, and made it their request that I would 
 give him a title." 
 
 " And the Bowaters are the great feature in the 
 neighbourhood," added Frank. " Herbert tells me 
 there are wonderful designs for entertaining the 
 brides." 
 
 "What do they consist of .^ " asked Rosamond. 
 " All the component parts of a family," said Frank. 
 " The eldest daughter is a sort of sheet-anchor to my 
 mother, as well as her own. The eldest son is at 
 home now. He is in the arm}\" 
 
30 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "In the light dragoons ? " asked Rosamond. " Oh ! 
 then I knew him at Edinburgh ! A man with yellow 
 whiskers, and the next thing to a stutter." 
 
 " I declare, Julius, she is as good as any army list," 
 exclaimed Charlie. 
 
 " There's praise I " cried Frank. " The army hst is 
 his one book ! What a piece of luck to have you to 
 coach him up in it ! " 
 
 " I dare say Rosamond can tell me lots ot" wrinkles 
 for my outfit," said Charles. 
 
 " I should hope so, having rigged out Dick for the 
 line, and Maurice for the artillery 1 " 
 
 Charhe came and leant on the mantel-shelf, and 
 commenced a conversation soUo voce on the subject 
 nearest his heart ; while Cecil continued her cate- 
 chism. 
 
 " Are the Bowaters intellectual } " 
 
 ''Jenny is very well read," said Julius, "a very 
 sensible person." 
 
 '' Yes," said Frank ; " she was the only person here 
 that so much as tried to read Browning. But if Cecil 
 wants intellect, she had better take to the Buncombes, 
 the queerest firm I ever fell in with. He makes the 
 turf a regular profession, actually gets a livelihood out 
 of his betting-book ; and she is in the strong-minded 
 line — woman's rights, and all the rest of it." 
 
 "We never had such people at Dunstone," said 
 Cecil. " Papa always said that the evil of being in 
 parliament was the having to be civil to ever}'body." 
 
THE POPULATION OF COMPTON POYNSETT. 3 1 
 
 Just then Raymond came back with intelligence 
 that his mother was about to go to bed, and to call 
 his wife to wish her good night. All went in succes- 
 sion to do the same. 
 
 " My dear/' she said to Anne, " I hoped you were 
 in bed." 
 
 " I thought I would wait for family worship." 
 
 " I am afraid we don't have prayers at night, my 
 dear. We must resume them in the morning, now 
 Raymond and Julius are come." 
 
 Poor Anne looked all the whiter, and only mum- 
 bled out a few answers to the kind counsels lavished 
 upon her. Mrs. Poynsett was left to think over her 
 daughters-in-law. 
 
 Lady Rosamond did not occupy her much. There 
 was evidently plenty of good strong love between her 
 and her husband ; and though her training might not 
 have been the best for a clergyman's wife, there was 
 substance enough in both to shake down together in 
 time. 
 
 But it was Raymond who made her uneasy — 
 Raymond, who ever since his father's death had been 
 more than all her other sons to her. She had armed 
 herself against the pang of not being first with him, 
 and now she was full of vague anxiety at the sense 
 that she still held her old position. Had he not sat 
 all the evening in his own place by her sofa, as if it 
 were the very kernel of home and of repose ? And 
 whenever a sense of duty prompted her to suggest 
 
32 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 fetching his wife, had he not lingered, and gone on 
 talking ? It was indeed of Cecil ; but how would 
 she have liked his father, at the honeymoon's end, 
 to prefer talking of her to talking with her ? " She 
 has been most carefully brought up, and is very 
 intelligent and industrious," said Raymond. His 
 mother could not help wondering whether a Roman 
 son might not thus have described a highly accom- 
 plished Greek slave, just brought home for his 
 mother's use. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 
 
 " A cry more tuneable 
 Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn, 
 In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly : 
 Judge, when you hear. — But, soft ; what nymphs are these?" 
 
 Midstunmer Night's Dream. 
 
 It was quite true that Cecil Charnock Poynsett was 
 a very intelligent industrious creature, very carefully 
 brought up — nay, if possible, a little too much so. 
 *' A little wholesome neglect " had been lacking. 
 
 The only child of her parents who had lived to see 
 a second birthday was sure to be the centre of 
 solicitude. She had not been spoilt in the usual 
 acceptation of the word, for she had no liberty, fewer 
 indulgences and luxuries than many children, and 
 never was permitted to be naughty ; but then she was 
 quite aware that each dainty or each pleasure was 
 granted or withheld from a careful consideration of 
 her welfare, and that nothing came by chance with 
 her. And on her rare ebullitions of self-will, Mamma, 
 governess, nurse, nay even Papa, were all in sorrowful 
 
 VOL. I. D 
 
34 "iHE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 commotion till their princess had been brought to a 
 sense of the enormity of her fault. 
 
 She lost her mother at fourteen, but the same 
 anxious training was carried on by her father; and 
 after three years he married her mother's most 
 intimate friend, avowedly that the perfect system 
 might be continued. Cecil's gaieties as a come-out 
 young lady were selected on the same judicious 
 principles as her childish diversions ; and if ever the 
 Dunstone family favoured an entertainment not to 
 their taste, it was after a debate on the need of con- 
 descension and good-nature. She had, however, 
 never had a season in London — a place her father 
 hated ; but she was taken abroad as soon as she was 
 deemed old enough thoroughly to appreciate what 
 she was to see there ; and in Switzerland her cousin 
 Raymond, who had at different times visited Dunstone, 
 overtook the party, and ere long made his proposals. 
 He was the very man to whom two or three centuries 
 ago Mr. Charnock would have betrothed the heiress 
 in her infancy ; and Cecil had never liked anyone so 
 well, feeling that her destiny came to a proper cul- 
 mination in bestowing her hand on the most eligible 
 Charnock, an M.P., and just a step above her father 
 in rank and influence. 
 
 Her step-mother was under orders to spend the 
 winter in Italy, and the wedding had therefore taken 
 place in Venice, so that Cecil might finish her journey 
 as a wife. She had been very happy and fully 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 35 
 
 occupied ; Raymond, being younger and stronger than 
 her parents, was more competent to escort her to 
 every height or depth to which she wished to go, 
 hunted up information for her, and was her most 
 obedient servant, only resisting any prolongation of 
 the journey beyond the legitimate four weeks ; nor 
 indeed had Cecil been desirous of deferring her in- 
 troduction to her new sphere. 
 
 There she stood, her hair and pretty Parisian 
 winter dress arranged to perfection, contemplating 
 with approval the sitting-room that had been ap- 
 propriated to her, the October sunshine lighting up 
 the many-tinted trees around the smooth-shaven 
 dewy lawn, and a bright fire on the hearth, shelves 
 and chiffoniers awaiting her property, and piles of 
 parcels, suggestive of wedding presents, awaiting her 
 hand. She was standing at the table, turning out her 
 travelling-bag with the comfortable sensation that it 
 was not to be immediately re-packed, and had just 
 disinterred a whole library of note-books, when her 
 husband opened the door. " I believe Jenkins is 
 waiting for your appearance, to bring in the urn, my 
 dear." 
 
 " I'm coming ; but surely there ought to be a bell 
 or gong to assemble the family." 
 
 " It might disturb my mother. What sleep she 
 gets is in the morning. I never go to her till eleven 
 o'clock, unless I am going out for the day." 
 
 D 2 
 
36 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "And what will she w^ant me to do for her ? " asked 
 Cecil, glancing at her empty shelves. 
 
 " A woman's tact will soon find out. All I wish is 
 that she should be your first object." 
 
 It was a much larger all than could be realized by 
 the son whose happiest moments had been spent in 
 devotion to her, and who thought the motherless girl 
 must rejoice doubly in such a mother. 
 
 " But I am free till eleven," said Cecil. 
 
 " Free always, I hope," he returned, wath a shade of 
 vexation. 
 
 Therewith they descended the broad stairs into the 
 panelled hall, where a great fire w^as blazing on the 
 hearth, and Rosamond and the two young brothers 
 were standing chatting merrily before it. 
 
 Julius, she said, had his primary sermon heavy on 
 his mind, and had risen before day to attack it ; and 
 she sped away to summon him from Mrs. Poynsett's 
 beautiful old dressing-room, where he sat writing 
 amid all the old associations. 
 
 Anne was discoveed hanging over the dining-room 
 fire, looking whiter and more exhausted than the 
 night before, having indeed been the first to come 
 down-stairs. She was rebuked for fatiguing herself, 
 and again murmured something about family worship. 
 
 "We must begin to-morrow," said Raymond. 
 "We have got a chaplain now." 
 
 Julius, however, on entering excused himself, saying 
 that after Sundav he should be at Matins at nine 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. %J 
 
 o'clock ; whereupon Anne looked at him in mute 
 astonishment. 
 
 Raymond, feeling that he ought to cultivate the 
 solitary sister-in-law, began asking about Miles ; but 
 unlike the typical colonist, she was very silent, and 
 her replies were monosyllabic, till Rosamond created 
 a diversion by talking to Frank ; and then Raymond 
 elicited that Glen Fraser was far up the country — 
 King Williamstown nearer than any other town. 
 They had sent thither for a doctor for Miles, and he 
 stayed one night, but said that Mother's treatment 
 was quite right ; and as it was thirty miles off he 
 did not come again. Thirty miles ! what sort of 
 roads ? Not bad for waggons. It only took two 
 days to get there if the river was not in flood. Had 
 she not been married there .'' Yes, they all rode in 
 thither for the purpose. Was it the nearest church, 
 then ? There was one only nine miles off, to which 
 Papa went when there was service — one Sunday in 
 three, " for he is an Episcopalian, you know." 
 
 '' And not your mother 1 " asked Cecil. 
 
 " I don't think she was at home," said Anne. 
 
 " Then had you a Presbyterian Kirk V^ asked Cecil,, 
 remembering that in Scotland gentle blood and 
 Anglicanism did not go together as uniformly as 
 she believed them to do in England. 
 
 " There was one at Schneyder's Kloof, but that was 
 Dutch." 
 
 "Then did you go nowhere.^" asked Cecil. 
 
^S THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " There was Mr. Pilgrim's." 
 
 " A clergyman ? " 
 
 *' No, a settler. He used to pray and expound 
 •every Sunday." 
 
 " What does he call himself } " said Cecil, growing 
 more severe. 
 
 '' I don't know," said Anne. " He gathers together 
 a little flock of all denominations, who only care to 
 hear the word." 
 
 " Such a voice in the wilderness as often does good 
 service," said Julius, with a perception that the side 
 with which he least agreed best deserved support. 
 
 He and Rosamond were bent on a tour of parochial 
 inspection, as were Raymond and Cecil on a more 
 • domestic one, beginning with the gardens. 
 
 Cecil was the first lady down-stairs, all in claret 
 colour trimmed with grey fur, with a little fur and 
 ^velvet cap upon her head. 
 
 *' There ! it is a clear morning, and you can see the 
 -view ," said Raymond, opening the hall door. 
 
 '' Very prettily undulating ground," she said, stand- 
 ing on the steps, and looking over a somewhat rapid 
 slope scattered with trees to the opposite side of the 
 valley, where a park with a red mansion in the midst 
 gleamed out among woods of green, red, orange, and 
 brown tints. " How you are shut in ! That great 
 Spanish chestnut must be a perfect block when its 
 leaves are out. My father would never let it stand so 
 near the house." 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 39 
 
 " It is too near, but it was planted at the birth of 
 my mother's brother." 
 
 "Who died.?" 
 
 "Yes, at seven years old. It was her first 
 grief." 
 
 " Then it would vex her if you cut it." 
 
 Raymond laughed. " It is hers, not mine." 
 
 " I forgot." There was a good deal in the tone ; 
 but she added, " What is that place opposite .? " 
 
 " Sirenwood. It belongs to Sir Harry Vivian ; but 
 he does not live there." 
 
 ''Yes, he does," said Cecil. "Your brothers say he 
 has come back with his two daughters." 
 
 '* There is only one unmarried." 
 
 " There is a widow come to keep house for him — 
 Lady Tyrrell." 
 
 " Very likely," said Raymond ; " my mother only 
 writes with difficulty, so I hear little when I am from 
 home." 
 
 " Is it true that they are horrid people, very 
 dissipated, and not fit for me to associate with ? " 
 
 " That is putting it strongly," said Raymond 
 quietly. " They are not likely to be very desirable 
 acquaintances for you, but there is no reason you 
 should not associate with them on ordinary terms of 
 courtesy." 
 
 " Ah ! I understand — as member's wife." 
 
 " I don't see what that has to do with it," said 
 Raymond. " Ah ! Rosamond ! " as she came down in 
 
40 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 a Galway cloak over her black velveteen, " on the 
 way to view your domain ? " 
 
 "Yes, and yours," she said, nodding to Cecil. 
 " You appreciate such English apple-pie order. It 
 looks as if you never suffered a stray leaf to dance 
 without an old woman to hunt it down. And what's 
 that red house smiling across the valley ? " 
 
 "Sirenwood," repeated Raymond; then to Julius 
 he said, " Did you know it was inhabited again .'' " 
 
 "Frank said so," answered Julius, without further 
 remark, giving his arm to his wife, who clasped both 
 hands on it ; while the other couple looked on as if 
 doubtful whether this were a trying duty incumbent 
 on them. 
 
 " What is it all about ? " said Rosamond, as they 
 walked down the avenue of walnuts leading to the 
 iron gates in the opposite direction from Sirenwood. 
 " Which of you was t/mt zvomaiis victim } Was it 
 a sailor love of Miles's } I hope not ! That poor 
 little African might not stand a gay ghost cropping 
 up again." 
 
 " Miles is far removed from the conventional 
 sailor." 
 
 " Then it is reduced to the grave Raymond." 
 
 " I wish I had betrayed nothing." 
 
 " Now you may as well proceed to betray the rest 
 instead of leaving me to exercise my fancy." 
 
 " It is no secret, only such things are best not 
 brought up again. Camilla Vivian was poor 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 4I 
 
 Raymond's grande passion, and you may imagine 
 what a grief that was to my mother, especially as the 
 poor brother was then living — one of the most fasci- 
 nating, dangerous men I ever saw ; and the whole tone 
 of the place was ultra gay and thoughtless, the most 
 reckless extravagance. However, he was set upon it, 
 and my mother was forced to consent to the engage- 
 ment. She seemed equally devoted to him, till she 
 met Lord Tyrrell at some country house, and then a 
 quarrel was picked, either by her mother or herself 
 about my mother retaining the headship of her own 
 house. It was a palpable excuse, but it served to 
 break the affair off, and Raymond was cruelly cut up. 
 My mother made herself everything to him from that 
 moment, gave up all her former habits to be with him, 
 sent the little boys to school, and fairly dragged him 
 through the trouble ! " 
 
 " How long ago was it t " 
 
 " Ten years — yes, ten years. So far as ceasing to 
 care a straw for a heartless woman like that, he has 
 got over it, no doubt ; but it has made a graver man 
 of him for life, and I doubt whether, but for my 
 mother's accident, he ever would have married." 
 
 "Did you marry for your mother's sake, Julius, or 
 only tell her so } " 
 
 " For sham.e, my Lady Mischief ! " 
 
 " And do you think the fair Camilla returned with 
 plans that she finds disconcerted } " 
 
 " How can I tell 1 I have not seen her since I 
 
42 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 was a lad of eighteen. — Ah ! how d'ye do, Betty ? " 
 in a tone of rehef ; "you've not seen my wife." 
 
 This was the first of a long series of introductions. 
 Compton Poynsett was a straggling village, with the 
 church, schools, and rectory, ten minutes' walk from 
 the park gates. It had not been neglected, so that 
 Julius had not the doubtful satisfaction of coming 
 like a missionary or reformer. The church, though 
 not exactly as with his present lights he would have 
 made it, was in respectable order, and contained 
 hardly anything obnoxious to his taste ; the schools 
 were well built, properly officered, and the children 
 under such discipline that Rosamond declared she 
 could no more meddle with them than with her 
 father's regiment. 
 
 The Rectory was at that moment level with the 
 ground, and Julius explaining the plans, when up 
 came the senior curate. Mr. Bindon, whom she, as 
 well as Julius, greeted as an old friend, was the 
 typical modern priest, full of his work, and caring for 
 nothing besides, except a Swiss mountain once a 
 year ; a slight, spare, small, sallow man, but with 
 an enormous power of untiring energy. 
 
 Scarcely had Rosamond shaken hands with him, 
 standing where her drawing-room rug was to be in 
 future days, when a merry whistle came near, and 
 over the wall from the churchyard leapt, first a 
 black retriever, secondly a Skye terrier, thirdly a bull 
 ditto, fourthly a young man, or rather an enormous 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 43 
 
 boy, who for a moment stood amazed and discon- 
 certed at the unexpectedly worshipful society into 
 which he had jumped ! 
 
 " Ha ! Herbert I is that you ? " laughed Julius. 
 
 " I beg your pardon ! " he breathlessly exclaimed. 
 ''I was just taking the short cut! I had no idea — • 
 Here, Mungo, you ruffian !" as the Skye w^as investi- 
 gating Lady Rosamond's boot. 
 
 " Oh, I like him of all things ! I am glad to 
 welcome you to our future house 1 " as she held 
 out her hand to the Reverend Herbert Bowater, 
 the junior curate, a deacon of a fortnight's stand- 
 ing, whose round open happy blue eyes, ruddy 
 cheeks, merry lips, and curly light hair, did not 
 seem in keeping with the rigidly straight collar and 
 waistcoat, and the long black coat, at present plenti- 
 fully streaked with green tree-moss, while his boots 
 and trousers looked as if they had partaken of the 
 mud-bath which his dogs had evidently been wallow- 
 ing in. 
 
 " Off! off ! " were his words, as he shook hands with 
 his rectoress. " Get away, Rollo ! " with an energetic 
 shove of the foot to the big dog, who was about to 
 shake his dripping coat for the lady's special benefit. 
 " I sav/ you arrive last evening," he said, in the con- 
 versational tone of a gentlemanly school-boy; "didn't 
 you find it very cold .? " 
 
 " Not very. I did not see you, though." 
 
 '' He was organizing the cheers," said Mr. Bindon. 
 
44 THE thrp:e brides. 
 
 '' You shone in that, Bowater. They kept such good 
 time." 
 
 " You were very good to cheer us at all," said 
 Julius, " coming in the wake of the Squire as we 
 did." 
 
 "The best of it was," said the junior, ''that Charlie 
 was so awfully afraid that he and poor Miles's wife 
 would be taken for the Squire, that he dashed in on 
 his way to warn me to choke them off. If she hadn't 
 been ill, I must have set the boys on for a lark ! 
 How is she, though ? " he asked in a really kind 
 tone. 
 
 " She looks very ill, poor thing," said Julius. 
 
 Here the bull terrier became assiduous in his atten- 
 tions to Rosamond ; and between his master's calls 
 and apologies, and her caresses and excuses, not 
 much more was heard, till Julius asked with mock 
 gravity, "And are these all you've brought over, 
 Herbert > " 
 
 "Yes, all ; I'd half a mind to bring the two grey- 
 hounds, but my father thought they would get into 
 trouble in the preserves, and there isn't room at 
 Mrs. Hornblower's place," he answered, with apolo- 
 getic simplicity. 
 
 " What a pity Durham has been reduced 1 *' said 
 Mr. Bindon drily. " It would have been the right 
 preferment for Bowater. The Bishop was obliged by 
 statute to keep a pack of hounds." 
 
 " But, Sir," expostulated the deacon, turning to the 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 45 
 
 Rector, colouring all over his honest rosy face, " you 
 don't object ! You know, of course, I've given up 
 sport," he added ruefully; "but only just as com- 
 panions ! — Ain't you, RoUo ? " he added, almost with 
 tears in his eyes, and a hand on the smooth black 
 head, belonging to such a wise benignant face, that 
 Rosamond was tempted to pronounce the dog the 
 more clerical looking of the two. 
 
 "You are very welcome," said Julius, laughing, 
 *' provided you can manage with the old women's cats. 
 I should find such companions rather awkward in 
 pastoral visits." 
 
 " I'll teach them. Sir ! You may depend on it ! 
 We did have a little flare-up yesterday, but I showed 
 them the sense of it. You might teach those dogs 
 anything ! — Ha ! what then, Tartar ! Halloo, Mungo ! 
 Rats, rats, rats ! " 
 
 A prodigious scratching and snorting was audible 
 in what had been a cellar of, the quondam Rectory ; 
 and Rollo, becoming excited, dashed up to the scene 
 of action, with a deep bass war-cry, while, to Rosa- 
 mond's great amusement, " rats " was no less a peal to 
 Rector and senior ; and for the next quarter of an 
 hour the three clergymen moved bricks, poked with 
 their sticks, and cheered on the chase till the church 
 clock struck one, the masons began to return from 
 dinner, and the sounds of the bell at the Hall 
 recalled the party to order. 
 
 " There, Rose ! Our first day ! " said Julius, aghast. 
 
46 THE THREE LiaDES. 
 
 " You'd better come to lunch at my rooms," said 
 the young Curate eagerly. " Do ! Mother has brought 
 the jolliest hamper ! Game pie, and preserved 
 magnum.-bonums, and pears off the old jargonelle. — 
 Come, Lady Rosamond, do. — Come along, Bindon ! 
 There's such a dish of damson cheese ! Do ! " 
 
 That ''do" between insinuation and heartiness, was 
 so boyish, that it was quite irresistible to the lady, 
 who consented eagerl}^, while Julius wrote a word or 
 two on a card, which he despatched to the Hall by 
 the first child he encountered. In a few minutes 
 they reached the nice clean bay-windowed room 
 over the village shop, comically like an undergra- 
 duate's, in spite of the mother's and sister's recent 
 touches. 
 
 There ensued a resolute quieting of the dogs, and a 
 vigorous exertion of hospitality, necessitating some 
 striding up and down stairs, and much shouting to 
 Mrs. Hornblower and her little niece, who rejoiced in 
 the peculiar name of Dilemma; while Rosamond 
 petted Tartar upon her lap, and the two elder clergy- 
 men, each with an elbow against the window- frame 
 and a knee on the seat, held council, based on the 
 Rector's old knowledq^e of the territory and the 
 Curate's recent observations during his five weeks' 
 sojourn. 
 
 The plans to be put in force next week were 
 arranged during the meal, and the junior observed 
 that he w^ould walk home to-night and back on 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 4/ 
 
 Saturday evening, since after that he should be tied 
 pretty fast. 
 
 And he started with Juhus and Rosamond on their 
 further progress, soon, however, tumbling over an- 
 other stone wall with all his dogs, and being only 
 heard hallooing to them as they yelped after the 
 larks. 
 
 " That is a delicious boy ! " said Rosamond, laughing 
 merrily. 
 
 " A nice fellow — but we mustn't make it a custom 
 to be always going in to partake of his hampers, or 
 we shall prey inordinately on Mrs. Bowater's pre- 
 serves." 
 
 "He was just like the hero of 
 
 ' Oh, I have a plum-cake, 
 And a rare feast I'll make.' 
 
 I do like a boy with a sweet tooth ! " 
 
 " Like him ! Of course I do. The Bowaters are 
 like one's own kindred ! I only hope I shall not spoil 
 him." 
 
 " Hasn't his mother done that for you .''" 
 
 ** I wish he had spent a year or two at Cuddesdon 1 
 I ought to have seen him before consenting to give 
 him a title at once, but his father and Jenny wished 
 it so much, ilh ! come in here. Bindon said Lucy 
 Martin was a case for a lady." 
 
 Rosamond's hearty good-nature was much more at 
 ease among ailing old women than prim school- 
 
43 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 children, and she gave great satisfaction in the 
 cottages. 
 
 Julius did not of course come as a stranger, and 
 had a general impression as to names and families ; 
 but he had been absent, except on short visits, 
 for five years, so that Rosamond declared that this 
 was a staple of his conversation : " Then it was Tom 
 Deane — no, it was John Deane that married Blake's 
 son — no, it was Blake's daughter that died who is 
 living in the next house." 
 
 They finished with a long and miry lane, lying 
 along the valley, and leading to the cottages of a little 
 clan, the chief of whom seemed to be a large-boned 
 lively-eyed old dame, who after minute inquiries after 
 * the Lady Poynsett," v/ent on, " And be it true, 
 Master Julius, as that young gentleman of Squire 
 Bowater's is one of your passons ? " 
 
 Julius admitted the fact. 
 
 "And be ye going to put he up in the pulpit to 
 preach to we } Ton my word of honour, says I to 
 Sally when her telled I, we shall have little Dick out 
 of the infant school next ! " 
 
 '* We're all young, Betty 1 Can't you put up with 
 anyone that is not older than yourself! I'm afraid 
 he would hardly be able to get up the pulpit 
 stair." 
 
 The Rector's reply delighted Betty ; but she re- 
 turned to the charge. '' No, no, Sir, I be coming to 
 hear" ye next Sunday. Sally have turned my black 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 49 
 
 bonnet a purpose. It be one of the Lady Poynsett's, 
 as her gave I when my old gentleman was took two 
 years after the Squire — when bonnets was bonnets, 
 you know, Ma'am. Now tell me true, be ye to preach 
 morning or arternoon, Sir ? " 
 
 " In the morning, I hope, Betty." 
 " Then I'll be there, Master Julius, to the third seat 
 from the front ; but it ain't becoming for a woman of 
 my age, seventy-nine come Christmas, to sit under a 
 slip of a lad as hasn't got the taste of the birch off his 
 back." 
 
 "That's too bad, Betty," broke in Rosamond, 
 speaking out of conviction. " Mr. Bowater isn't so 
 young as he looks, and he was too good a boy ever to 
 need the birch." 
 
 "All the wuss for he," retorted the undaunted 
 Betty. " Spare the rod, and spile the child." 
 
 The village wit was left triumphant, and Julius pro- 
 posed to return by a cross-road leading into the 
 plantations. Suddenly a scud of rain mixed with 
 whirling yellow leaves sent them hurrying into a cart- 
 shed, where, with a sudden start, they found them- 
 selves rushing in on someone. Who was it ? A girl 
 — a young lady. That was evident, as Rosamond 
 panted out, " I beg your pardon ! " and the next 
 moment there was the exclamation, "Mr. Julius 
 Charnock ! You don't remember me ? Eleonora 
 Vivian." 
 
 "Miss Vivian! you have the advantage of me," 
 
 VOL. I. E 
 
50 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 said Julius, a little stiffly. '' Let me introduce my 
 wife." 
 
 The hands met, and Rosamond perceived in the 
 failing light a very fine looking maiden, with a 
 superbly carried head and neck, simply dressed in 
 grey cloth. " Are you sheltering here, or are you 
 sketching ? " she asked, seeing some paper and draw- 
 ing materials. 
 
 '' I was giving a lesson. See," exhibiting some 
 bold outlines on large paper. " Does not my pupil do 
 me credit .'' " 
 
 "Very spirited," said Rosamond. "Where is she .^" 
 
 "He is gone to fetch me his grandmother's um- 
 brella. He is the little Gurth of these parts." 
 
 " Of whom you are making a Giotto ? " asked Julius, 
 thawing a little. 
 
 " Exactly ; I found him drawing on a barn-door 
 with such zeal and spirit, that I could not help offer- 
 ing him some lessons. Only see, does he not get on } 
 I wish I could get him to the school of design." 
 
 " May I ask what becomes of his pigs ? " demanded 
 Julius. 
 
 " Don't you hear } " as sundry grunts and squeals 
 of those eminently conversational animals were 
 audible through the walls. " They are driven home 
 to this rick -yard, so here I meet the boy." 
 
 " Who is he .? " asked the Rector. 
 
 " I only know that he answers to the name of Joe. 
 And here he comes ! " as a boy about ten years old 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 5 I 
 
 came lumbering up in big boots, with a heavy plaid 
 shawl on one arm, and an immense green umbrella in 
 the other. 
 
 " Thank you, Joe. Make your bow to the lady 
 and gentleman," 
 
 This was a pull of the flaxen forelock, for Joe was 
 a slender, pretty, fair boy, of that delicately com- 
 plexioned English type which is not roughened till 
 after many years of exposure. 
 
 " That's right, my man," said Julius kindly. 
 *'What is your name?" 
 
 " Please, Sir, Joshua Reynolds." 
 
 " Instinct," whispered Rosamond. 
 
 " Or influence of a name," returned Miss Vivian. 
 
 " Are you one of Dan Reynolds's boys, or Tim's } " 
 proceeded Julius. 
 
 " No, I bides with Granny." 
 
 Julius made no further attempt at disentangling 
 the pedigree, but inquired about his employments. 
 Did he go to school } 
 
 " When there ain't nothing to be done." 
 
 "And what can be done by such a mite.'*" asked 
 Rosamond. 
 
 " Tell the lady," said the Rector, " what work can 
 you do ? " 
 
 " Bird starving." 
 
 ''Well!" 
 
 "And stoon-picking, and cow-herding, and odd jobs 
 up at Farmer Light's ; but they won't take I on for a 
 
 E 2 
 
 UBRARY 
 
52 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 carter-boy not yet, 'cause I beant not so lusty as some 
 on 'em." 
 
 " Have you learnt to read .? " 
 
 " Oh yes, very nicely," interposed Miss Vivian. 
 
 " Did you teach him } " said Rosamond. 
 
 "No! He could read well before I came to the 
 place. I have only been at home six weeks, you 
 know, and I did not know I was poaching on your 
 manor," she added, soUo voce, to Julius, who could not 
 but answer with warm thanks. 
 
 It was discovered that the rain had set in for the 
 night, and an amicable contest ensued between the 
 ladies as to shawl and umbrella, each declaring her 
 dress unspoilable, till it ended in Eleonora's having 
 the shawl, and both agreeing to share the umbrella as 
 far as the Sirenwood lodge. 
 
 However, the umbrella refused to open, and had to 
 be given to the boy, who set his teeth into an extra- 
 ordinary grin, and so dealt with the brazen gear as ta 
 expand a magnificent green vault, with a lesser 
 leathern arctic zone round the pole ; but when he had 
 handed it to Miss Vivian, and she had linked her arm 
 in Lady Rosamond's, it proved too mighty for her, 
 tugged like a restive horse, and would fairly have run 
 away with her, but for Rosamond's holding her fast. 
 
 " Lost ! " they cried. " Two ladies carried away by 
 an umbrella ! " 
 
 " Here, Julius, no one can grapple with it but you,'^ 
 called Rosamond. 
 
PARISH EXPLORATIONS. 53 
 
 " I really think it's alive ! " panted Eleonora, drawn 
 up to her tip-toes before she could hand it to Julius, 
 who, with both clinging to his arm, conducted them 
 at last to the lodge, where Julius could only come in 
 as far as it would let him, since it could neither 
 be let down nor left to itself to fly to unknown 
 regions. 
 
 A keeper with a more manageable article undertook 
 to convey Miss Vivian home across the park ; and 
 with a pleasant farewell, husband and wife plodded 
 their way home, along paths the mud of which could 
 not be seen, only heard and felt ; and when Rosamond, 
 in the light of the hall, discovered the extent of the 
 splashes, she had to leave Julius still contending with 
 the umbrella ; and when, in spite of the united 
 efforts of the butler and footman, it still refused to 
 come down, it was consigned to an empty coach- 
 house, with orders that little Joe should have a 
 shilling to bring it down and fetch it home in the 
 morning ! 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 
 
 '* My friends would be angered, 
 My minnie be mad." 
 
 Scots Song. 
 
 " Whom do you think we met, Mother } " said Julius, 
 coming into her room, so soon as he had made his 
 evening toilette, and finding there only his two 
 younger brothers. " No other than Miss Vivian." 
 
 " Ah ! then," broke in Charlie, '' you saw what 
 Jenkins calls the perfect picture of a woman." 
 
 "She is very handsome," soberly returned Julius. 
 " Rose is quite delighted with her. Do you know 
 anything of her .? " 
 
 "Jenny Bowater was very fond of poor Emily," 
 rejoined the mother. " I believe that she had a very 
 good governess, but I wish she were in better hands 
 now." 
 
 " I cannot think why there should be a universal 
 prejudice for the sake of one early offence ! " ex- 
 claimed Frank. 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 55 
 
 " Oh indeed ! " said Julius^ amazed at such a tone 
 to his mother. 
 
 " I only meant — Mother, I beg your pardon — but 
 you are only going by hearsay," answered Frank, in 
 some confusion. 
 
 " Then you have not seen her } " said Julius. 
 
 " I ! I'm. the last person she is likely to seek, if you 
 mean Camilla." 
 
 **She inquired a great deal after you, Mother," 
 interposed Frank, " and said she longed to call, only 
 she did not know if you could see her. I do hope 
 you w^ill, when she calls on ' Cecil. I am sure you 
 would think differently. Promise me. Mother ! " 
 
 '' If she asks for me, I will, my boy," said Mrs. 
 Poynsett ; " but let me look ! You aren't dressed 
 for dinner ! What will Mistress Cecil say to you ! 
 Ah ! it is time you had ladies about the house 
 again." 
 
 The two youths retreated ; and Julius remained, 
 looking anxiously and expressively at his mother. 
 
 " I am afraid so," she said ; "but I had almost rather 
 he were honestly smitten with the young one than 
 that he believed in Camilla." 
 
 " I should think no one could long do that," said 
 Julius. 
 
 " I don't know. He met them when he was nursing 
 that poor young Scotsman at Rockpier, and got 
 fascinated. He has never been quite the same since 
 that time!" said the mother anxiously. "I don't 
 
56 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 blame him, poor fellow!" she added eagerly, *' or 
 mean that he has been a bit less satisfactory — oh no ! 
 Indeed, it may be my fault for expressing my objec- 
 tion too plainly ; he has always been reserved with 
 me since, and I never lost the confidence of one of my 
 boys before ! " 
 
 That Julius knew full well, for he — as the next 
 eldest at home — had been the recipient of all his 
 mother's perplexities at the time of Raymond's court- 
 ship. Mrs. Poynsett had not been a woman of 
 intimate female friends. Her sons had served the 
 purpose, and this was perhaps one great element in 
 her almost unbounded influence with them. Julius 
 was deeply concerned to see her eyes glistening with 
 tears as she spoke of the cloud that had risen between 
 her and Frank. 
 
 "There is great hope that this younger one may be 
 worthy," he said. " She has had a very different 
 bringing up from her sister, and I did not tell you 
 what I found her doing. She was teaching a little 
 pig-herd boy to draw." 
 
 " Ah ! I heard Lady Tyrrell was taking to the 
 education of the people Hne." 
 
 " I want to know who the boy is," said Julius. 
 *' He called himself Reynolds, and said he lived with 
 Granny, but was not a son of Daniel's or Timothy's. 
 He seemed about ten years old. 
 
 " Reynolds ? Then I know who he must be. Don't 
 you remember a pretty-looking girl we had in the 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 5/ 
 
 nursery In Charlie's time ? His ' Fan-fan,' he used to 
 call her." 
 
 " Ah, yes, I remember ; she was a Reynolds, for 
 both the little boys could be excited to fury If we 
 assumed that she was a fox. You don't mean that 
 she went wrong } " 
 
 *' Not till after she had left us, and seemed to be 
 doing well in another place; but unfortunately she 
 was allowed to have a holiday in the race week, and a 
 day at the course seems to have done the mischief. 
 Susan can tell you all about it. If you want to know. 
 She was as broken-hearted as if Fanny had been her 
 own child — much more than the old mother herself, 
 I fear." 
 
 " What has become of the girl } " 
 
 " Gone from bad to worse. Alas ! I heard a 
 report that she had been seen with some of the 
 people who appear on the race-course with those 
 gambling shooting-galleries, or something of that 
 sort." 
 
 " Ah ! those miserable races ! They are the bane of 
 the country. I wish no one would go near them." 
 
 "They are a very pleasant county gathering." 
 
 ** To you, Mother, and such as you ; but you could 
 have your county meeting without doing quite so 
 much harm. If Raymond would only withdraw his 
 subscription." 
 
 " It would be as much as his seat is worth ! Those 
 races are the one great event of Wilsbro' and Backs- 
 
58 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 worth, the harvest of all the tradespeople. Besides, 
 you know what is said of their expedience as far as 
 horses are concerned." 
 
 " I would sacrifice the breed of horses to prevent 
 the evils/' said Julius. 
 
 " Yoii would, but — My boy, I suppose this is the 
 right view for a clergyman, but it will never do to 
 force it here. You will lose all influence if you are 
 overstrained." 
 
 " Was St. Chrysostom overstrained about the hip- 
 podrome } " said Julius thoughtfully. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett looked at him as he leant upon the 
 chimney-piece. Here was another son gone, in a 
 different way, beyond her reach. She had seen com- 
 paratively little of him since his University days ; and 
 though always a good and conscientious person, there 
 had been nothing to draw her out of secular modes of 
 thought ; nor had she any connection with the clerical 
 world, so that she had not, as it were, gone along with 
 the tone of mind that she had perceived in himi. 
 
 He did not return to the subject, and they were 
 soon joined by his elder brother. At the first oppor- 
 tunity after dinner, Frank got Rosamond up into a 
 corner with a would-be indifferent " So you met Miss 
 Vivian. What did you think of her ? " 
 
 Rosamond's intuition saw what she was required to 
 think, and being experienced in raving brothers, she 
 praised the fine face and figure so as to find the way 
 to his heart. 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 59 
 
 " I am so glad you met her in that way. Even 
 Julius must be convinced. Was not he delighted ? " 
 
 " I think she grew upon him." 
 
 " And now neither of you will be warped. It is so 
 very strange in my mother, generally the kindest, 
 most open-hearted woman in the world, to distrust 
 and bear a grudge against them all for the son's 
 dissipation — just as if that affected the ladies of a 
 family ! " 
 
 " I did not think it was entirely on his account/' 
 said Rosamond. 
 
 *' Old stories of flirtation ! " said Frank scornfully ; 
 " but what are they to be cast up against a woman in 
 her widowhood ? It is so utterly unlike Mother, I 
 can't understand it." 
 
 "Would not the natural conclusion be that she 
 knew more, and had her reasons .'' " 
 
 ** I tell you, Rosamond, I know them infinitely 
 better than she does. She never saw them since 
 Lady Tyrrell's marriage, when Eleonora was a mere 
 child ; now I saw a great deal of them at Rockpier 
 last year. There was poor Jamie Armstrong sent 
 down to spend the winter on the south coast ; and as 
 none of his own people could be with him, we — his 
 Oxford friends, I mean — took turns to come to him ; 
 and as I had just gone up for my degree, I had the 
 most time. The Vivians had been living there ever 
 since they went on poor Emily's account. They did 
 not like to leave the place where she died, you see ; 
 
60 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 and Lady Tyrrell had joined them after her husband's 
 death. Such a pleasant house ! no regular gaieties, 
 of course, but a few friends in a quiet way — music 
 and charades, and so forth. Everyone knew every- 
 body there ; not a bit of our stiff county ways, but 
 meeting all day long in the most sociable manner." 
 
 '' Oh yes, I know the style of place." 
 
 " One gets better acquainted in a week than one 
 does in seven years in a place like this," proceeded 
 Frank. " And you may tell Julius to ask any of the 
 clerics if Lenore was not a perfect darling with the 
 Vicar and his wife, and her sister too ; and Rockpier is 
 a regular tip-top place for Church, you know. I'm 
 sure it was enough to make a fellow good for life, just 
 to see Eleonora walking up the aisle with that sweet 
 face of hers, looking more like heaven than earth." 
 
 Rosamond made reply enough to set him off again. 
 " Lady Tyrrell would have been content to stay there 
 for ever, she told me, but she thought it too confined 
 a range for Eleonora ; there was no formation of 
 character, though I don't see how it could have 
 formed better ; but Lady Tyrrell is a thoroughly 
 careful motherly sister, and thought it right she 
 should see a little of the world. So they broke up 
 from Rockpier, and spent a year abroad ; and now 
 Lady Tyrrell is making great sacrifices to enable her 
 father to come and live at home again. I must say it 
 would be more neighbourly to welcome them a little 
 more kindly! " 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 6l 
 
 " I should think such agreeable people were sure to 
 win their way." 
 
 "Ah! you don't know how impervious our style of 
 old squire and squiress can be ! If even Mother is not 
 superior to the old prejudice, who will be ? And it is 
 very hard on a fellow ; for three parts of my time is 
 taken up by this eternal cramming — I should have no 
 heart for it but for her — and I can't be going over to 
 Sirenwood as I used to go to Rockpier, while my 
 mother vexes herself about it, in her state. If she 
 were up and about I should not mind, or she would 
 know better ; but what can they — Lenore, I mean — 
 think of me, but that I am as bad as the rest ? " 
 
 " Do you mean that anything has passed between 
 you.?" 
 
 " No, not with Lenore. Her sister spoke to me, 
 and said it was not right when she had seen nothing 
 but Rockpier ; but she as good as promised to stand 
 my friend. And when I get to the office, in two 
 years, I shall have quite enough to begin upon, with 
 what my mother allows us." 
 
 " Then you hope she will wait for that .? " 
 
 " I feel sure of it — that is, if she is not annoyed]by 
 this abominable usage from my family. Oh ! Rosa- 
 mond, you will help us when you get into your own 
 house, and you will get Julius to see it in a proper 
 light. Mother trusts to him almost as much as to 
 Raymond ; but it is our misfortune to be so much 
 younger that she can't believe us grown up." 
 
62 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 '' O Frank," said Charlie, coming in, ''here's Price 
 come up about the puppies. — What, Rosamond, has 
 he got hold of you ? What a blessing for me ! but I 
 pity you." 
 
 Frank and Charlie went off together ; and Julius 
 was in the act of begging Cecil to illuminate a notice 
 of the services, to be framed and put into the church 
 porch, when Raymond came in from the other room 
 to make up a whist-table for his mother. Rosamond 
 gladly responded ; but there was a slight accent of 
 contempt in Cecil's voice, as she replied, " I never 
 played a game at cards in my life." 
 
 "They are a great resource to my mother," said 
 Raymond. " Anne, you are too tired to play ? — No, 
 Julius, the pack is not there ; look in the drawer of 
 the chififoniere." 
 
 Julius handed the list he had been jotting down to 
 Cecil, and followed his brother, with his hands full of 
 cards, unconscious of the expression of dismay, almost 
 horror, with which Anne was gazing after him. 
 
 " Oh ! let us be resolute ! " she cried, as soon as the 
 door was shut. " Do not let us touch the evil thing !" 
 
 " Cards ^ " said Cecil. '' If Mrs. Poynsett cannot be 
 amused without them, I suppose we shall have to 
 learn. I always heard she was such an intellectual 
 woman." 
 
 " But we ought to resist sin, however painful it may 
 be," said Anne, gathering strength ; " nay, even if a 
 minister sets the example of defection." 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 63 
 
 '' You think it wicked," said Cecil. " Oh no, it is 
 stupid and silly, and an absurd waste of time, but no 
 more." 
 
 " Yes, it is," said Anne. " Cards are the bane of 
 thousands." 
 
 " Oh yes, gambling and all that ; but to play in the 
 evening to amuse an invalid can have no harm in it." 
 
 "An invalid and aged woman ought to have her 
 mind set upon better things," said Anne. '' I shall not 
 withdraw my testimony, and I hope you will not." 
 
 " I don't know," said Cecil. " You see I am ex- 
 pected to attend to Mrs. Poynsett ; and I have seen 
 whist at Dunstone when any dull old person came 
 there. What a troublesome crooked hand Julius 
 writes — ^just like Greek ! What's all this } So many 
 services — four on Sunday, two every day, three on 
 Wednesdays and Fridays ! We never had anything 
 like this at Dunstone." 
 
 ** It is very superstitious," said Anne. 
 
 "Very superfluous, I should say," amended Cecil. 
 *' I am sure my father would consent to nothing of 
 the kind. I shall speak to Raymond about it." 
 
 "Yes," said Anne; "it does seem terrible that a 
 minister should try to make up for worldly amuse- 
 ments by a quantity of vain ceremonies." 
 
 " I wish you would not call him a minister, it 
 sounds like a dissenter." 
 
 " I think ministers their best name, except pastors." 
 
 " Both are horrid alike," said Cecil. " I shall teach 
 
64 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 all the people to call Julius the Rector. That's better 
 than Mr. Charnock — what Raymond ought to be." 
 
 Anne was struck dumb at this fearful display of 
 worldliness ; and Cecil betook herself to the piano, 
 but the moment her husband appeared she showed 
 him the list. 
 
 ** He has cut out plenty of work," said Raymond, 
 "but three of them must want a field for their 
 energies." 
 
 '' It is preposterous. I want you to speak to him 
 about it." 
 
 *' You are not expected to go to them all," Ray- 
 mond made answer. 
 
 " Then there's no sense in having them," responded 
 Cecil. " Evening services are very bad for the people, 
 bringing them out late. You ought to tell him so." 
 
 " He is Rector, and I am not," said Raymond. 
 
 "Mr. Venn did nothing without Papa's consent," 
 exclaimed the lady. 
 
 " My dear Cecil, don't let your loyalty make a 
 Harry the Eighth of your father," said Raymond ; 
 "the clergyman ought to be a free agent." 
 
 "You don't approve .-^ " 
 
 " I don't approve or disapprove. It is not a matter 
 I know anything about." 
 
 " But I assure you it has been all thought over at 
 Dunstone." 
 
 *' Come, my mother wants to go to bed, and you 
 are keeping her waiting." 
 
SHADES IN SUNSHINE. 65 
 
 Cecil was silenced for the moment, but not daunt- 
 ed ; for was it not the foremost duty of the lady of 
 the manor to keep the clergyman in order, more 
 especially when he was her own husband's younger 
 brother ? so she met her brother-in-law with " Julius, 
 when I undertook that notice, I had no notion you 
 were going to have so many services." 
 
 *• Is there more than you have time to paint } 
 Then Bindon can do it, or Jenny Bowater." 
 
 " No ! it is not time or trouble ; but I do not think 
 such a number of services desirable." 
 
 " Indeed ! " said he, looking amused. 
 
 " Yes. An over number of services frequented by 
 no one only brings the Church into contempt. I 
 heard Papa say so. We only had regular Sunday 
 and Saint^s Day services, and I am sure Dunstone 
 was quite as religious a place as there is any need 
 to be." 
 
 "I am glad to hear it," said Julius, an odd look 
 flickering about his face; ''but as I am afraid Compton 
 is not as religious a place as there is need to be, I 
 must try, by your leave, all means of making it so- 
 Good-night." 
 
 He was gone, and Cecil was not sure that he had 
 not presumed to laugh at her. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 
 
 "Strangers in court do take her for the queen." 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 The first Sunday of Julius Charnock's ministry was 
 spent in an unexpected manner. In the darkness of 
 the autumn morning there was a knock at the door, 
 and a low hurried call in Anne's voice at the bed- 
 room door, " Rosamond ! Julius, pray look out ! Isn't 
 there a great fire somewhere } " 
 
 " Fire ! Here } " cried Rosamond, springing up. 
 
 " No, not here. A great way off. You could beat 
 it back." 
 
 Rosamond had by this time rushed to the window 
 which looked out the wrong way, found her dressing- 
 gown, and scrambled into it in the dark ere joining 
 Anne in the gallery, from the end window of which 
 the lurid light in the sky, with an occasional flame 
 leaping up, was plainly visible. When Julius joined 
 them he declared it to be at Willansborough, and set 
 off to call up the coachman and despatch the fire- 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 6/ 
 
 engine, his wife calling after him to send for the 
 soldiers at Backsworth. 
 
 Frank and Charlie came rushing down in gratified 
 excitement, declaring that it was tremendous — the 
 church at least — and exulting in the attainment of 
 their life-long ambition, the riding out on the fire- 
 engine. Servants bustled about, exclaiming, tramp- 
 ing, or whisking, on the stairs; and Raymond pre- 
 sently appeared to ask whether his mother were ill, 
 and, when re-assured on that score, hurrying to ascer- 
 tain whether she were alarmed, before he started for 
 the scene of action. 
 
 " Let me come and stay with her," said Rosamond, 
 a striking figure, in a scarlet dressing-gown, with a 
 thick plait of black hair hanging down to her waist on 
 either side. 
 
 " Thank you, it will be very kind," said Raymond, 
 running down before her, and meeting Susan waddling 
 out in a fringe of curl-papers, for some mysterious 
 instinct or echo had conveyed to her and her mistress 
 that there was fire somewhere — perhaps at home. 
 Mrs. Poynsett was not a nervous woman, and from 
 the time she saw her eldest son come in all fright was 
 over, and she could have borne to hear that the house 
 over her head was burning, in the perfect trust that 
 he would save her from all peril ; nor had he any 
 difficulty in committing her to Rosamond, when he 
 hurried away to finish dressing and repair to the 
 spot. 
 
 F 2 
 
6S THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Nothing could be seen from her room, but the little 
 ante-room between it and the drawing-room had an 
 excellent view, as the ground fell away from it, and 
 there was an opening among the trees. 
 
 "We must get you there!" exclaimed Rosamond, 
 in her excitement, helping her into some garments, 
 and then running out as she heard a step — '' Here, 
 Julius, help me ;" and without more ado, the mother 
 was transported between them to the broad low 
 couch under the window, and there bestowed in a 
 nest of pillows, shawls, and rugs, that seemed to grow 
 up under Rosamond's touch. 
 
 Then following Julius out into the hall as he met 
 
 his brother, Rosamond clung to him, entreating, 
 
 " Please, please don't run into any dangerous places." 
 
 " Never fear, dearest ; I am not likely." 
 
 "Don't let him, pray!" she said, turning to 
 
 Raymond. " Make him remember how blind he is." 
 
 " I'll take good care of him, Rosamond," said the 
 
 elder brother kindly ; " I'm used to it." 
 
 " And send for the — th," she added. " There is 
 nothing like soldiers at a fire." 
 
 "The glare must have given notice," said Julius, 
 " but we'll send if needful. Let go, you foolish girl ; 
 I'm not leading a forlorn hope." 
 
 Did Raymond, as he mounted his horse, turning 
 from the contact of the white and black heads, admire 
 the reasonableness of the Cecil w^ho had never shown 
 any fears for his safety, nor any tendency to run 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 69 
 
 about the passages in her robe de chambre, tho/Ugh she 
 was now dressing with all speed ? 
 
 The women-folk had to depend on their own eyes 
 for intelligence, for every male, not only of the house- 
 hold but of the village, between the ages of five and 
 .seventy, started for Wilsbro', and a good many 
 females followed .their example, including the cook 
 and her suite. 
 
 However, Susan remained, to find her mistress 
 flown, and in her fright, give Lady Rosamond as 
 round a scolding as if she had been Charlie, for her 
 rashness in attempting a transit, which Dr. Hayter 
 had pronounced to be as much as her miistress's life 
 was worth. Having thus relieved her mind, and 
 finding that Mrs. Poynsett was really very comfort- 
 able, or else too eager and anxious to find out if she 
 was not, the good woman applied herself to the 
 making of coffee. 
 
 Anne and Cecil had found their way to the leads, 
 and were thence summoned to partake of this hasty 
 meal, after which they proposed going to look from 
 the brow of the hill ; and Mrs. Poynsett insisted that 
 Rosamond should not stay behind on her account ; 
 and, glad to appease the restlessness of anxiety, out 
 went the ladies, to find the best view of the town, 
 — usually a white object in the distance, but now 
 blurred by smoke thick and black in the daylight, 
 and now and then reddened by bursts of flame. 
 
 Anne had been re-assured as to the need of beating 
 
70 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 out the fire and trampling down a place to isolate it, 
 as in the bush-fires of her experience ; and Rosamond 
 related the achievements of the regiment in quench- 
 ing many a conflagration in inflammable colonial 
 cities. 
 
 It occurred to her that the best place whence to see 
 it was the tower of the church, which, placed upon a 
 little knoll, was standing out in full relief against the 
 lurid light. She found the key at the sexton's, and 
 led the way up the broken stone stair to the trap-door, 
 where they emerged on the leads, and, in spite of the 
 cold wind and furious flapping of the flag above their 
 heads, stood absorbed in the interest of the sight. 
 
 There was a black mass in the open space, whence 
 rose fitful clouds of smoke, the remnants of the fire, 
 which had there done its worst ; and beyond was a 
 smoky undefined outline, with tongues of flame dart- 
 ing up, then volumes of dense white smoke, denoting 
 a rush of water from the engines. Black beings 
 flitted about like ants round a disturbed nest ; Rosa- 
 mond hoped she detected some scarlet among them, 
 and Cecil lamented over not having brought her opera- 
 glass. Even without this, it was possible to make out 
 two long lines of men between the fire and the river, 
 and at times they fancied they heard the shouting, 
 but the wind generally carried it away. The cold 
 was bitter, and they had to hold together and keep a 
 tight grip upon their garments against the gusts that 
 seemed to rock the tower ; but they could not bear to 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 7 1 
 
 turn away, though the clock beneath pealed out hour 
 after hour ; for still, as the flames were subdued in 
 one place they broke out in another ; but gradually 
 smoke became predominant, and then grew thinner, 
 and as some of the black specks began to straggle 
 into the road as if returning to Compton, the desire 
 to hear became more pressing than that to see, and 
 the three ladies began to decend — a slow and weary 
 process, cutting them off from the view, and lasting 
 so long, that the road was no longer deserted when 
 they finally emerged into the churchyard. 
 
 Young Mr. Bowater, grimed, dusty, hatless, and his 
 hair on end, and Rollo following with his feathery tail 
 singed, hurried up at once. *' I'm not fit to touch 
 Lady Rosamond," as he showed a black hand, and 
 bowed to the others. 
 
 "Where's Ju — where's my husband?" exclaimed 
 Rosamond. 
 
 •'Just behind, riding home with Raymond and the 
 rest of them. Wasn't it a magnificent flare-up ? But 
 there was no loss of life ; and this dog was of as 
 much use as two men — carried whatever I told him." 
 
 "Good old man ! You've suffered too ! " said 
 Rosamond. " Pah ! you're like a singed horse ; but 
 never mind, you're a hero." 
 
 "And where is Mr. Charnock Poynsett ? " said Cecil, 
 retreating from the dog, which her sisters-in-law were 
 vehimenently patting. 
 
 "He was arranging with the Mayor. Church, 
 
J2 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 paper-mills, and town-hall got the worst of it. It 
 was well he came dowai ; old Briggs, the mayor, lost 
 his head, and Fuller never had one. Everyone gave 
 contrary orders till he came down, and then, didn't 
 we work ! " 
 
 The Curate stretched his stalwart limbs, as if they 
 were becoming sensible of the strain they had under- 
 gone. 
 
 " Did you say the church was burnt 1 " asked Cecil. 
 
 '' Yes ; and a very good thing too ! Hideous place, 
 where you couldn't do right if you died for it ! The 
 fire began there — stoves, no doubt — and there it 
 would have stopped if anyone had had any sense ; 
 but there they would run and gape, and the more I tried 
 to get them to form a chain and drench the warehouses, 
 the more they wouldn't do it. And when the flame once 
 got hold of the paper — did you see it ? — it was not a 
 thing to forget. I verily believe the whole town 
 would have gone if the Charnocks hadn't come and 
 got a little discipline into the asses. It w^is just life 
 and death work, fighting the fire to hinder it from 
 getting across Water Lane, and then it would have 
 been all up with High Street. The tongues broke 
 out like live things ready to lick up everything ; and 
 it was like killing dragons to go at them with the 
 hose and buckets. I declare my arms are fit to drop 
 out of their sockets. And the Rector devoted him- 
 self to carrying out bed-ridden old women. I forgot 
 to tell you Lady Rosamond, he has broken his — 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. J 2> 
 
 There now, I never meant to frighten you — broken 
 his spectacles." 
 
 "You did it on purpose," she said, laughing at her 
 own start 
 
 •' No, indeed, I did not." 
 
 " And is it quite out now } " 
 
 " Yes ; when the Backsworth engines and the sol- 
 diers came up, it was like the Prussians at Waterloo." 
 
 " Oh, then it was done," said Rosamond. *' Take 
 care ! my grandfather was in the Light Division." 
 
 " And my uncle in the Guards," said the Curate. 
 But before the Waterloo controversy could be pursued, 
 four or five figures on horseback came round the 
 knoll, and Raymond and Julius sprang off their 
 horses, introducing the three officers who followed 
 their example. 
 
 One was Rosamond's old acquaintance, the Colonel, 
 a friend of her father ; but she had little attention to 
 spare for them till she had surveyed her husband' 
 who looked nothing worse than exceedingly dusty, 
 and at fault without his spectacles. 
 
 Enquiries were made for Frank and Charlie. 
 They were walking home. They had worked 
 gallantly. The flames were extinguished, but the 
 engines must go on playing on them for some time 
 longer. No lives lost, and very few casualties, but 
 the paper-mills were entirely destroyed, and about 
 twenty tenements, so that great distress was to be 
 apprehended. 
 
74 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Such intelligence was being communicated as the 
 party stood together in a group, when there was a 
 light tinkling of bells, and two ladies in a light open 
 carriage, drawn by two spirited ponies, dashed round 
 the knoll ; and at the moment something must have 
 gone wrong with them, for there was a start, a pull, 
 a call of *' Raymond ! Raymond ! " 
 
 Throwing his bridle to Herbert Bowater, he sprang 
 to the horses* heads. 
 
 " Mr. Poynsett ! Thank you ! I beg your pardon," 
 said the lady, recovering herself ; and Rosamond 
 instantly perceived that she must be Lady Tyrrell, 
 for she was young-looking, very handsome, and in slight 
 mourning ; and her companion was Miss Vivian. 
 Julius, holding his surviving glass to his eye, likewise 
 stepped forward. " Thank you, it was so stupid," the 
 lady ran on. " Is not there something wrong with the 
 traces .-* I don't know how they got themselves har- 
 nessed, but there was no keeping at home." 
 
 *•' I think all is right," said Raymond, gravely, 
 making the examination over to a servant. " Let me 
 introduce my wife. Lady Tyrrell." 
 
 The lady held out her hand. " I hope we shall be 
 excellent neighbours. — My sister. — You remember 
 little Lena," she added to the brothers. " She stole a 
 march on us, I find. I heard of your encounter on 
 Friday. It was too bad of you not to come in and 
 let us send you home ; I hope you did not get very 
 wet, Lady Rosamond. — Ah ! Mr. Strangeways, I did 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 75 
 
 not know you were there," she proceeded, as the 
 youngest of the officers accosted her; "come over 
 and see us. You're better provided now ; but come 
 to luncheon any day. I am sure to be at home at 
 half-past one ; and I want so much to hear of your 
 mother and sisters." And with a universal bow and 
 smile she flourished her whip, her ponies jangled 
 their bells, and the ladies vanished. 
 
 *' Stunning pair that ! " was young Strangeways' 
 exclamation. 
 
 " Most beautiful ! " murmured Cecil, in a low voice, 
 as if she was quite dazzled. '' You never said she was 
 like that," she added reproachfully to Julius. 
 
 " Our encounter was in the dark," he answered. 
 
 " Oh, I did not mean the young one, but Lady 
 Tyrrell. She is just like a gem we saw at Firenze — 
 which was it ? " 
 
 " Where ? " said Raymond, bewildered. 
 
 " Firenze — Florence," she said, deigning to trans- 
 late ; and finding her own reply. '' Ah yes, the 
 Medusa ! " then, as more than one exclaimed in 
 indignant dismay, she said, " No, not the Gorgon, but 
 the beautiful winged head, with only two serpents on 
 the brow and one coiled round the neck, and the pen- 
 sive melancholy face." 
 
 " I know," said Julius, shortly ; while the other 
 gentlemen entered into an argument, some defending 
 the beauty of the younger sister, some of the elder ; 
 and it lasted till they entered the park, where all 
 
76 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 were glad to partake of their well-earned meal, most 
 of the gentlemen having been at work since dawn 
 without sustenance, except a pull at the beer served 
 out to the firemen. 
 
 Cecil was not at all shy, and was pleased to take 
 her place as representative lady of the house ; but 
 somehow, though ever3^one was civil and attentive to 
 her, she found herself effaced by the more full-blown 
 Rosamond, accustomed to the same world as the 
 guests ; and she could not help feeling the same sense 
 of depression as when she had to yield the head of 
 her father's table to her step-mother. 
 
 Nor could she have that going to church for the 
 first time in state w^ith her bridegroom she had pro- 
 fessed to dread, but had really anticipated with com- 
 placency ; for though Julius had bidden the bells to 
 be rung for afternoon service, Raymond was obliged 
 to go back to Wilsbro' to make arrangements for the 
 burnt-out families, and she had to go as lonely as 
 Anne herself. 
 
 Lady Tyrrell and her sister were both at Compton 
 Church, and overtook the three sisters-in-law as they 
 were waiting to be joined by the Rector. 
 
 " We shall have to take shelter with you," said 
 Lady Tyrrell, " poor burnt-out beings that we are." 
 
 " Do you belong to Wilsbro' .? " said Rosamond. 
 
 " Yes ; St. Nicholas is an immense straggling parish, 
 going four miles along the river. I don't know how 
 we shall ever be able to go back again to poor old 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 7/ 
 
 Mr. Fuller. You'll never get rid of us from Comp- 
 ton." 
 
 " I suppose they will set about re-building the 
 church at once/' said Cecil. " Of course they will 
 form a committee, and put my husband on it." 
 
 " In the chair, no doubt," said Lady Tyrrell, in a 
 tone that sounded to Rosamond sarcastic, but which 
 evidently gratified Cecil. " But we will have a comx- 
 mittee of our own, and you will have to preside, and 
 patronize our bazaar. Of course you know all about 
 them." 
 
 " Oh yes ! " said Cecil, eagerly. " We have one 
 every year for the Infirmary, only my father did not 
 approve of my selling at a stall." 
 
 "Ah ! quite right then, but you are a married wo- 
 man now, and that is quite a different thing. The 
 stall of the three brides. What an attraction ! I 
 shall come and talk about it when I make my call in 
 full form ! Good-bye again." 
 
 Cecil's balance was more than restored by this 
 entire recognition to be prime lady-patroness of 
 everything. To add to her satisfaction, when her 
 husband came home to dinner, bringing with him both 
 the curates, she found there was to be a meeting on 
 Tuesday in the Assembly-room, of both sexes, to 
 consider of the relief of the work-people, and that he 
 would be glad to take her to it. Moreover as it was 
 to be strictly local, Rosamond was not needed there, 
 though Raymond was not equally clear as to the 
 
y^ THE THREE BRIDES 
 
 Rector, since he believed that the St. Nicholas parish- 
 ioners meant to ask the loan of Compton Poynsett 
 Church for one service on a Sunday. 
 
 " Then I shall keep out of the way," said Julius, 
 " I do not vi^ant to have the request made to me in 
 public." 
 
 " You do not mean to refuse .? " said Cecil, with a 
 sort of self-identification with her constituents. 
 
 " The people are willing to attend as many of our 
 services as they like ; but there is no hour that I could 
 give the church up to Mr. Fuller on a Sunday." 
 
 '' Nor would the use of St. Nicholas be very edify- 
 ing for our people," added Mr. Bindon. 
 
 His junior clenched it by saying with a laugh, " I 
 should think not ! Fancy old Fuller's rusty black gown 
 up in our pulpit ! " 
 
 " I rejoice to say that is burnt," rejoined Mr. 
 Bindon. 
 
 " What bet will you take that a new one will be the 
 first thing subscribed for } " said the Deacon, bringing 
 a certain grave look on the faces of both the elder 
 clergy, and a horror-stricken one upon Anne's ; while 
 Cecil pronounced her inevitable dictum, that at Dun- 
 stone Mr. Venn always preached in a gown, and "we" 
 should never let him think of anything nonsensical. 
 
 Rosamond was provoked into a display of her 
 solitary bit of ecclesiastical knowledge — "A friar's 
 gown, the most Popish vestment in the Church." 
 
 Cecil, thoroughly angered, flushed up to the eyes 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. 79 
 
 and bit her lips, unable to find a reply, while all the 
 gentlemen laughed. Frank asked if it were really 
 so, and Mr. Bindon made the well-known explanation 
 that the Geneva gown was neither more nor less 
 than the monk's frock. 
 
 " I shall write and ask Mr. Venn," gasped Cecil ; 
 but her husband stifled the sound by saying, '' I saw 
 little Pettitt, Julius, this afternoon, overwhelmed with 
 gratitude to you for all the care you took of his old 
 mother, and all his waxen busts." 
 
 " Ah ! by-the-bye ! " said Charlie, " I did meet the 
 Rector staggering out, with the fascinating lady with 
 the long eyelashes in one arm, and the moustached 
 hero in the other." 
 
 " There was no pacifying the old lady without," said 
 Julius. " I had just coaxed her to the door, when she 
 fell to wringing her hands. Ah ! those lovely models, 
 that were worth thirty shillings each, with natural 
 hair— that they should be destroyed ! If the heat or 
 the water did but come near them, Adolphus would 
 never get over it. I could only pacify her by pro- 
 mising to go back for these idols of his heart as soon 
 as she was safe ; and after all, I had to dash at them 
 through the glass, and that was the end of my 
 spectacles." 
 
 '* Where was Pettitt himself? " 
 
 "Well employed, poor little fellow, saving the 
 people in those three cottages of his. No one sup- 
 posed his shop in danger, but the fire took a sudden 
 
So THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 freak and came down Long Street ; and though the 
 house is standing, it had to be emptied and deluged 
 with water to save it. I never knew Pettitt had a 
 mother till I found her mounting guard, like one dis- 
 tracted, over her son's bottles of perfumery." 
 
 "And dyes.-*" murmured Raymond under his 
 breath ; but Frank caught the sound, and said, " Ah, 
 Julius ! don't I remember his inveigling you into 
 coming out with scarlet hair ? " 
 
 " I don't think I've seen him since," said Julius, 
 laughing. " I believe he couldn't resist such an 
 opportunity of practising his art. And for my part, 
 
 must say for myself, that it was in our first holidays, 
 and Raymond and Miles had been black and blue the 
 whole half-year from having fought my battles when- 
 ever I was called either ' Bunny' or * Grandfather.' So 
 when he assured me he could turn my hair to as sweet 
 a raven-black as Master Poynsett's, I thought it 
 would be pleasing to all, forgetting that he could not 
 dye my eyes, and that their effect would have been 
 some degrees more comical," 
 
 " For shame, Julius ! " said Rosamond. " Don't you 
 know that one afternoon, when Nora had cried for forty 
 minutes over her sum, she declared that she wanted to 
 make her eyes as beautiful as Mr. Charnock's. Well, 
 what was the effect ? " 
 
 " Startling," said Raymond. " He came down in 
 shades of every kind of crimson and scarlet. A fearful 
 object, with his pink-and-white face glowing under it." 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. Si 
 
 " And what I had to undergo from Susan ! " added 
 Julius. " She washed me, and soaped me, and rubbed 
 me, till I felt as if all the threshing-machines in the 
 county were about my head, lecturing me all the time 
 on the profanity of flying against Scripture by trying 
 to alter one's hair from what Providence had made it. 
 Nothing would do ; her soap only turned it into 
 shades of lemon and primrose, I was fain to let her 
 shave my head as if I had a brain fever ; and I was 
 so horribly ashamed for years after, that I don't think 
 I have set foot in Long Street since till to-day." 
 
 "Pettitt is a queer little fellow," said Herbert. 
 " The most truculent little Radical to hear him talk, 
 and yet staunch in his votes, for he can't go against 
 those whose hair he has cut off from time immemorial." 
 
 '* I hope he has not lost much," said Julius. 
 
 "His tenements are down, but they were insured ; 
 and as to his stock, he says he owes its safety entirely 
 to you, Julius. I think he would present you with 
 both his models as a testimonial, if you could only 
 take them," said Raymond. 
 
 Cecil had neither spoken nor laughed through all 
 this. She was nursing her wrath ; and after march- 
 ing out of the dining-room, lay in wait to intercept 
 her husband, and when she had claimed his attention, 
 began, " Rosamond ought not to be allowed to say 
 such things." 
 
 " What things ? " 
 
 " Speaking in that improper way about a gown." 
 
 VOL. I. G 
 
82 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "She seems to have said what was the fact." 
 
 " It can't be ! It is preposterous ! I never heard 
 it before." 
 
 " Nor I ; but BIndon evidently Is up in those 
 matters." 
 
 '*' It was only to support Rosamond ; and I am 
 quite sure she said it out of mere opposition to me. 
 You ought to speak to Julius." 
 
 " About what .'' " said Raymond. 
 
 " Her laughing whenever I mention Dunstone, and 
 tell them the proper way of doing things." 
 
 " There may be different opinions about the proper 
 way of doing things." Then as she opened her eyes 
 in wonder and rebuke, he continued, in his elder- 
 brotherly tone of kindness, " You know I told you 
 already that you had better not interfere in matters 
 concerning his church and parish." 
 
 "We always managed things at Dunstone." 
 
 Hang Dunstone ! was with some difficulty sup- 
 pressed; but in an extra gentle voice Raymond said, 
 ** Your father did what he thought his duty, but I do 
 not think it mine, nor yours, to direct Julius in clerical 
 matters. It can only lead to disputes, and I will not 
 have them." 
 
 ** It is Rosamond. I'm sure I don't dispute." 
 
 " Listen, Cecil I " he said. " I can see that your 
 position may be trying, in these close quarters with a 
 younger brother's wife with more age and rank than 
 yourself" 
 
A SUNDAY OF EXCITEMENT. S^ 
 
 '' That is nothing. An Irish earl, and a Charnock 
 of Dunstone ! " 
 
 " Dunstone will be more respected if you keep it in 
 the background," he said, holding in stronger words 
 with great difficulty. " Once for all, you have your 
 own place and duties, and Rosamond has hers. If 
 you meddle in them, nothing but annoyance can come 
 of it ; and remember, I cannot be appealed to in 
 questions between you and her. Julius and I have 
 gone on these nine-and-twenty years without a cloud 
 between us, and I'm sure you would not wish to bring 
 one now." 
 
 Wherewith he left her bewildered. She did not 
 perceive that he was too impartial for a lover, but she 
 had a general sense that she had come into a rebellious 
 world, where Dunstone and Dunstone's daughter were 
 of no account, and her most cherished notions dis- 
 puted. What was the Lady of the Manor to do but to 
 superintend the church, parsonage, and parish gener- 
 ally ? Not her duty .'* She had never heard of such 
 a thing, nor did she credit it. Papa would come 
 home, make these degenerate Charnocks hear reason, 
 and set all to rights. 
 
 G 2 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WEDDING VISITS. 
 
 Young Mrs. Charnock Poynsett had plenty of 
 elasticity, and her rebuffs were less present to her 
 mind in the morning than to that of her husband, who 
 had been really concerned to have to inflict an expos- 
 tulation; and he was doubly kind, almost deferential, 
 giving the admiration and attention he felt incumbent 
 on him to the tasteful arrangements of her wedding 
 presents in her own sitting-room. 
 
 " And this clock I am going to have in the drawing- 
 room, and these Salviati glasses. Then, when I have 
 moved out the piano, I shall put the sofa in its place, 
 and my own little table, with my pretty Florentine 
 ornaments." 
 
 Raymond again looked annoyed. " Have you 
 spoken to my mother } " he said. 
 
 *' No ; she never goes there." 
 
 " Not now, but if ever she can bear any move it 
 will be her first change, and I should not like to 
 interfere with her arrangements." 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 85 
 
 *' She could never have been a musician, to let the 
 piano stand against the wall. I shall never be able 
 to play." 
 
 " Perhaps that might be contrived," said Raymond, 
 kindly. " Here, you know is your own domain, where 
 you can do as you please." 
 
 " Yes ; but I am expected to play in the evening. 
 Look at all those things. I had kept the choicest 
 for the drawing-room, and it is such a pity to hide 
 them all up here." 
 
 Raymond felt for the mortification, and was un- 
 willing to cross her again, so he said, " I will ask 
 whether my mother would object to having the piano 
 moved." 
 
 " This morning ? " 
 
 " After eleven o'clock — I never disturb her sooner ; 
 but you shall hear before I go to Backsworth." 
 
 "An hour lost," thought Cecil; but she was too 
 well bred to grumble, and she had her great work to 
 carry on of copying and illustrating her journal. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett readily, consented. "Oh yes, my 
 dear, let her do whatever she likes. Don't let me be 
 a bug-bear. A girl is never at home till she has had 
 her will of the furniture. I think she will find that 
 moving out the piano betrays the fading of the rest of 
 the paper, but that is her affair. She is free to do 
 just as she likes. I dare say the place does look 
 antediluvian to young eyes." 
 
 So Raymond was the bearer of his mother's full 
 
86 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 permission ; and Cecil presided with great energy- 
 over the alterations, which she carried out by the aid 
 of the younger servants, to the great disgust of their 
 seniors. She expected the acclamations of her con- 
 temporaries ; but it happened that the first of them to 
 cross the room was Julius, on his way to his mother's 
 room after luncheon, and he, having on a pair of 
 make-shift glasses, till the right kind could be pro- 
 cured from London, was unprepared for obstacles in 
 familiar regions, stumbled over an ottoman, and up- 
 set a table with the breakage of a vase. 
 
 He apologized, with much regret ; but the younger 
 brothers made an outcry. " What has come to the 
 place ? Here's the table all over everything ! " 
 
 "And where are the bronzes }" 
 
 " And the humming-birds } Miles's birds, that he 
 brought home after his first voyage." 
 
 "And the clock with the two jolly little Cupids. 
 Don't you remember Miles and Will Bowater dress- 
 ing them up for men-of-war's men .'* Mother could 
 not bring herself to have them undressed for a year, 
 and all the time the clock struck nohow ! " 
 
 "This is an anatomical study instead of a clock," 
 lamented Frank. " I say, Cecil, do you like your 
 friends to sit in their bones, like Sydney Smith.?" 
 
 " I never saw such a stupid old set of conserva- 
 tives ! " broke in Rosamond, feeling for Cecil's morti- 
 fication. " In an unprejudiced eye the room looks 
 infinitely better, quite revivified ! You ought to be 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 8/ 
 
 much obliged to Cecil for letting you see all her 
 beautiful things." 
 
 " Why don't you favour us with yours ? " said 
 Charlie. 
 
 " I know better ! Mine aren't fit to wipe the shoes 
 of Cecil's ! When I get into the Rectory you'll see 
 how hideous they are ! " said Rosamond, with the 
 merriest complacency. *' Couvrepieds to set your 
 teeth on edge, from the non-commissioned officers' 
 wives ; and the awfullest banner-screen you ever saw, 
 worked by the drum-major's own hands, with Her 
 Majesty's arms on one side, and the De Courcy ones 
 on the other, and glass eyes like stuffed birds' to the 
 lion and unicorn. We nearly expired from sup- 
 pressed laughter under the presentation." 
 
 Then she went round, extorting from the lads 
 admiration for Cecil's really beautiful properties, and 
 winning gratitude for her own cordial praise, though 
 it was not the artistic appreciation they deserved. 
 Indeed, Cecil yielded to the general vote for the 
 restoration of the humming-birds, allowing that, 
 though she did not like stuffed birds in a drawing- 
 room, she would not have banished them if she had 
 known their history. 
 
 This lasted till Charlie spied a carriage coming up 
 the drive, which could be seen a long way off, so that 
 there was the opportunity for a general sauve qidpeiU, 
 Cecil represented that Rosamond ought to stay and 
 receive her bridal visits ; but she was unpersuadable. 
 
88 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Oh no ! I leave all that for you ! My time will 
 come when I get into the Rectory. We are going in 
 the dog-cart to the other end of the parish. — What's 
 its name — Squattlesea Marsh, Julius ?" 
 
 " Squattlesford ! " said Charlie. "If Julius means 
 to drive you, look out for your neck ! " 
 
 "No, it's the other way, I'm going to drive Julius! 
 — Come along, or we shall be caught ! " 
 
 Cecil stood her ground, as did Anne, who was 
 too weary and indifferent to retreat, and Frank, who 
 had taken another view of the carriage as it came 
 nearer. 
 
 '' I must apologize for having brought nothing but 
 my father's card," said Lady Tyrrell, entering with 
 her sister, and shaking hands ; " there's no such thing 
 as dragging him out for a morning call." 
 
 "And Mr. Charnock Poynsett is not at home," 
 replied Cecil. " He found so much county business 
 w^aiting for him, that he had to go to Backsworth." 
 
 " It is the better opportunity for a little private 
 caucus with you," returned Lady Tyrrell, " before the 
 meeting to-morrow. I rather fancy the gentlemen 
 have one of their own." 
 
 " Some are to dine here to-night," said Cecil. 
 
 " We ladies had better be prepared with our pro- 
 posals," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 At the same time Frank drew near Miss Vivian 
 with a large book, saying, "These are the photo- 
 graphs you wished to see." 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 89 
 
 He placed the book on the ottoman, and would thus 
 have secured a sort of teie-d-tete ; but Eleonoradid not 
 choose to leave Mrs. Miles Charnock out, and handed 
 her each photograph in turn, but could only elicit a 
 cold languid " Thank you." To Anne's untrained eye 
 these triumphs of architecture were only so many dull 
 representations of " Roman Catholic churches," and 
 she would much rather have listened to the charitable 
 plans of the other two ladies, for the houseless factory 
 women of Wilsbro'. 
 
 The bazaar, Lady Tyrrell said, must be first started 
 by the Member's wife ; and there should be an inner- 
 most committee, of not more than three, to dispose of 
 stalls and make arrangements. 
 
 " You must be one," said Cecil. "I know no one yet." 
 
 "You will, long before it comes off. In fact, I am 
 as great a stranger as yourself. Ah ! there's an 
 opportunity ! " as the bell pealed. ** The Bov/aters, 
 very likely ; I saw their Noah's ark as I passed the 
 Poynsett Arms, with the horses taken out. I wonder 
 how many are coming — worthy folks ! " 
 
 Which evidently meant insufferable bores. 
 
 " Is there not a daughter .-* " asked Cecil. 
 
 "You need not use the singular, though, by-the-by, 
 most of them are married." 
 
 " Oh, pray stay ! " entreated Cecil, as there v^-ere 
 signs of leave-taking. 
 
 '* I should do you no good. You'll soon learn that 
 I am a sort of Loki among the Asagotter." 
 
90 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Cecil laughed, but had time to resume her some- 
 what prim dignity before the lengthened disembarka- 
 tion was over, and after all, produced only four 
 persons; but then none were small — Mrs. Bowater 
 was a harsh matron, Mr. Bowater a big comely squire, 
 the daughters both tall, one with an honest open face 
 much like Herbert's, only with rather less youth and 
 more intelligence, the other a bright dark glowing 
 gypsy-faced young girl. 
 
 Eleonora Vivian, hitherto gravely stiff and reserved, 
 to poor Frank's evident chagrin, at once flashed into 
 animation, and met the elder Miss Bowater with out- 
 stretched hands, receiving a warm kiss. At the same 
 time Mr. Bowater despatched Frank to see whether 
 his mother could admit a visitor ; and Lady Tyrrell 
 observed, "Ah! I was about to make the same 
 petition ; but I will cede to older friends, for so I 
 suppose I must call you, Mr. Bowater — though my 
 acquaintance is of long standing enough ! " 
 
 And she put on a most charming smile, which Mr. 
 Bowater received with something inarticulate that 
 might be regarded as a polite form of " fudge," which 
 made Cecil think him a horribly rude old man, and 
 evidently discomposed his wife very much. 
 
 Frank brought back his mother's welcome to the 
 Squire ; but by this time Eleonora and Miss Bowater 
 had drawn together into a window, in so close and 
 earnest a conversation that he could not break into it, 
 and with almost visible reluctance began to talk to 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 9 1 
 
 the younger sister, who on her side was desirous of 
 joining in the bazaar discussion, which had been 
 started again in full force ; until there was a fresh 
 influx of visitors, when Lady Tyrrell decidedly took 
 leave with her sister, and Frank escorted them to 
 their carriage, and returned no more. 
 
 In the new shuffling of partners the elder Miss 
 Bowater found herself close to Anne, and at once 
 inquired warmly for Miles, with knowledge and 
 interest in naval affairs derived from a sailor brother, 
 Miles's chief friend and mess-mate in his training and 
 earlier voyages. There was something in Joanna 
 Bowater's manner that always unlocked hearts, and 
 Anne was soon speaking without her fence of repellent 
 stiffness and reserve. Certainly Miles was loved by 
 his mother and brothers more than he could be by an 
 old play-fellow and sisterly friend, and yet there was 
 something in Joanna's tone that gave Anne a sense of 
 fellow-feeling, as if she had met a countrywoman in 
 this land of strangers ; and she even told how Miles 
 had thought it right to send her home, thinking that 
 she might be a comfort to his mother. " And not 
 knowing all that was going to happen ! " said poor 
 Anne, with an irrepressible sigh, both for her own 
 blighted hopes, and for the whirl into which her sore 
 heart had fallen. 
 
 " I think you will be," said Joanna, brightly ; 
 "though it must be strange coming on so many. 
 Dear Mrs. Poynsett is so kind ! " 
 
92 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Yes," said Anne, coldly. 
 
 " Ah ! you don't know her yet. And Lady Rosa- 
 mond ! She is delightful ! " 
 
 *' Have you seen her ? " 
 
 " We met them just now in the village, but my 
 brother is enchanted. And do you know what was 
 Julius's first introduction to her ? It was at a great 
 school-feast, where they had the regimental children 
 as well as the town ones. A poor little boy went off 
 in an epileptic fit, and Julius found her holding him, 
 with her own hand in his mouth to hinder the locking 
 of the teeth. He said her fingers were bitten almost 
 to the bone, but she made quite light of it.'* 
 
 " That was nice 1 " said Anne ; but then, with a 
 startled glance, and in an undertone, she added, " Are 
 they Christians ? " 
 
 Joanna Bowater paused for a moment between 
 dismay and desire for consideration, and in that 
 moment her father called to her, " Jenny, do you 
 remember the dimensions of those cottag^es in Ouec- 
 kett's Lane } " and she had to come and serve for his 
 memory, while he was indoctrinating a younger squire 
 with the duties of a landlord. 
 
 Meanwhile Mrs. Bowater was, for the tenth time, 
 consulting her old friend upon Mrs. Hornblower's 
 capabilities of taking care of Herbert, and betraying 
 a little disappointment that his first sermon had not 
 yet been heard ; and when his voice was compli- 
 mented, she hoped Julius would spare it — too much 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 93 
 
 exertion could not be good for so young a man, 
 and though dear Herbert looked so strong, no 
 one would believe how much sleep he required. 
 Then she observed, " We found Camilla Vivian 
 — Lady Tyrrell I mean — calling. Have you seen 
 her.?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Well, she really seems improved ! " 
 
 " Mr. Bowater has been telling me she is handsomer 
 than ever ! " 
 
 "Oh yes! That's all gentlemen think of; but I 
 meant in other ways. She seems full of the rebuild- 
 ing of St. Nicholas, and to be making great friends 
 with your new daughter. You don't think," lowering 
 her voice, " that Raymond would have any objection 
 to meeting her ? " 
 
 " Certainly not ! " 
 
 " I did not suppose he would, but I thought I would 
 just ask you. It would be rather marked not to 
 invite him for the 3rd, you know ; and Jenny was 
 always so fond of poor Emily, kept up a corres- 
 pondence with her to the last. It was the first time 
 she had met the little one since they came back. Not 
 that she is little now, she is very tall and quite hand- 
 some even by the side of Edith. We just saw Lady 
 Rosamond — a sweet face — and Herbert perfectly 
 raves about her I " 
 
 " She is a most unselfish warm-hearted creature ! " 
 said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
94 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I am so glad ! And Miles's wife, I hope she will 
 come. Poor thing, she looks very poorly." 
 
 " Yes, I am very anxious about her. If she is not 
 better in a day or two, I shall insist on her having 
 advice." 
 
 " Poor dear, I don't wonder ! But she had better 
 come to Strawyers ; Jenny will cheer her if anyone 
 can, and we shall have a nice lively party, I hope ! 
 She will only mope the more if she never goes out." 
 
 " I am afraid she is hardly equal to it ; besides, 
 poor child," added Mrs. Poynsett, '' she seems to have 
 been strictly brought up, and to think our ways rather 
 shocking ; and Miles wrote to me not to press her to 
 go into society till he comes home." 
 
 " Ah ! well, I call that a mistake ! " puffed out good- 
 humoured Mrs. Bowater. "Very bad for the poor 
 girl's spirits. By-the-by, I hope Julius does not 
 object to Herbert's dancing — not at a public ball, you 
 know, but at home — for if he did, I would try to 
 arrange something else, it would be so hard for the 
 poor boy to have to look on." 
 
 " I don't know. I don't think he could," said the 
 mother, considering. 
 
 "You see, we thought of a dinner-party for as 
 many as possible. Frank and Charlie won't mind 
 dining in the school-room, I know, and having the 
 rest for a dance in the evening ; but if Julius did think 
 it unclerical — Jenny says he won't, and Papa laughs, 
 and says, ' Poh ! poh ! Julius is no fool;' but people 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 95 
 
 are so much more particular than they used to be, and 
 I would not get the dear boy into a scrape for the 
 world." 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett undertook to ascertain his opinions 
 on this knotty point, and to let her know if they were 
 adverse ; and then she begged for a visit from Jenny, 
 whose brother had no accommodation for her in his 
 lodgings. She could not be spared till after the 
 entertainment on the 3rd, nor till a visit from her 
 married sister was over ; but afterwards, her mother 
 was delighted that she should come and look after 
 Herbert, who seemed as much on the maternal mind 
 as if he had not batted his way through Eton, and 
 boated it through Oxford. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett obtained her word with Julius in 
 good time that evening. He laughed a little. "Poor 
 Herbs ! when will people understand that it is the 
 spirit of the thing, the pursuit, not the individual 
 chance participation in any particular amusement, 
 that is unclerical, as they are pleased to call it ? " 
 
 " What do you think of Herbert > " 
 
 " A boy, and a very nice boy ; but if he doesn't get 
 his healthful play somehow, he will burst out like a 
 closed boiler some day." 
 
 " A muscular Christian on your hands .? " 
 
 " Not theoretically, for he has been well taught ; 
 but it's a great animal that needs to work off its 
 steam, and if I had known it, I would not have under- 
 taken the problem of letting him do that, without 
 
96 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 setting up bad habits, or scandalizing the parish and 
 Bindon — who is young the other way, and has no 
 toleration. We had this morning's service in a state 
 of siege from all the dogs. Herbert thought he had 
 shut them safely up, but they were all at his heels in 
 the churchyard ; and though he rated them home, 
 and shut all the doors, we heard them whining 
 and scratching at each in turn." 
 
 " I thought I should have died of it," said Rosa- 
 mond, entering. " His face grew red enough to set 
 his surplice on fire, and Mr. Bindon glared at him, and 
 he missed his verse in the Psalm ; for there was the 
 bull terrier, crouching and looking abject at the 
 vestry-door, just restrained by his eye from coming 
 further." 
 
 ''What shall you do about it, Julius?" asked his 
 mother, much amused. 
 
 "Oh, that will remedy itself All dogs learn to 
 understand the bell." 
 
 And then the others began to drop in, and were 
 told of the invitation that was coming. 
 
 "I say, Rosamond," cried Charlie, "can brothers 
 and sisters-in-law dance together ? " 
 
 " That depends on how the brothers-in-law dance," 
 returned Rosamond. " Someone, for pity's sake, 
 play a waltz ! — Come along, Charlie ! the hall 
 is a sweet place for it! — Whistle, Julius! — Frank, 
 whistle!" 
 
 And away she whirled. Frank, holding out his 
 
WEDDING VISITS. 97 
 
 hands, was to his surprise accepted by Cecil, and dis- 
 appeared with her into the hall. Julius stood by the 
 mantel-piece, with the first shadow on his brow his 
 mother had seen since his arrival. Presently he 
 spoke in a defensive apologetic tone : " She has 
 always been used to this style of thing." 
 " Most naturally," said the mother. 
 " Not that they ever did more than their position 
 required, and Lady Rathforlane is a truly careful 
 mother. Of course some things might startle you 
 stay-at-home people ; but in all essentials — " 
 " I see what you mean." 
 " And what seems like rattle is habit." 
 " Simple gaiete de coeur ! " 
 
 " So it is better to acquiesce till it subsides of itself. 
 You see it is hard, after such a life of change and 
 variety, to settle down into a country parsonage." 
 
 " What are you saying there .'' " said Rosamond, 
 tripping in out of breath. 
 
 " That I don't know how you are to put up with a 
 pink-eyed parson, and a hum-drum life," said Julius, 
 holding out a caressing hand. 
 
 " Now that's hard," pleaded she ; " only because I 
 took a frolic with Baby Charles ! I say, Julius,' shall 
 we give it up altogether, and stay at home like good 
 children t I believe that is what would suit the old 
 Rabbit much better than his kid gloves," — and her 
 sweet face looked up at him with a meek candid 
 gaze. 
 
 VOL. I. II 
 
98 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " No/' he said, '' that would not do. The Bowaters 
 are our oldest friends. But, Rosie, as you are a 
 clergyman's wife, could you not give up round 
 dances } " 
 
 " Oh no, no ! That's too bad. I'd rather never go 
 to a dance at all, than sit still, or be elbowed about in 
 the square dances. You never told me you expected 
 that ! " — and her tones were of a child petulant at 
 injustice. 
 
 *' Suppose," he said, as a delightful solution, " you 
 only gratified Frank and Charlie by waltzing with 
 them." 
 
 She burst into a ringing laugh. " My brothers-in- 
 law ! How very ridiculous ! Suppose you included 
 the curates 1 " 
 
 " You know what I mean," he said gravely. 
 " Oh, bother the parson's wife ! Haven't I seen 
 them figuring away by scores } Did we ever have a 
 regimental ball that they were not the keenest after 1 ' 
 "So they get themselves talked of!" said Julius, as 
 Anne's quiet entrance broke up the dialogue. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett had listened, glad there was no 
 appeal to her, conscious that she did not understand 
 the merits of the case, and while she doubted whether 
 her eldest son had love enough, somewhat afraid lest 
 his brother had not rather too much for the good of 
 his lawful supremacy. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 " Raymond ! Can you spare me a moment before 
 you go Into your mother's room ? " 
 
 It was Rosamond who, to his surprise, as he was 
 about to go down- stairs, met him and drew him into 
 her apartment — his mother's own dressing-room, which 
 he had not entered since the accident. 
 
 " Is anything the matter } " he said, thinking that 
 Juh'us might have spared him from complaints of 
 Cecil. 
 
 " Oh no ! only one never can speak to you, and 
 Julius told me that you could tell me about Mrs. 
 Poynsett. I can't help thinking she could be moved 
 more than she is." Then, as he was beginning to 
 speak, " Do you know that, the morning of the fire, 
 I carried her with only one of the maids to the couch 
 under the tent-room window } Susan was frightened 
 out of her wits, but she was not a bit the worse for 
 it." 
 
 " Ah ! that was excitement." 
 
 H 2 
 
loo THE thrp:e brides. 
 
 "But if it did not hurt her then, why should it 
 hurt her again ? There's old General M'Kinnon, my 
 father's old friend, who runs about everywhere in a 
 wheeled-chair with a leg-rest ; and I can't think why 
 she should not do the same." 
 
 Raymond smiled kindly on her, but rather sadly ; 
 perhaps he was recollecting his morning's talk about 
 the occupancy of the drawing-room, " You know it 
 is her spine," he said. 
 
 "So it is with him. His horse rolled over him at 
 Sebastopol, and he has never walked since. I wanted 
 to write to Mary M'Kinnon ; but Julius said I had 
 better talk to you, because he was only at home for a 
 fortnight, when she was at the worst, and you knew 
 more about it." 
 
 " Yes," said Raymond, understanding more than the 
 Irish tongue fully expressed, " I never saw a woman 
 sit better than slie did, and she looked as young and 
 light in the saddle as you could, till that day, when, 
 after the rains, the bank where the bridle-path to 
 Squattles End was built up, gave way with the horse's 
 feet, and down she went twenty feet, and was under 
 the horse when Miles and I got down to her ! We 
 brought her on a mattress to that room, not knowing 
 whether she were alive ; and she has never moved out 
 of it 1 It was agony to her to be touched." 
 
 " Yes, but it can't be that now. Was not that three 
 years ago ? " 
 
 " Not so much. Two and a half. We had Hayter 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. lOI 
 
 down to see her, and he said perfect rest was the only 
 chance for her." 
 
 " And has not he seen her lately } " 
 
 " He died last winter ; and old Worth, who comes 
 in once a week to look at her, is not fit for more than 
 a little watching and attention. I dare say we all have 
 learnt to acquiesce too much in her present state, and 
 that more might be done. You see, she has never had 
 a lady's care, except now and then Jenny Bowater's." 
 
 " I do feel sure she could bear more now," said 
 Rosamond eagerly. *' It would be such a thing if she 
 could only be moved about that down-stairs floor." 
 
 " And be with us at meals and in the evening," 
 said Raymond, his face lightening up. " Thank you, 
 Rosamond ! " 
 
 " I'll write to Mary M'Kinnon to-morrow, to ask 
 about the chair," cried Rosamond ; and Raymond, 
 hearing the door-bell, hurried down, to find his wife 
 standing alone over the drawing-room fire, not very 
 complacent. 
 
 " Where have you been, Raymond ? " 
 
 ** 1 was talking to Rosamond. She has seen a chair 
 on which it might be possible to move my mother 
 about on this floor." 
 
 " I thought — " Cecil flushed. She was on the point 
 of saying she thought Rosamond was not to interfere 
 in her department any more than she in Rosamond's ; 
 but she kept it back, and changed it into " Surely the 
 doctor and nurses must know best." 
 
102 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " A fresh eye often makes a difference," said Ray- 
 mond. " To have her among us again — ! " but he 
 was cut short by the announcement of Mr. and Miss 
 Fuller. 
 
 " Poor Mr. Fuller," as everyone called him, was the 
 Incumbent of St. Nicholas, Willansborough, a college 
 living always passed by the knowing old bachelor 
 fellows, and as regularly proving a delusion to the first 
 junior in haste for a wife. Twenty-five years ago Mr. 
 Fuller had married upon this, which, as Mr. Bindon 
 said, was rather a reason for not marrying — a town with 
 few gentry, and a petty unthriving manufacture, need- 
 ing an enormous amount of energy to work it 
 properly, and getting — Mr. Fuller, with force yearly 
 decreasing under the pressure of a sickly wife, ill-edu- 
 cated, unsatisfactory sons, and unhealthy, aimless 
 daughters. Of late some assistance had been obtained, 
 but only from Mr. Driver, the " coach " or cramming 
 tutor, who was directing the studies of Frank and 
 half a dozen more youths, and his aid was strictly 
 limited to a share in the Sunday services. 
 
 The eldest daughter accompanied the Vicar. Her 
 mother had not health (or perhaps clothes) for a 
 dinner-party, and it was the first time she had ever 
 been in the house. Very shy and in much awe she 
 was ! Cecil viewed her as a constituent, and was 
 elaborately civil and patronising, doing the honours of 
 all the photographs and illustrations on which she 
 could lay hands, and only eliciting alternately " Very 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. IO3 
 
 nice," and " How sweet ! " A little more was made 
 of the alarms of the fire, and the preparations for 
 clearing the house, and there was a further thaw about 
 the bazaar. It would be such a relief from plain work, 
 and she could get some lovely patterns from her 
 cousin who had a missionary basket ; but as to the 
 burnt-out families, the little knowledge or interest she 
 seemed to have about them was rather astounding, 
 unless, as Rosamond suspected, she thought it "shop," 
 and uninteresting to the great ladies of Compton- 
 Poynsett Hall. 
 
 Meanwhile, her father made the apprehended request 
 for the loan of Compton Church during the intervals 
 of services, and when the Rector explained how brief 
 those intervals would be, looked astonished and 
 drily complimented him on his energy and his staff, 
 somewhat as if the new broom were at the bottom of 
 these congratulations. 
 
 The schools were to be used for services until a 
 temporary iron church could be obtained, for which 
 Julius, to make up for his churlishness in withholding 
 his own church, made the handsomer donation, and 
 held out hopes of buying it afterwards for the use of 
 Squattles End. Then, having Mr. Fuller's ear to 
 himself, he ventured to say, though cautiously, as to 
 one who had been a clergyman before he was born, " I 
 wish it were possible to dispense with this bazaar." 
 
 Mr. Fuller shrugged his shoulders. " If everyone 
 subscribed in the style of this family." 
 
I04 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " They would be more likely to do so, without the 
 appeal to secondary motives." 
 
 " Try them," said the elder man. 
 
 '' Exactly what I want to do. I would put up the 
 four walls, begin with what you get from the insur- 
 ance, a weekly offertory, and add improvements as 
 means came in. This is not visionary. I have seen 
 proof of its success." 
 
 " It may serve in new-fashioned city missions, but 
 in an old-established place like this it would create 
 nothing but offence. When you have been in Orders 
 as long as I have, you will find that there is nothing 
 for it but to let people do what they will, not what 
 one thinks best." 
 
 " Mr. Fuller," said Julius eagerly, " will you try an 
 experiment ? Drop this bazaar, and I promise you 
 our collection every Sunday evening for the year, 
 giving notice of it to my people, and to such of yours 
 as may be present." 
 
 " I do not despise your offer," said Mr. Fuller, 
 laying his hand upon his arm. " You mean it kindly, 
 and if I were in your place, or had only my own 
 feelings to consider, I might attempt it. But it would 
 be only mischievous to interfere with the bazaar. 
 Lady Tyrrell — all the ladies, in fact — have set their 
 minds on it, and if I objected there would instantly 
 be a party cry against me, and that is the one thing I 
 have always avoided." 
 
 His tone of superior wisdom, meek and depressed 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. 10$ 
 
 as he always was, tried the Rector's patience enough 
 to make his forehead burn and bring out his white 
 eye-brows in strong relief. " How about a blessing 
 on the work ? " he asked, suppressing so much that he 
 hardly knew this was spoken aloud. 
 
 Again Mr. Fuller smiled. He had been a bit of 
 a humorist when he was an Oxford don. " Speak of 
 that to Briggs," he said, " and he would answer, ' Cash 
 for me, and the blessing may take care of itself.' As 
 to the ladies — why, they deafen you about blessings 
 on their humble efforts, and the widow's mite." 
 
 '' Simply meaning that they want their amusement 
 a little—" 
 
 " Buttered over," said Mr. Fuller, supplying the 
 word. '' Though you are hard on them, Charnock — I 
 don't know about the fine ladies ; but there are quiet 
 folk who will work their fingers to the bone, and can 
 do nothing else." 
 
 " That's true," said Julius ; " and one would gladly 
 find a safe outlet for their diligence." 
 
 "You do not trust to it for bringing the blessing," 
 said Mr. Fuller, in a tone that Julius liked even less 
 than the mere hopeless faint-heartedness, for in it 
 there was sarcasm on faith in aught but £ s. d. 
 
 The two brothers held another discussion on this 
 matter later that night, on the stairs, as they were on 
 their way to their rooms. 
 
 *' Won't you come to this meeting to-morrow, 
 Juhus } " asked Raymond. 
 
I06 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I don't see that I should be of any use, unless — " 
 
 " Unless what ? " 
 
 " Unless you would make what seems to me the right 
 proposal, and I could be any support in it." 
 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 " To use the Insurance to put up the mere shells 
 and plain indispensable fittings of the church and 
 town-hall, then make the drainage of Water Lane and 
 Hall Street the first object for the rates, while the 
 church is done by subscription and voluntary 
 effort" 
 
 " You put the drainage first — even before the 
 church ? " said Raymond, smiling, with an elder 
 brother's satisfaction in such an amount of common 
 sense, 
 
 " Of course I do," said Julius. ^' An altar and 
 four walls and chairs are all that ought to be sought 
 for. Little good can be done to people's souls while 
 their bodies are in the feverish discomfort of foul 
 air and water. This Is an opportunity not to be 
 wasted, while all the houses are down, town-hall 
 and all." 
 
 " The very thing I told Briggs and the others this 
 morning," said Raymond ; " but I could not get a 
 hearing ; they said there never had been any Illness 
 worth mentioning, and In fact scouted the whole 
 matter, as people always do." 
 
 " Yes, they take It as a personal Insult when you 
 mention the odorous — or odious, savours sweet," said 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. 10/ 
 
 Julius. "I heard a good deal of that when we had 
 the spell of cholera at St. Awdry's." 
 
 " I shall work on at it, and I trust to get it done 
 in time," said Raymond ; " but it will not be at once. 
 The subject is too new to them, and the irritation 
 it produces must subside before they will hear 
 reason. Besides, the first thing is to employ and 
 feed these paper-makers." 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 "That will pretty well absorb this first meeting. 
 The ladies will manage that, I think ; and when this 
 is provided for, I will try what I can do at the 
 committee ; but there is no good in bringing it 
 forward at this great public affair, when every ass 
 can put in his word. Everything depends on whom 
 they choose for the new mayor. If Whitlock comes 
 in, there is some chance of sense and reason 
 being heard. Good night." 
 
 As Raymond said, the more immediate object 
 of the meeting fixed for the ensuing day, was to 
 provide for the employment of the numerous women 
 thrown out of employment by the destruction of the 
 paper mills. A subscription was in hand, but not 
 adequate to the need ; and moreover, it was far more 
 expedient to let them maintain themselves. 
 
 How this was to be done was the question. Cecil 
 told her husband that at Dunstone they made the 
 women knit stockings ; and he replied by recom- 
 mending the suppression of Dunstone. How strange 
 
T08 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 it was that what she had been used to consider as the 
 source of honour should be here held in what seemed 
 to her disesteem ! 
 
 Lady Tyrrell's ponies were tinkling up to the door 
 of the hotel where the meeting was to be held, and 
 her gracious smile recalled Cecil's good humour ; 
 Raymond saw them to their seats, and then had to go 
 and take the chair himself on the platform — first, 
 however, introducing his wife to such of the ladies 
 present as he recollected. 
 
 She thought he wanted her to sit between melan- 
 choly white-faced Mrs. Fuller and a bony spinster in 
 a poke-bonnet whom he called Miss Slater ; but Cecil 
 concluding that this last could have no vote, and that 
 the Vicarage was secure, felt free to indulge herself 
 by getting back to Lady Tyrrell, who had scarcely 
 welcomed her before exclaiming, ** Mrs. Duncombe, I 
 did not know you were returned." 
 
 ** I came back on the first news of your flare-up," 
 said the new comer. '' I only came down this morn- 
 ing. I would not have missed this meeting for 
 anything. It is a true woman's question. A fair 
 muster, I see," looking round with her eye-glass, and 
 bowing to several on the platform, especially to 
 Raymond, who returned the bow rather stiffly. 
 
 ''Ah! let me introduce you," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 " Mrs. Raymond Charnock Poynsett." 
 
 " I am very glad to see you embarked in the cause," 
 said the lady, frankly holding out her hand, " May 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. TO9 
 
 v/e often meet in the same manner, though I honestly 
 tell you I'm not of your party ; I should go dead 
 against your husband if we only had a chance." 
 
 " Come, you need not be so aggressive," laughed 
 Lady Tyrrell ; "you haven't a vote yet. You are 
 frightening Mrs. Poynsett." 
 
 It was true. Even Cecil Charnock was born too 
 late to be one of the young ladies who, in the first 
 decades of the reformed Parliament, used to look on 
 a Liberal as a lusiis natiirce, whom they hardly 
 believed to be a gentleman. But a lady who would 
 openly accost the member's bride with a protest 
 against his politics, was a being beyond her ex- 
 perience, and the contemplation fairly distracted her 
 from her husband's oratory. 
 
 She would have taken Miss Slater for the strong- 
 minded female far rather than this small slim person, 
 with the complexion going with the yellower species 
 of red hair and chignon, not unlike a gold-pheasant's, 
 while the thin aquiline nose made Cecil think of 
 Queen Elizabeth. The dress was a tight-fitting black 
 silk, with a gorgeous many-coloured gold-embroidered 
 oriental mantle thrown loosely over it, and a Tyrolean 
 hat, about as large as the pheasant's comb, tipped 
 over her forehead, with cords and tassels of gold ; and 
 she m.ade little restless movements and whispered 
 remarks during the speeches. 
 
 There was to be a rate to renew the town-hall. 
 The rebuilding of the paper mills and dwelling houses 
 
no THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 was fairly covered by the insurance ; but the Vicar, 
 in his diffident apologetic voice, stated that the church 
 had been insufficiently insured, and moreover, that 
 many more sittings were needed than the former 
 building had contained. He then read the list of 
 subscriptions already promised, expressed hopes of 
 more coming in, invited ladies to take collecting cards, 
 and added that he was happy to announce that the 
 ladies of his congregation had come forward with all 
 the beneficence of their sex, and raised a sum to 
 supply a new set of robes. 
 
 Here the chairman glanced at his wife, but she was 
 absorbed in watching Mrs. Buncombe's restless hands; 
 and the look was intercepted by Lady Tyrrell's eyes, 
 which flashed back sympathetic amusement, with just 
 such a glance as used to pass between them in old 
 times ; but the effect was to make the member's face 
 grave and impassive, and his eyes fix on the papers 
 before him. 
 
 The next moment Cecil was ardently gazing at 
 Mr. Fuller as he proceeded to his hopes of the bazaar 
 to be held under the most distinguished patronage, 
 and of which he spoke as if it were the subject of 
 anticipations as sanguine as any the poor man could 
 ever appear to indulge in. And there was, in fact, 
 the greatest stamping and cheering there has yet 
 been, perhaps in compliment to the M.P.'s young 
 bride — at least, so Lady Tyrrell whispered, adding 
 that everybody was trying to see her. 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. Ill 
 
 Then Mr. Charnock Poynsett himself took up the 
 exposition of the third branch of the subject, the 
 support of the poor famihes thrown out of work at the 
 beginning of winter. There could be no employment 
 at the paper mills till they were repaired ; and after 
 the heavy losses, they could not attempt to keep their 
 people together by any payment. It had been sug- 
 gested that the readiest way of meeting the difficulty, 
 would be to employ the subscriptions already promised 
 in laying in a stock of material to be made up into 
 garments, and then dispose of them out to the women 
 at their homes ; and appointing a day once a week 
 when the work should be received, the pay given, and 
 fresh material supplied, by a party of volunteer ladies. 
 
 This was, in fact, what he had been instructed to 
 propose by the kindly souls who ordinarily formed the 
 St. Nicholas bureau de charitc, who had instructed him 
 to be their mouth-piece. There was due applause as 
 the Mayor seconded his resolution ; but in the midst a 
 clear, rather high-pitched voice rose up close to Cecil, 
 saying " Mr. Chairman, allow me to ask what sale is 
 anticipated for these garments .'' " 
 
 " I am told that there is a demand for them amone 
 the poor themselves," said Raymond, judiciously 
 concealing how much he was taken aback by this 
 female interference. 
 
 ''Allow me to differ. A permanent work society 
 numbering a few women otherwise unemployed may 
 fmd a sufficient sale in the neighbourhood under the 
 
112 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 patronage of charitable ladies ; but when you throw in 
 ninety-five or one hundred pair of hands depending 
 on their work for their livelihood, the supply must 
 necessarily soon go beyond any demand, even fictitious. 
 It will not do to think of these women like fancy- 
 knitters or embroiderers whose work is skilled. Most 
 of them can hardly mend their own clothes, and the 
 utmost that can be expected of them is the roughest 
 slop-work." 
 
 " Do you wish any expedient to be proposed ? " 
 asked the Chairman, in a sort of aside. 
 
 " Yes, I have one. I spent yesterday in collecting 
 information." 
 
 " Will Captain Duncombe move it ? " suggested 
 Raymond. 
 
 " Oh no ! he is not here. No, it is no use to 
 instruct anybody ; I will do it myself, if you please." 
 And before the astonished eyes of the meeting, the 
 gold-pheasant hopped upon the platform, and with as 
 much ease as if she had been Queen Bess dragooning 
 her parliament, she gave what even the astounded 
 gentlemen felt to be a sensible practical exposition of 
 ways and means. 
 
 She had obtained the address of a warehouse ready 
 to give such roucrh work as the women could be 
 expected to do ; but as they w^ere unaccustomed to 
 work at home, and were at present much crowded 
 from the loss of so many houses, and could besides be 
 little depended on for working well enough without 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. II 3 
 
 superintendence, her plan was to hire a room, collect 
 the women, and divide the superintendence between 
 the ladies ; who should give out the work, see that it 
 was properly done, keep order, and the like. She 
 finished off in full order, by moving a resolution to this 
 effect. 
 
 There was a pause, and a little consultation among 
 the gentlemen, ending by Raymond's absolutely tell- 
 ing Mr. Fuller that it was a very sensible practical 
 arrangement, and that it must be seconded ; which the 
 Vicar accordingly did, and it was carried without 
 opposition, as in truth nothing so good had been 
 thought of ; and the next thing was to name a com- 
 mittee of ladies, a treasurer and auditor of accounts. 
 There would be no work on Saturdays, so if the ladies 
 would each undertake half a day once a fortnight, the 
 superintendence need not be a burthen. 
 
 Mrs. Duncombe and Miss Slater undertook the first 
 start and preliminary arrangements, then each would 
 take her half day in rotation. Lady Tyrrell and her 
 sister undertook two, Cecil two more, and others were 
 found to fill up the vacant space. The chairman 
 moved a vote of thanks to the lady for her sugges- 
 tion, which she acknowledged by a gracious bow, not 
 without triumph ; and the meeting broke up. 
 
 Someone asked after Captain Duncombe as she 
 
 descended into private life. " There's a wonderful 
 
 filly that absorbs all his attention. All Wilsbro' 
 
 might burn as long as Dark Hag thrives ! When do 
 
 VOL. I. I 
 
114 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 I expect him ? I don't know ; it depends on Dark 
 Hag," she said in a tone of superior good-natured 
 irony, then gathered up the radiant mantle and 
 tripped off along the central street of the little old- 
 fashioned country town, with gravelled not paved 
 side-walks. 
 
 " Isn't she very superior ? " said Cecil, when her 
 husband had put her on horseback. 
 
 ** I suppose she is very clever.'* 
 
 " And she spoke capitally." 
 
 " If she were to speak. What would your father 
 think of her .? " 
 
 But for the first time Cecil's allegiance had ex- 
 perienced a certain shock. Some sort of pedestal had 
 hitherto been needful to her existence ; she was learn- 
 ing that Dunstone was an unrecognised elevation in 
 this new country, and she had seen a woman attain 
 to a pinnacle that almost dazzled her, by sheer 
 resource and good sense. 
 
 All the discussion she afterwards heard did not 
 tend to shake her opinion ; Raymond recounted the 
 adventure at his mother's kettle-drum, telling of his 
 own astonishment at the little lady's assurance. 
 
 " I do not see why she should be censured," said 
 Cecil. " You were all at a loss without her." 
 
 " She should have got her husband to speak for 
 her," said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " He was not there." 
 
 "Then she should have instructed some other 
 
UNFRUITFUL SUGGESTIONS. II5 
 
 gentleman," said Mrs. Poynsett. "A woman spoils 
 all the effect of her doings by putting herself out of 
 her proper place." 
 
 " Perfectly disgusting ! " said Julius. 
 
 Cecil had decidedly not been disgusted, except by 
 the present strong language ; and not being ready at 
 repartee, she was pleased when Rosamond exclaimed, 
 " Ah ! that's just what men like, to get instructed in 
 private by us poor women, and then gain all the credit 
 for originality." 
 
 " It is the right way," said the mother. " The 
 woman has much power of working usefully and 
 gaining information, but the one thing that Is not 
 required of her is to come forward in public." 
 
 "Very convenient for the man!" laughed Rosa- 
 mond. 
 
 " And scarcely fair," said Cecil. 
 
 " Quite fair," said Rosamond, turning round, so that 
 Cecil only now perceived that she had been speaking 
 in jest. " Any woman who is worth a sixpence had 
 rather help her husband to shine than shine herself." 
 
 " Besides," said Mrs. Poynsett, " the delicate edges 
 of true womanhood ought not to be frayed off by 
 exposure in public." 
 
 " Yes," said Raymond. " The gain of _an inferior 
 power of man in public would be far from com- 
 pensated by the loss in private of that which man can 
 never supply." 
 
 "Granted," said Rosamond slyly though sleepily, 
 
 I 2 
 
Il6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " that it always is an inferior power of man, which it 
 does not seem to have been in the actual case." 
 
 " It was a point on which she had special knowledge 
 and information," said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " And you were forced to thank her," said Cecil. 
 
 " Yes, in common civility," said Raymond ; "but it 
 was as much as I could do to get it done, the position 
 was a false one altogether." 
 
 " In fact, you were all jealous," said Rosamond. 
 
 At which everybody laughed, which was her sole in- 
 tention ; but Cecil, who had said so much less, really 
 thought what Rosamond said in mere play. Those 
 extorted thanks seemed to her a victory of her sex 
 in a field she had never thought of; and though she- 
 had no desire to emulate the lady, and felt that a 
 daughter of Dunstone must remember noblesse oblige, 
 the focus of her enthusiasm was in an odd state of 
 shifting. 
 
 £» 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 UNSATISFACTORY. 
 
 On the evening of the party at Strawyers, Mrs. Poyn- 
 sett lay on her sofa, thinking, with a trying recurrence, 
 of that unfortunate and excellent German Dauphine, 
 who was pronounced by the Duchess of Orleans to 
 have died of her own stupidity. 
 
 After a fortnight had brought no improvement, but 
 rather the reverse, to poor Anne's wan looks and 
 feeble languid deportment, Mrs. Foynsett had insisted 
 on her seeing the doctor ; and had been assured by 
 him that there was nothing amiss, and that if Mrs. 
 Miles Charnock could only be roused and occupied 
 she would be perfectly well, but that her pining and 
 depression might so lower her tone as to have a serious 
 effect on her health. 
 
 There was no hope of her husband's return for at 
 least a year, very likely eighteen months. What was 
 to be done with her ? What could be a more unpro- 
 pitious fate than for a Colonial girl, used to an active 
 life of exertion and usefulness, and trained to all 
 
Il8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 domestic arts, to be set down In a great English 
 household where there was really nothing for her to 
 do, and usefulness or superintendence would have been 
 interfering ; besides, as Miles had thoughts of settling 
 at the Cape, English experience would serve her 
 little. 
 
 She had not cultivation enough for any pursuit to 
 interest her. She was not musical, could not draw ; 
 and when Mrs. Poynsett had, by way of experiment, 
 asked her to read aloud an hour a day, and selected 
 the Lives of the Lindsays, as an unexceptionable 
 and improving book, full of Scottish history, and even 
 with African interest, she dutifully did her task as an 
 attention to her invalid mother-in-law, but in a droning 
 husky tone, finding it apparently as severe a penance 
 as it was to her auditor. 
 
 The doctor's chief prescription was hprse exercise ; 
 but what would a constitutional canter be to one 
 acccustomed to free rides through the Bush ? And 
 she would generally be alone ; for even if Charlie, her 
 nearest approach to an ally, had not been going away 
 from home In a few weeks, it could not be expected 
 that he could often ride with her. 
 
 It was plain that every one of the whole family 
 was giving continual shocks to Mr. Pilgrim's disciple, 
 even when they felt most Innocent ; and though the 
 mother was sometimes disposed to be angry, some- 
 times to laugh at the little shudder and compression 
 of the lips she began to know, she perceived what 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. I IQ 
 
 an addition this must be to the unhappiness of the 
 poor lonely stranger. 
 
 " She must be set to some good work," thought 
 Mrs. Poynsett ; "JuHus might let her go to his old 
 women. She might get on with them better than 
 with the old women here. And there's Cecils work- 
 ing affair, it would be just the thing to give her an 
 object. I think I can get through this evening. I've 
 made Susan bring my desk, with all Miles's letters 
 from his first voyage. Shall I suppress the 
 ball .? " 
 
 Therewith Cecil made her entrance, in glossy white 
 satin and deep lace, beautiful to behold, set off with 
 rainbow glistening opals. She made a quiet compla- 
 cent show of herself, as one not vain of fine clothes, 
 but used to an affectionate family appreciation of her 
 best attire ; and it was the most friendly child-like bit 
 of intimacy that had yet been attained between her 
 and Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 And when she sat down to wait for the others, 
 Mrs. Poynsett ventured on telling her the prescription 
 and her own perplexity, hoping for a voluntary offer 
 to employ Anne at Willansborough ; but Cecil only 
 pitied her for having " no resources ; " and when 
 Mrs. Poynsett ventured to suggest finding a niche for 
 her in the work-room, the answer was — " Our days 
 are all disposed of." 
 
 '' You have two, I think } " 
 
 " True ; but it would never do for me to give up 
 
120 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 one of my times. If I seemed to slacken, everyone 
 else would." 
 
 " What will you do when the Session begins ^ " 
 
 " I shall make some arrangement. I do not think 
 Anne could ever take my place ; she would have no 
 authority." 
 
 Anne herself here entered, took her knitting 
 and sat down, apparently unaware of the little plum- 
 ing gesture by which Cecil unconsciously demanded 
 attention to her bridal satin. One white-gloved 
 gentleman after another dropped in, but none pre- 
 sumed on a remark; Jenkins announced the carriages ; 
 but Rosamond had not appeared, and after an excur- 
 sion up-stairs, Julius returned, declaring that the first 
 carriage must not wait for her, they would come after- 
 wards in the van, for there was something amiss in 
 the dress, she had not had it on since the wedding. 
 
 "And she came in so late," said Cecil. 
 
 " That was my fault," he said. " We came through 
 the village to leave a message at the doctor's ; " and 
 he then insisted that the other pair should set oft* 
 taking Frank and Charlie, and prevent dinner from 
 being kept waiting ; at which the boys made faces, 
 and declared that it was a dodge of his to join Jenny's 
 party in the school-room, instead of the solemn dinner; 
 but they were obliged to submit ; and it was not till 
 twenty minutes later, that in glided something white, 
 with blue cashmere and swans-down over it, moving, 
 as usual, with languid grace. 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. 1 2 I 
 
 " Poor Julius ! " smiled Rosamond with her dawdling- 
 dignity. "Every single thing turned out a misfit! 
 As it is, there's a monstrous hole in my glove, which 
 demands the benevolent fiction of my having torn 
 it by the way. There, one second for the effect ! — 
 Good-bye, dear Mrs. Poynsett ; — good-bye, Anne. 
 Come, you monument of patience and resignation ! " 
 
 For one moment she had slipped back her little 
 mantle, then drawn it on, as, taking her husband's 
 arm, she left the room ; but that moment had set 
 Anne's cheeks aflame, and left Mrs. Poynsett in a 
 startled state of uncertainty, hoping her glance had 
 been mistaken, wondering what could have been 
 more amiss, and feeling incapable of entering on 
 the subject with that severe young judge, of narrow 
 experience. 
 
 Never had her eldest son failed to come and bid 
 her good-night on his way to his own room : it was 
 the great break in her long sleepless hours, and she 
 used to call it a reversal of the relations of those days 
 when he used to watch for her kiss on her way to bed. 
 Nor did he fail her now, but came and stood over her 
 with his fragmentary tidings. 
 
 ** An immense party — oh yes, there was he persuad- 
 ing them not to wait. Mr. Bowater took Rosamond 
 in to dinner, Cecil went with Sir Harry Vivian. Yes, 
 Lady Tyrrell was there, wonderfully handsome, but 
 her expression strikes me as altered ; there is the 
 sort of pathetic look that, as Cecil said, is like the 
 
122 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 melancholy Medusa — I wonder if it is genuine. She 
 seems greatly disposed to cultivate Cecil — I wonder 
 what she does it for." 
 
 " Is Cecil attracted } I fancied she was." 
 
 " Yes, a good deal ; and I fear the Wilsbro' busi- 
 ness will throw them together. It is unlucky on 
 Frank's account likewise. I see we shall have it all 
 over again there." 
 
 " I have great hope in his office taking him away. 
 How was it with them to-night ? " 
 
 *' What I should call arrant coquetry, such as even 
 Camilla never indulged in. The girl kept out of his 
 way — was absolutely chill and repelling half the even- 
 ing — throwing herself at the officers from Backsworth, 
 till at last Frank obtained a waltz, and after that they 
 were perfectly inseparable." 
 
 " If she coquets, she will soon disgust him ! Did 
 Cecil enjoy herself.'' " 
 
 " Oh yes : Phil Bowater opened the ball with her, 
 and she dances very nicely — so quietly, Mrs. Bowater 
 remarked it. As to Rosamond, she was in her native 
 element — is indeed, for she would not hear of coming 
 away when we did." 
 
 ''And Julius.?" 
 
 " Standing in a door-way, with others of his kind, 
 absently talking, and watching Rosamond out of the 
 tail of his eye. I say. Mother," lowering his voice, 
 " can't you give Rosamond a hint about her dress ? 
 Cecil says she can't go out with her again like t/iat. 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. 1 23 
 
 Ah," as he heard a sigh, '' I should not have worried 
 you at night." 
 
 " No, you have not. Tell Cecil I will see about it. 
 Rosamond will take it best from an old woman like 
 me." 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett was quite conscious that Cecil had 
 more high breeding and refinement than Rosamond, 
 who was essentially the Irish Colonel's daughter, and 
 that the cold temoerament of the one irritated the 
 warm nature of the other. More than one flash had 
 revealed Rosamond's contempt for Cecil's assumptions 
 and intolerance for her precision — besides, she was 
 five years older, and had not an ideal in Dunstone. 
 
 After revolving what form of remonstrance would 
 be least offensive during half the night and day, Mrs. 
 Poynsett was not prepared for the appearance, about 
 noon, of her son Julius, when, coming to what she 
 termed the confidential side of her couch, he asked 
 hesitatingly, and colouring, " Mother, I want you to 
 tell me, was there anything amiss in Rose's dress last 
 night ? " 
 
 " You did not perceive — " 
 
 " I'm not used to the style of thing. Is it not the 
 way with what you call full dress } " 
 
 " To a certain degree — " she began. 
 
 He caught her up. " And here has Cecil been 
 putting my poor Rose into a perfect agony ! It is 
 only woman's censorious nonsense, isn't it, Mother ? 
 Mere folly to think otherwise ! I knew you would set 
 
124 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 my mind at rest ; and if you would tell Cecil that you 
 will not have Rosamond insulted, it would be as 
 well." 
 
 " Stay, Julius," as he was walking off com- 
 placently, " I grieve ; but I must confess that I was 
 going to speak to Rosamond myself." 
 
 He looked very blank. 
 
 " Mind, I am certain that it is only an innocent 
 following of what she has been brought up to;" and 
 as he signed a sort of hurt acquiescence, as if trying to 
 swallow the offence, she added, " when do you go out 
 again ? " 
 
 " Not till Monday, when we dine at Colonel Ross's. 
 He is an old friend of Lord Rathforlane." 
 
 " Then I am inclined to let it cool. Sometimes 
 advice that has been resented does its work." 
 
 " You don't think the interference justifiable ? " 
 
 *• Not from that quarter." 
 
 " And can it be needful to attend to it ^ " 
 
 " My dear Julius, it is not a style of dress I could 
 ever have worn, nor have let my daughters have worn, 
 if I had had any." 
 
 "Conclusive, that!" said Julius, getting up, more 
 really angered with his mother than he had been since 
 his childhood. 
 
 However, he conquered himself by the time he had 
 reached the door, and came back to say, " I beg your 
 pardon. Mother, I know you would not say so without 
 need." 
 
U NS ATISFACTOR Y. I 2 ; 
 
 " Thank you, my boy ! " and he saw tears in her 
 eyes, the first time he was conscious of having^ 
 brought them. As he bent down to kiss her, she 
 raUied, and cheerfully said, " I have no doubt it will 
 all come right — Rosamond is too nice not to feel it at 
 once." 
 
 No such thing ; Rosamond was still furious. If 
 he disapproved, she would submit to him ; but he 
 had seen nothing wrong, had he ? 
 
 "My dear Rose, I told you I was no judge: you 
 forget what my eyes are ; and my mother — " 
 
 *' You have been to your mother ? " 
 
 " My dear, what could I do ? " 
 
 " And you think I am going to insult my own 
 mother and sisters to please any woman's finical 
 prudish notions ? Pray what did Mrs. Poynsett 
 say ? 
 
 The excuse of custom, pleaded by Mrs. Poynsett, only 
 made Rosamond fiercer. She wished she had never 
 come where she was to hear that her own mother was 
 no judge of propriety, and her husband could not 
 trust her, but must needs run about asking everybody 
 if she were fit to be seen. Such a tempest Julius had 
 never seen outside a back street in the garrison town. 
 There seemed to be nothing she would not say, and 
 his attempts at soothing only added to her violence. 
 Indeed, there was only one thing which would have 
 satisfied her, and that was, that she had been perfectly 
 right and the whole world barbarously wrong ; and 
 
126 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 she was wild with passion at perceiving that he had 
 a confidence in his own mother, which he could not 
 feel in hers. 
 
 Nor would he insist that Raymond should force 
 Cecil to apologize. " My dear," he said, " don't you 
 know there are things easier to ask than to 
 obtain } " 
 
 To which Rosamond replied, in another gust, that 
 she would never again sit down to table with Cecil 
 until she had apologized for the insult, not to herself, 
 she did not care about that, but to the mother who 
 had seen her dresses tried on ; Julius must tell 
 Raymond so, or take her away to any cottage at once. 
 She would not stay where people blamed Mamma 
 and poisoned his mind against her ! She believed he 
 cared for them more than for her ! 
 
 Julius had sympathized far longer with her offended 
 feeling than another could have done ; but he was 
 driven to assert himself " Nonsense, Rose, you know 
 better," he said, in a voice of displeasure ; but she 
 pouted forth, " I don't know It. You believe everyone 
 against me, and you won't take my part against that 
 nasty little spiteful prig ! " 
 
 " Cecil has behaved very ill to you," said Julius, 
 granting her rather over much ; " but she is a foolish 
 conceited child, who does not deserve that Raymond 
 should be worried about her. I foresee plenty of 
 grievances from her; but, Rosle, we must and will 
 not let her come between us and Raymond. You 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. 1 2/ 
 
 don't know what a brother he has been to me — I 
 hardly think I could have got through my first year 
 at school but for him ; and I don't think my sweet 
 Rose could wish to do me such an 111 turn as to stir 
 up a feud with such a brother because his wife is 
 provoking." 
 
 The luncheon-bell began to sound, and she sobbed 
 out, " There then, go down, leave me alone ! Go to 
 them, since you are so fond of them all ! " 
 
 " I don't think you could come down as you are," 
 said Julius gravely ; " I will bring you something." 
 
 " It would choke me — choke me ! " she sobbed 
 out. 
 
 Julius knew enough of the De Lancy temperament 
 to be aware that words carried them a long way, and 
 he thought solitude would be so beneficial, that he 
 summoned resolution to leave her; but he had not 
 the face to appear alone, nor offer fictions to excuse 
 her absence, so he took refuge in his dressing-room, 
 until he had seen Cecil and Anne ride away from the 
 hall door together. 
 
 For the two sisters-in-law had held a little indie- 
 nation meeting, and Rosamond's misdemeanour had 
 so far drawn them together, that Cecil had offered 
 to take Anne to see the working party, and let her 
 assist thereat. 
 
 The coast being clear, Julius went down, encounter- 
 ing nothing worse than the old butler, who came In 
 while he was cutting cold beef, and to whom he said, 
 
128 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Lady Rosamond is rather knocked up ; I am going 
 to take her something up-stairs." 
 
 Jenkins received this as the result of a dance, but 
 much wanted to fetch a tray, which JuHus refused, 
 and set off with an ale-glass in one hand, and in the 
 other the plates with the beef and appliances, Jenkins 
 watching in jealous expectation of a catastrophe, 
 having no opinion of Mr. Julius's powers as a waiter. 
 He was disappointed. The downfall was deferred till 
 the goal was reached, and was then most salutary, for 
 Rosamond sprang to pick up the knife and fork, 
 laughed at his awkwardness, refused to partake with- 
 out him, produced implements from her travelling- 
 bag, and was as merry as she had been miserable. 
 
 Not a word on the feud was uttered ; and the pair 
 walked down to the village, where she was exemplary, 
 going into all those more distasteful parts of her 
 duties there, which she sometimes shirked. 
 
 And on her return, finding her long-expected letter 
 from Miss M'Kinnon awaiting her, she forgot all 
 offences in her ardour to indoctrinate everybody 
 with the hopes it gave of affording Mrs. Poynsett 
 a change of room, if not even greater variety. Un- 
 fortunately, this eagerness was not met with a corre- 
 sponding fervour. There was in the household the 
 acquiescence with long established invalidism, that 
 sometimes settles down and makes a new-comer's 
 innovations unwelcome. Raymond had spoken to the 
 old doctor, who had been timid and discouraging ; 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. 1 29 
 
 Susan resented the implication that the utmost 
 had not been done for her dear mistress ; and Mrs. 
 Poynsett herself, though warmly grateful for Rosa- 
 mond's affection, was not only nervously unwilling to 
 try experiments, but had an instinctive perception 
 that there was one daughter-in-law to whom her 
 increased locomotion would scarcely be welcome, 
 and by no means wished to make this distaste 
 evident to Raymond. 
 
 Cecil would not have been so strong against the 
 risk and imprudence, if her wishes had been the other 
 way. Moreover, she had been warned off from inter- 
 ference with the Rector's wife in the village, and she 
 did not relish Rosamond's making suggestions as to 
 her province, as she considered the house — above all, 
 when she viewed that lady as in a state of disgrace. 
 It was nothing less than effrontery ; and Cecil became 
 stiffer and colder than ever. She demanded of her 
 mother-in-law whether there had been any promise of 
 amendment. 
 
 '* Oh ! Julius will see to all that," said Mrs. 
 Poynsett. 
 
 " It is a woman's question," returned Cecil. 
 
 " Not entirely." 
 
 *' Fancy a clergyman's wife ! If Mrs. Venn had 
 appeared in that way at Dunstone ! " 
 
 " You would have left it to Mr. Venn ! My dear, 
 the less said, the sooner mended." 
 
 Cecil was silenced, but shocked, for she was far too 
 
 VOL. I. K 
 
I30 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 young and inexperienced to understand that inde- 
 corous customs complied with as a matter of course, 
 do not necessarily denote lack of innate modesty — far 
 less, how they could be confounded with home alle- 
 giance ; and as to Anne, poor Rosamond was, in her 
 eyes, only too like the ladies who impeded Christiana 
 on her outset. 
 
 So her ladyship retreated into languid sleepy 
 dignity towards both her sisters-in-law ; and on 
 Monday evening showed herself, for a moment, more 
 decolletee, if possible, than before. Mrs. Poynsett 
 feared lest Julius were weak in this matter ; but at 
 night she had a visit from him. 
 
 " Mother," he said, " it will not happen again. Say 
 no more." 
 
 " I am only too thankful." 
 
 *' What do you think settled it t No less than Lady 
 Tyrrell's admiration." 
 
 *' What could she have said 1 " 
 
 " I can't make out. Rose was far too indignant to 
 be comprehensible, when she told me on the way 
 home ; but there was something about adopting the 
 becoming, and a repetition of — of some insolent praise." 
 And his mother felt his quiver of suppressed wrath. 
 " If Rose had been what that woman took her for, she 
 would have been delighted," he continued ; " but — " 
 
 *' It was horrible to her ! " said his mother. " And 
 to you. Yes, I knew it would right itself, and I am 
 glad nothing passed about it between us." 
 
UNSATISFACTORY. 131 
 
 " So am I ; she quite separates you from Cecil and 
 Anne, and indeed all her anger is with Lady Tyrrell. 
 She will have it there was malice in inciting her to 
 shock old friends and annoy you — a sort of attempt 
 to sympathize her into opposition." 
 
 "Which had a contrary effect upon a generous 
 nature." 
 
 " Exactly ! She thinks nothing too bad for that 
 woman, and declares she is a serpent." 
 
 "That's dear Rosamond's anger; but I imagine 
 that when I occur to Camilla's mind, it is as the 
 obstructive old hag, who once stood in her way ; and 
 so, without any formed designs, whatever she says of 
 me is coloured by that view." 
 
 "Quite possible; and I am afraid the sister is just 
 such another. She seems quite to belong to Mrs. 
 Buncombe's set. I sat next her at dinner, and tried 
 to talk to her, but she would only listen to that young 
 Strangeways." 
 
 " Strangeways ! I wonder if that is Susan Lorimer's 
 son > " 
 
 " Probably, for his Christian name is Lorimer." 
 
 " I knew her rather well as a girl. She was old 
 Lord Lorimer's youngest daughter, and we used to 
 walk in the Square gardens together ; but I did not 
 see much of her after I married ; and after a good 
 while, she married a man who had made a great 
 fortune by mining. I wonder what her son is like ? " 
 
 " He must be the man, for he is said to be the 
 
 K 2 
 
132 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 millionaire of the regiment. Just the match that 
 Lady Tyrrell would like." 
 
 "Ah! that's well," said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " From your point of view," said Julius, smiling. 
 
 '* If he will only speak out before it has had time 
 to go deep with Frank ! " 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 COLD HEART. 
 
 At that very moment the two sisters in question 
 were driving home in the opposite corners of the 
 carriage in the dark. 
 
 " Really, Lenore," was Lady Tyrrell saying, " you 
 are a very impracticable girl." 
 
 There was a little low laugh in answer. 
 
 " What blast has come and frozen you up into ice ? " 
 the elder sister added caressingly ; but as she felt for 
 Eleonora's hand in the dark, she obtained nothing 
 but the cold handle of a fan. " That's just it ! " she 
 said, laughing ; " hard ivory, instead of flesh and 
 blood." 
 
 " I can't help it ! " was the answer. 
 
 " But why not } I'm sure you had admiration 
 enough to turn any girl's head." 
 
 No answer. 
 
 Lady Tyrrell renewed her address still more ten- 
 derly — " Lenore, darling, it is quite needful that you 
 should understand your position." 
 
134 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I am afraid I understand it only too well," came 
 in a smothered voice. 
 
 " It may be very painful, but it ought to be made 
 clear before you how you stand. You know that my 
 father was ruined — there's no word for it but ruined." 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " He had to give up the property to the creditors, 
 and live on an allowance." 
 
 " I know that." 
 
 " And, of course, I can't bear speaking of it ; but 
 the house is really let to me. 1 have taken it as I 
 might any other house to let." 
 
 "Yes," again assented Eleonora. 
 
 " And do you know why ? " 
 
 " You said it was for the sake of the old home and 
 my father ! " said the girl, with a bitter emphasis on 
 the said. 
 
 " So it was ! It was to give you the chance of 
 redeeming it, and keeping it in the family. It is to 
 be sold, you know, as soon as you are of age, and can 
 give your consent. I can't buy it. ]\Iine is only a 
 jointure, a life income, and you know that you might 
 as well think of Mary buying Golconda; but you 
 — you — with such beauty as yours — might easily 
 make a connection that would save it." 
 
 There was only a choked sound. 
 
 " I know you feel the situation painfully, after 
 having been mistress so long." 
 
 " Camilla, you ^/ww it is not that ! " 
 
COLD HEART. 135 
 
 '' Ah, my dear, I can see farther than you avow. 
 You can't marry till you are twenty-one, you know ; 
 but you might be very soon engaged, and then we 
 should see our way. It only depends on yourself. 
 Plenty of means, and no land to tie him down, ready 
 to purchase and to settle down. It would be the 
 very thing ; and I see you are a thoroughly sensible 
 girl, Lena." 
 
 " Indeed ! I am not even sensible enough to know 
 who is to be this purchaser." 
 
 " Come, Lena, don't be affected. Why ! he was the 
 only poor creature you were moderately gracious 
 to. 
 
 " I ! what do you mean .? " 
 
 Lady Tyrrell laughed again. 
 
 ** Oh ! " in a tone of relief, " I can explain all that 
 to you. All the Strangeways family were at Rock- 
 pier the winter before you came, and I made great 
 friends with Margaret Strangeways, the eldest sister. 
 I wanted very much to hear about her, for she has 
 had a great deal of ilness and trouble, and I had not 
 ventured to write to her." 
 
 " Oh ! was that the girl young Debenham gave up 
 because her mother worried him so incessantly, and 
 who went into a Sisterhood I]' 
 
 '' It was she who broke it off. She found he had 
 been forced into it by his family, and was really 
 attached elsewhere. I never knew the rigrhts of it till 
 I saw the brother to-nicrht." 
 
136 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Very praiseworthy family confidence ! " 
 
 " Camilla, you know I object to that tone." 
 
 " So do most young ladies, my dear — at least by 
 word." 
 
 " And once for all, you need have no fancies about 
 Mr. Lorimer Strangeways. I am civil to him, of 
 course, for Margaret's sake ; and Lady Susan was 
 very kind to me; but if there were nothing else 
 against him, he is entirely out of the question, for 
 I know he runs horses and bets on them." 
 
 " So does everybody, more or less." 
 
 " And you ! you, Camilla, after what the turf has 
 cost us, can wish me to encourage a man connected 
 with it." 
 
 " My dear Lena, I know you had a great shock, 
 which made the more impression because you were 
 such a child ; but you might almost as well forswear 
 riding, as men who have run a few horses, or staked a 
 (qw thousands. Every young man of fortune has 
 done so in his turn, just by way of experiment — as a 
 social duty as often as not." 
 
 " Let them," said Eleonora, " as long as I have 
 nothing to do with them." 
 
 "What was that pretty French novel — Sybille, was 
 it i* — where the child wanted to ride on nothincf but 
 swans } You will be like her, and have to condescend 
 to ordinary mortals." 
 
 " She did not. She died. And, Camilla, I would 
 far rather die than marry a betting man." 
 
COLD HEART. 1 37 
 
 " A betting man, who regularly went in for it ! 
 You little goose, to think that I would ask you to do 
 that ! As you say, we have had enough of that ! But 
 to renounce every man who has set foot on a course, 
 or staked a pair of gloves, is to renounce nine out of 
 ten of the world one lives in." 
 
 " I do renounce them. Camilla, remember that my 
 mind is made up for ever, and that nothing shall ever 
 induce me to marry a man who meddles with the 
 evils of races." 
 
 " Meddles with the evils ? I understand, my dear 
 Lena." 
 
 *•' A man who makes a bet," repeated Eleonora. 
 
 " We shall see," was her ladyship's light answer, in 
 contrast to the grave tones ; " no rules are without 
 exceptions, and I only ask for one." 
 
 ^" I shall make none." 
 
 '• I confess I thought you were coming to your 
 senses ; you have been acting so wisely and sensibly 
 ever since you came home, about that young Frank 
 Charnock." 
 
 Lady Tyrrell heard a little rustle, but could not see 
 that it was the clasping of two hands over a throbbing 
 heart. " I am very glad you are reasonable enough 
 to keep him at a distance. Poor boy, it was all very 
 well to be friendly with him when we met him in a 
 place like Rockpier, and you were both children ; but 
 you are quite right not to let it go on. It would be 
 mere madness." 
 
138 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " For him, yes," murmured the girl. 
 
 " And even more so for you. Why, if he had any 
 property worth speaking of, it would be a wretched 
 thing to marry into that family I I am sure I pity 
 those three poor girls ! Miles's wife looks perfectly 
 miserable, poor thing, and the other two can't conceal 
 the state of things. She is just the sort of woman 
 who cannot endure a daughter-in-law." 
 
 " I thought I heard Lady Rosamond talking very 
 affectionately of her." 
 
 " Very excitedly, as one who felt it her duty to stand 
 up for her out-of-doors, whatever she may do in-doors. 
 I saw victory in those plump white shoulders, which 
 must have cost a battle ; but whatever Lady Rosa- 
 mond gains, will make it all the worse for the others. 
 No, Eleonora, I have known Mrs. Poynsett's rancour 
 for many years, and I would wish no one a worse 
 lot than to be her son's fiancee, except to be his 
 wife." 
 
 " She did not seem to object to these marriages." 
 
 *' The sons took her by surprise. Besides, Ray- 
 mond's was the very parti mothers seek out for their 
 sons. Depend upon it, she sent him off with her 
 blessing to court the unexceptionable cousin with the 
 family property. Poor Raymond, he is a dutiful son, 
 and he has done the deed ; but, if I am not much 
 mistaken, the little lady is made of something neither 
 mother nor son is prepared for, and he has not love 
 enough to tame her with." 
 
COLD HEART. I 39 
 
 " Not love ! " 
 
 " That may be seen at a glance. He can't help it, 
 poor fellow ; he would have had it if he could, like 
 anything else that is proper." 
 
 There was a moment's silence; then the exclama- 
 tion, ''Just look there ! " 
 
 One of the hats was nodding on the box in a 
 perilous manner. 
 
 "It is only James," said Lady Tyrrell; '*as long as 
 it is not the coachman, it matters the less. There's 
 no danger." 
 
 "You will not keep him, though !" 
 
 " I don't know. He is much the best looking and 
 handiest of the men ; and your page. Master Joshua, 
 is no great acquisition yet." 
 
 " I wish you would not call him mine ; I wish you 
 would send him back to his grandmother. I can't 
 bear his being among those men." 
 
 "Very complimentary to my household ! They are 
 not a bit worse than the company he came from ! 
 You don't believe in rural simplicity, eh .''" 
 
 " I believe that taking that boy from his home 
 makes us responsible." 
 
 " And do I hinder you from catechising him to 
 your heart's content t or sending him to the school of 
 design ? " 
 
 Again Eleonora was silent. Perhaps the balancing 
 of the footman's head occupied her mind. At any 
 rate, no more was said till the sisters had reached 
 
HO THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 their home. Then, at the last moment, when there 
 was no time left for a reply, Eleonora cleared and 
 steadied her voice, and said, '' Camilla, understand 
 two things for truth's sake. First, I mean what I say. 
 Nothing shall ever induce me to marry a man who 
 bets. Next, I never have forgotten Frank Charnock 
 for one moment. If I have been cold and distant to 
 him, it is because I will not draw him near me to be 
 cruelly scorned and disappointed !" 
 
 " I don't mind the why, if the effect is the same," 
 were Lady Tyrrell's last words, as the door opened. 
 
 Eleonora's little white feet sped quickly up the 
 steps, and with a hasty good-night, she sped across 
 the hall, but paused at the door. " Papa must not be 
 disappointed," she wdiispered to herself, and dashed 
 her hand over her eyes ; and at the moment the lock 
 turned, and a grey head appeared, with a mighty 
 odour of smoke. " Ah ! I thought my little Lena 
 would not pass me by ! Have you had a pleasant 
 party, my dear ? Was young Strangeways there ? " 
 
 She had nestled in his arms, and hoped to avoid 
 notice by keeping her head bent against him, as she 
 hastily responded to his questions ; but he detected 
 something. 
 
 *' Eh ? Camilla been lecturing ? Is that it ? You've 
 not been crying, little one ? It is all right, you know ! 
 You and I were jolly enough at Rockpier ; but it was 
 time v.^e were taken in hand, or you would have grown 
 into a regular little nun, among all those black coats." 
 
COLD HEART. I4I 
 
 " I wish I were." 
 
 " Nonsense ! You don't know life ! You'll tell 
 another story one of these days ; and hark, childie, 
 when you've married, and saved the old place, you'll 
 keep the old room for the old man, and we'll have our 
 own way again." " 
 
 She could but kiss him, and hide her agitation in 
 caresses, ere hurrying up the stairs she reached her 
 own rooms, a single bed-chamber opening into a more 
 spacious sitting-room, now partially lighted by the 
 candles on the toilette-table within. 
 
 She flung herself down on a chair beyond the line 
 of light, and panted out half aloud, " Oh ! I am in 
 the toils ! Oh for help ! Oh for advice ! Oh ! if I 
 knew the right ! Am I unfair ? am I cold and hard 
 and proud .-* Is she telling me true ? No, I know she 
 is not — not the whole truth, and I don't know what is 
 left out, or what is false! And I'm as bad — making 
 them think I give in and discard Frank ! Oh ! is that 
 my pride — or that it is too bad to encourage him now 
 I know more ? He'll soon scorn me, and leave off — 
 whatever he ever thought of me. She has taken me 
 from all my friends — and she will take him away ! 
 No one is left me but Papa ; and though she can't 
 hurt his love, she has got his confidence away, and 
 made him join against me ! But that one thing I'll 
 never, never do !" 
 
 She started up, and opened a locked purple photo- 
 graph-album, with " In Memoriam " inscribed on it— 
 
142 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 her hands trembHng so that she could hardly turn the 
 key. She turned to the likeness of a young man — a 
 painful likeness of a handsome face, where the hard 
 verities of sun-painting had refused to veil the haggard 
 trace of early dissipation, though the eyes had still 
 the fascinating smile that had made her brother Tom, 
 with his flashes of fitful good-nature, the idol of his 
 little sister's girlhood. The deadly shock of his sudden 
 death had been her first sorrow ; and those ghastly 
 whispers which she had heard from the servants in 
 the nursery, and had never forgotten, because of the 
 hushed and mysterious manner, had but lately started 
 into full force and meaning, on the tongues of the 
 plain-spoken poor. 
 
 She gazed, and thought of the wrecked life that 
 might have been so rich in joys; nay, her tenderness 
 for her father could not hide from her how unlike 
 his old age was from that of Mr. Bowater, or of any 
 men who had done their service to their generation in 
 all noble exertion. He had always indeed been her 
 darling, her charge ; but she had never known what it 
 was to look up to him with the fervent belief and en- 
 thusiasm she had seen in other girls. To have him 
 amused, loitering from reading-room to parade or 
 billiard-room, had been all that she aspired to, and 
 only lately had she unwillingly awakened to the sense 
 how and why this was — and why the family were 
 aliens in their ancestral home. 
 
 " And Camilla, who knew all — knew, and lived 
 
COLD HEART. I43 
 
 through the full force of the blight and misery — 
 w®uld persuade me that it all means nothing, and is a 
 mere amusing trifle ! Trifle, indeed, that breaks 
 hearts and leads to despair and self-destruction and 
 dishonour ! No, no, no — nothing shall lead me to a 
 gamester ! though Frank may be lost to me ! He 
 will be ! he will be ! We deserve that he should be ! 
 I deserve it — if family sins fall on individuals — I de- 
 serve it ! It is better for him — better — better. And 
 yet, can he forget — any more than I — that sunny 
 day — ? Oh ! was she luring him on false pretences ? 
 What shall I do ? How will it be ? Where is my 
 counsellor ? Emily, Emily, why did you die ? " 
 
 Emily's portrait — calm,, sweet, wasted, with grave 
 trustful eyes — was in the next page. The lonely girl 
 turned to it, and gazed, and drank in the soothing 
 influence of the countenance that had never failed to 
 reply with motherly aid and counsel. It rested the 
 throbbing heart ; and presently, with hands clasped 
 and head bent, Eleonora Vivian knelt in the little 
 light closet she had fitted as an oratory, and there 
 poured out her perplexities and sorrows. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 A TRUANT. 
 
 '* Since for your pleasure you came here, 
 
 You shall go back for mine." 
 
 Cowper. 
 
 " How like Dunstone you have made this room ! " 
 said Raymond, entering his wife's apartment with a 
 compliment that he knew would be appreciated. 
 
 Cecil turned round from her piano, to smile and 
 say, *' I wish Papa could see it." 
 
 " I hope he will next spring ; but he will hardly 
 brine Mrs. Charnock home this winter. I am afraid 
 you are a good deal alone here, Cecil. Is there no 
 one you would like to ask } " 
 
 " The Venns," suggested Cecil ; " only we do not 
 like them to leave home when we are away ; but 
 perhaps they would come." 
 
 Raymond could not look as if the proposal were a 
 very pleasing one. " Have you no young-lady 
 friends .-' " he asked. 
 
 " We never thought it expedient to have intimacies 
 in the neighbourhood." said Cecil. 
 
A TRUANT. 145 
 
 " Well, we shall have Jenny Bowater here in a 
 week or two." 
 
 " I thought she was your mother's friend." 
 " So she is. She is quite young enough to be 
 yours." 
 
 " I do not see anything remarkable about her." 
 " No, I suppose there is not ; but she is a very 
 sensible superior person." 
 
 " Indeed ! In that common-place family." 
 "Poor Jenny has had an episode that removes her 
 from the common-place. Did you ever hear of poor 
 Archie Douglas ? " 
 
 " Was not he a good-for-nothing relation of your 
 mother .? " 
 
 " Not that exactly. He was the son of a good-for- 
 nothing, I grant, whom a favourite cousin had unfor- 
 tunately married, but he was an excellent fellow 
 himself ; and when his father died, she had Mrs. 
 Douglas to live in that cottage by the Rectory, and 
 sent the boy to school with us ; then she got him 
 into Proudfoot's office — the solicitor at Backsworth, 
 agent for everybody's estates hereabouts. Well, 
 there arose an attachment between him and Jenny; 
 the Bowaters did not much like it, of course ; but 
 they are kind-hearted and good-natured, and gave 
 consent, provided Archie got on in his profession. It 
 was just at the time when poor Tom Vivian was 
 exercising a great deal more influence than was good 
 among the young men in the neighbourhood ; and 
 VOL. I. L 
 
146 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 George Proudfoot was rather a joke for imitating- him 
 in every respect — from the colour of his dog-cart to 
 the curl of his dog s tail. I remember his laying a 
 wager, and winning it too, that if he rode a donkey 
 with his face to the tail, Proudfoot would do the 
 same ; but then, Vivian did everything with a grace 
 and originality." 
 
 " Like his sister." 
 
 " And doubly dangerous. Everyone liked him, and 
 we were all more together than was prudent. At 
 last, two thousand pounds of my mother's money, 
 which was passing through the Proudfoots' hands, 
 disappeared ; and at the same time poor Archie fled. 
 No one who knew him could have any reasonable 
 doubt that he did but bear the blame of someone 
 else's guilt, most likely that of George Proudfoot ; but 
 he died a year or two back without a word, and no 
 proof has ever been found ; and alas ! the week after 
 Archie sailed, we saw his name in the list of sufferers 
 in a vessel that was burnt. His mother happily had 
 died before all this, but there were plenty to grieve 
 bitterly for him ; and poor Jenny has been the more 
 like one of ourselves in consequence. He had left a 
 note for Jenny, and she always trusted him ; and we 
 all of us believe that he was innocent." 
 
 " I can't think how a person can go about as usual 
 or ever get over such a thing as that." 
 
 " Perhaps she hasn't," said Raymond, with a little 
 colour on his brown cheek. " But I'm afraid I can't 
 
A TRUANT. 147 
 
 make those visits with you to-day. I am wanted to 
 see the plans for the new town-hall at Wilsbro'. Will 
 you pick me up there ? " 
 
 " There would be sure to be a dreadful long wait- 
 ing, so I will go to luncheon at Sirenwood instead ; 
 Lady Tyrrell asked me to come over any day." 
 " Alone ? I think you had better wait for me." 
 " I can take Frank." 
 
 " I should prefer a regular invitation to us both." 
 " She did not mean to make a formal affair." 
 " Forms are a protection, and I do not wish for an 
 intimacy there, especially on Frank's account." 
 " It would be an excellent match for Frank." 
 " Indeed, no ; the estate is terribly involved, and 
 there are three daughters ; besides which, the family 
 would despise a younger son. An attachment could 
 only lead to unhappiness now, besides the positive 
 harm of unsettling him. His tutor tells me that as it 
 is he is very uneasy about his examination — his mind 
 is evidently preoccupied. No, no, Cecil, don't make 
 the intercourse unnecessarily close. The Vivians have 
 not behaved well to my mother, and it is not desirable 
 to begin a renewal. But you shall not lose your ride, 
 Cecil ; I'll ask one of the boys to go with you to the 
 Beeches, and perhaps I shall meet you there." 
 
 "He talks of my lonely Hfe," said Cecil, to herself, 
 " and yet he wants to keep me from the only person 
 who really understands me, all for some rancorous old 
 prejudice of Mrs. Poynsett's. It is very hard. There's 
 
 L 2 
 
148 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 no one in the house to make a friend of — Rosamond, 
 a mere garrison belle ; and Anne, bornee and half a 
 dissenter ; and as soon as I try to make a friend, I am 
 tyrannized over, and this Miss Bowater thrust on me." 
 She was pounding these sentiments into a sonata 
 with great energy, when her door re-opened, and 
 Raymond again appeared. " I am looking for two 
 books of Mudie's. Do you know where they can 
 be } I can't make up the number." 
 
 '' They are here," said Cecil ; "■ Lanfrey's Vie de 
 Napoleon; but I have not finished them." 
 
 " The box should have gone ten days ago. My 
 mother has nothing to read, and has been waiting all 
 this time for the next part of MiddlemarcJiy' said 
 Raymond. 
 
 ** She said there was no hurry," murmured Cecil. 
 " No doubt she did ; but we must not take ad- 
 vantage of her consideration. Reading is her one 
 great resource, and we must so contrive that your 
 studies shall not interfere with it." 
 
 He waited for some word of regret, but none came ; 
 and he was obliged to add, "■ I must deprive you of 
 the books for the present, for she must not be kept 
 waiting any longer ; but I will see about getting them 
 for you in some other way. I must take the box to 
 the station in the dog-cart." 
 
 He went without a word from her. It was an 
 entirely new light to her that her self-improvement 
 could possibly be otherwise than the first object with 
 
A TRUANT. 149 
 
 everyone. At home, father and mother told one 
 another complacently what Cecil was reading, and 
 never dreamt of obstructing the virtuous action. 
 Were her studies to be sacrificed to an old woman's 
 taste for novels ? 
 
 Cecil had that pertinacity of nature that is stimu- 
 lated to resistance by opposition ; and she thought of 
 the Egyptian campaign, and her desire to understand 
 the siege of Acre. Then she recollected that Miss 
 Vivian had spoken of reading the book, and this de- 
 cided her. " I'll go to Sirenwood, look at it, and order 
 it. No one can expect me to submit to have no 
 friends abroad nor books at home. Besides, it is all 
 some foolish old family feud ; and what a noble thing 
 it will be for my resolution and independence to force 
 the two parties to heal the breach, and bridge it over 
 by giving Miss Vivian to Frank." 
 
 In this mood she rang the bell, and ordered her 
 horses ; not however till she had reason to believe the 
 dog-cart on the way down the avenue. As she came 
 down in her habit, she was met by Frank, returning 
 from his tutor. 
 
 " Have I made a mistake, Cecil .? I thought we 
 were to go out together this afternoon ! " 
 
 "Yes; but Raymond was wanted at Willansborough, 
 and I am going to lunch at Sirenwood. I want to 
 borrow a book." 
 
 *' Oh, very well, I'll come, if you don't mind. Sir 
 Harry asked me to drop in and look at his dogs." 
 
150 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 This was irresistible ; and Frank decided on riding 
 the groom's horse, and leaving him to conduct Anne 
 to the rendezvous in the afternoon — for Charlie had 
 been at Sandhurst for the last week — running in first 
 to impart the change of scheme to her, as she was 
 performing her daily task of reading to his mother. 
 
 He did so thus : ** I say, Anne, Cecil wants to go to 
 Sirenwood first to get a book, so Lee will bring you 
 to meet us at the Beeches at 2.30." 
 
 " Are you going to luncheon at Sirenwood ?" asked 
 Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " Yes ; Cecil wants to go," said the dutiful younger 
 brother. 
 
 " I wish you would ask Cecil to come in. Raymond 
 put himself into such a state of mind at finding me 
 reading Madame de Sevigne, that I am afraid he 
 carried off her books summarily, though I told him 
 I was glad of a little space for my old favourites." 
 
 Cecil was, however, mounted by the time Frank 
 came out, and they cantered away together, reaching 
 the portico of Sirenwood in about twenty minutes. 
 
 Cecil had never been in the house before, having 
 only left her card, though she had often met the 
 sisters. She found herself in a carpeted hall, like a 
 supplementary sitting-room, where two gentlemen had 
 been leaning over the wide hearth. One, a handsome 
 benignant-looking old man, with a ruddy face and 
 abundant white whiskers, came forward with a hearty 
 greeting. " Ah ! young Mrs. Poynsett ! Delighted 
 
A TRUANT. 151 
 
 to see you ! — Frank Charnock, you're come in good 
 time ; we are just going down to see the puppies 
 before luncheon. Only I'll take Mrs. Poynsett to the 
 ladies first. Duncombe, you don't know Mrs. Ray- 
 mond Poynsett — one must not say senior bride, but 
 the senior's bride. Is that right ? " 
 
 " No, Papa," said a bright voice from the stairs, 
 ** you haven't it at all right ; Mrs. Charnock Poynsett, 
 if you please — isn't it ? " 
 
 " I believe so," replied Cecil. " Charnock always 
 seems my right name." 
 
 " And you have all the right to retain it that Mrs. 
 Poynsett had to keep hers," said Lady Tyrrell, as 
 they went up stairs to her bed-room. " How is 
 she.?" 
 
 *• As usual, thank you ; always on the sofa." 
 
 "But managing everything from it .''" 
 
 " Oh, yes." 
 
 '' Never was there such a set of devoted sons, 
 models for the neighbourhood." 
 
 Cecil felt a sense of something chiming in with her 
 sources of vexation, but she only answered, *' They 
 are passionately fond of her." 
 
 " Talk of despotism ! Commend me to an invalid ! 
 Ah ! how delightfully you contrive to keep your hair 
 in order ! I am always scolding Lenore for coming 
 in dishevelled, and you look so fresh and compact ! 
 Here is my sanctum. You'll find Mrs. Duncombe 
 there. She drove over in the drag with her husband 
 
152 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 on their way to Backsworth. I am so glad you came, 
 there is so much to talk over." 
 
 " If our gentlemen will give us time," said Mrs. 
 Buncombe ; " but I am afraid your senator will not 
 be as much absorbed in the dogs as my captain." 
 
 " I did not come with my husband," said Cecil; "he 
 is gone to Willansborough to meet the architect." 
 
 "Ah, about the new buildings. I do hope and 
 trust the opportunity will not be wasted, and that the 
 drainage will be provided for." 
 
 " You are longing to have a voice there," said Lady 
 Tyrrell, laughing. 
 
 " I am. It is pre-eminently a woman's question, 
 and this is a great opportunity. I shall talk to every- 
 one. Little Pettitt, the hairdresser, has some ground 
 there, and he is the most intelligent of the tradesmen. 
 I gave him one of those excellent little hand-bills, put 
 forth by the Social Science Committee, on sanitary 
 arrangements. I thought of asking you to join us in 
 ordering some down, and never letting a woman 
 leave our work-room without one." 
 
 "You couldn't do better, I am sure," said Lady 
 Tyrrell ; " only, what's the use of preaching to the 
 poor creatures to live in good houses, when their 
 landlords won't build them, and they must live 
 somewhere ? " 
 
 " Make them coerce the landlords," said Mrs. Dun- 
 combe ; " that's the only way. Upheave the masses 
 from beneath." 
 
A TRUANT. 153 
 
 " But that's an earthquake," said Cecil. 
 
 " Earthquakes are sometimes wholesome." 
 
 " But the process is not so agreeable that we had 
 not rather avert it," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 "All ours at Dunstone are model cottages," said 
 Cecil ; "it is my father's great hobby." 
 
 " Squires' hobbies are generally like the silver 
 trough the lady gave her sow," said Mrs. Buncombe ; 
 " they come before the poor are prepared, and with a 
 spice of the autocrat." 
 
 "Come,^I won't have you shock Mrs. Charnock 
 Poynsett," said Lady Tyrrell. " You illogical woman ! 
 The poor are to demand better houses, and the squires 
 are not to build them ! " 
 
 " The poor are to be fitly housed, as a matter of 
 right, and from their own sense of self-respect," re- 
 turned Mrs. Buncombe; "not a few favourites, who 
 will endure dictation, picked out for the model cottage. 
 It is the hobby system against which I protest." 
 
 "Without quite knowing what was conveyed by it 
 in this instance } " said Lady Tyrrell. " I am sure 
 there is nothing I wish more than that we had any 
 power of improvement of the cottages here ; but 
 influence is our only weapon." 
 
 "By-the-by, Mrs. Poynsett," continued Mrs. Bun- 
 combe, "will you give a hint to Mrs. Miles Charnock 
 that it will never do to preach to the women at the 
 working-room > I don't mean holding forth," she 
 added, seeing Cecil's look of amazement; "but 
 
154 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 improving the occasion, talking piously, giving tracts, 
 and so forth." 
 
 " I thought you gave sanitary tracts ! " said Lady 
 Tyrrell. 
 
 *' That is quite different." 
 
 " I doubt whether the women would see the distinc- 
 tion. A little book is a tract to them." 
 
 *' I would abstain rather than let our work get 
 a goody reputation for indoctrinating sectarianism. 
 It would be all up with us ; we might as well keep a 
 charity school." 
 
 " I don't think the women dislike it," said Cecil. 
 
 " Most likely they think it the correct thing, the 
 grain which they must swallow with our benefits ; but 
 for that very reason it injures the whole tone, and 
 prevents them learning independence. Put it in that 
 light ; I know you can." 
 
 " I don't think Anne would understand," said Cecil, 
 somewhat flattered. 
 
 " I doubt whether there are three women in the 
 neighbourhood who would," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " People always think charity — how I hate the 
 word ! — a means of forcing their own tenets down 
 the throats of the poor," said Mrs. Duncombe. 
 " And certainly this neighbourhood is as narrow as 
 any I ever saw. Nobody but you and — shall I 
 say the present company .^ — has any ideas. I won- 
 der how they will receive Clio Tallboys and her 
 husband } " 
 
A TRUANT. 155 
 
 " Ah ! you have not heard about them," said Lady 
 Tyrrell. "Most delightful people, whom Mrs. Dun- 
 combe met on the Righi. He is a Cambridge 
 professor." 
 
 " Taillebois — I don't remember the name," said 
 Cecil, " and we know a great many Cambridge men. 
 We went to a Commencement there." 
 
 " Oh, not Cambridge on the Cam ! the American 
 Cambridge," said Mrs. Buncombe. " He is a quiet, 
 inoffensive man, great on political economy ; but his 
 wife is the character. Wonderfully brilliant and 
 original, and such a lecturer ! " 
 
 " Ladies' lectures would startle the natives," said 
 Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " Besides, the Town-hall is lacking," said Mrs. Dun- 
 combe ; " but when the Tallboys come we might 
 arrange a succession of soirees^ where she might 
 gather her audience." 
 
 " But where } " said Lady Tyrrell. " It would be 
 great fun, and you might reckon on me ; but where 
 else } Mrs. Charnock Poynsett has to think of la 
 belle mere!' 
 
 " She has given up the management of all matters 
 of society to me," said Cecil with dignity ; " you may 
 reckon on me." 
 
 " No hope of the Bowaters, of course," said Mrs. 
 Duncombe. 
 
 " Miss Bowater is coming to stay with us," volun- 
 teered Cecil. 
 
156 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " To be near that unlucky Life Guardsman manque^' 
 said Mrs. Duncombe. 
 
 "Come, I'll not have honest Herbert abused," said 
 the other lady. " He is the only one of the Bowaters 
 who has any go in him." 
 
 " More's the pity, if he can't use it. Is his sister 
 coming to help the Reverend Julius to drill him } " 
 
 " On Mrs. Poynsett's account too, I fancy," said 
 Lady Tyrrell ; "Jenny Bowater is her amateur com- 
 panion. Indeed, I believe it was no slight disappoint- 
 ment that her sons' appreciation did not quite reach 
 the pitch of the mother's." 
 
 ''Indeed !" asked Mrs. Duncombe ; "I thought there 
 had been a foolish affair with poor young Douglas." 
 
 *' Cela liempeche pas. By-the-by, have you finished 
 Fleurange t " 
 
 " Oh, you are quite welcome to it. It is quite as 
 goody as an English tale in one volume." 
 
 This opened the way to Cecils desire to borrow 
 Lanfrey, not concealing the reason why ; and she was 
 gratified by the full sympathy of both ladies, who 
 invited her in self-defence to join in their subscription 
 to Rolandi, to which she eagerly agreed, and would 
 have paid her subscription at once if there had not 
 been a term to be finished off first. 
 
 The gong summoned them to luncheon, and like- 
 wise brought down Miss Vivian, who shook hands 
 rather stiffly, and wore a cold, grave manner that did 
 not sit badly on her handsome classical features. 
 
A TRUANT. 157 
 
 The countenance was very fine, but of the style to 
 which early youth is less favourable than a more 
 mature development ; and she was less universally 
 admired than was her sister. Her dress was a dark 
 maroon merino, hanging in simple, long, straight 
 folds, and there was as little distortion in her coiffure 
 as the most moderate compliance with fashion per- 
 mitted ; and this, with a high-bred, distinguished 
 deportment, gave an air almost of stern severity. 
 This deepened rather than relaxed at the greeting 
 from Frank — who, poor fellow ! had an uncontrollably 
 wistful eager look in his face, a sort of shy entreaty, 
 and was under an incapacity of keeping up a conver- 
 sation with anybody else, while trying to catch the 
 least word of hers. 
 
 She, however, seemed to have more eyes and ears 
 for her father than for anyone else, and he evidently 
 viewed her as the darling and treasure of his life. 
 His first question, after performing the duties of a 
 host, was, "Well, my little Lenore, what have you 
 been doing } " 
 
 "The old story, Papa," raising her clear, sweet 
 voice to reach his rather deaf ears. 
 
 " Got on with your drawing ? — The child is 
 competing with a club, you must know." 
 
 " Not exactly. Papa : it is only a little society that 
 was set on foot at Rockpier to help us to improve 
 ourselves." 
 
 " What is your subject this month ? " Frank asked. 
 
158 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " A branch of blackberries," she answered briefly. 
 
 " Ah ! " said Lady Tyrrell, " I saw your pupil bring- 
 ing in a delicious festoon — all black and red fruit and 
 crimson and purple leaves. He is really a boy of taste ; 
 I think he will do you credit." 
 
 "The new Joshua Reynolds," said Frank, glad of 
 an excuse to turn towards Eleonora. " Rosamond 
 mentioned her discovery." 
 
 " You might have seen him just now figuring as 
 Buttons," said Lady Tyrrell. " Degradation of art, 
 is it not ? But it was the only way" to save it. Lenore 
 is teaching him ; and if his talent prove worth it we 
 may do something with him. Anyway, the produce 
 of native genius will be grand material for the bazaar." 
 
 " Card-board prettinesses ! " said Mrs. Buncombe ; 
 " you'll spoil him with them ; but that you'll do 
 anyway — make him fit for nothing but a flunkey." 
 
 *' Unappreciated zeal ! " said Lady Tyrrell, glancing 
 at her sister, who flushed a little, and looked the more 
 grave. 
 
 '' Eh, Lenore," said her father, " wasn't it to please 
 you that Camilla made me take your pet to make 
 havoc of my glasses .-* " 
 
 " You meant it so, dear Papa," said Eleonora, call- 
 ing up a smile that satisfied the old gentleman. " It 
 was very kind in you." 
 
 Fresh subjects were started, and on all the talk was 
 lively and pleasant, and fascinated Cecil, not from any 
 reminiscence of Dunstone — for indeed nothing could 
 
A TRUANT. 159 
 
 be more unlike the tone that prevailed there ; but 
 because it was so different from that of Compton 
 Poynsett, drifting on so unrestrainedly, and touching 
 so lightly on all topics. 
 
 By the close of the meal, rain had set in, evidently 
 for the afternoon. Frank oft"ered to ride home, and 
 lend the carriage for Cecil ; but the Buncombes pro- 
 posed to take her and drop her at home ; and to 
 this she consented, rather to Frank's dismay, as 
 he thought of their coach appearing at his mother's 
 door. 
 
 Lady Tyrrell took her up to resume her hat ; and 
 on the way, moved by distaste to her double surname, 
 and drawn on by a fresh access of intimacy, she 
 begged to be called Cecil — a privilege of which she 
 had been chary even in her maiden days ; but the 
 caressing manner had won her heart, and spirit of 
 opposition to the discouragement at home did the 
 rest. 
 
 The request was reciprocated with that pensive 
 look which was so touching. " I used to be Camilla 
 to all the neighbourhood, and here I find myself — 
 miles — no, leagues further off — banished to Siberia." 
 
 " How unjust and unkind ! " cried Cecil. 
 
 "My dear, you have yet to learn the gentle un- 
 charitableness of prejudice. It is the prevailing notion 
 that my married life was a career of dissipation. Ah ! 
 if they only knew ! " 
 
 " The drag is round," said Mrs. Buncombe's voice 
 
l60 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 at the door, in all its decisive abruptness, making 
 both start. 
 
 "Just ready," called Lady Tyrrell ; adding, in a 
 lower tone, " Ah ! she is startling, but she is genuine ! 
 And one must take new friends when the old are 
 chilly. She is the only one — " 
 
 Cecil's kiss was more hearty than any she had given 
 at Compton, and she descended ; but just as she came 
 to the door, and was only delaying while Frank and 
 Captain Buncombe were discussing the merits of the 
 four horses, the Compton carriage appeared in the 
 approach, and Raymond's head within. Lady Tyrrell 
 looked at Cecil, and saw it was safe to make a little 
 gesture with the white skin of her fair brow, express- 
 ing unutterable things. 
 
 Mrs. Buncombe lost no time in asking if any steps 
 were being taken for improving the drainage ; to which 
 Raymond replied, '' No, that was not the business in 
 hand. This was the architecture of the Town-hall." 
 
 *' Splendour of municipality above, and fever 
 festering below," said Mrs. Buncombe. 
 
 " Wilsborough is not unhealthy," said Raymond. 
 
 She laughed ironically. 
 
 "The corporation have been told that they have 
 an opportunity," said Raymond ; *' but it takes long 
 to prepare people's minds to believe in the expedience 
 of such measures. If Whitlock could be elected mayor 
 there would be some chance, but I am afraid they 
 are sure to take Truelove ; and as things are at 
 
A TRUANT. l6l 
 
 Wilsborough, we must move all at once or^iot at all. 
 Individual attempts would do more harm than good," 
 
 " Ah ! you fear for your seat ! " said the plain-spoken 
 lady. 
 
 Raymond only chose to answer by a laugh, and 
 would not pursue the subject so treated. He was 
 politeness itself to all ; but he withstood Lady Tyrrell's 
 earnest entreaties to come in and see some Floren- 
 tine photographs, growing stififer and graver each 
 moment, while his wife waxed more wrathful at the 
 treatment which she knew was wounding her friend, 
 and began almost to glory in having incurred his dis- 
 pleasure herself. Indeed, this feeling caused the ex- 
 change of another kiss between the ladies before Sir 
 Harry handed Cecil into the carriage, and Raymond 
 took the yellow paper books that were held out to 
 her. 
 
 Looking at the title as they drove off, he said 
 quietly, " I did not mean to deprive you, Cecil ; I had 
 ordered Lanfrey from Bennet for you." 
 
 She was somewhat abashed, but was excited enough 
 to answer, " Thank you. I am going to join Lady 
 Tyrrell and Mrs. Buncombe in a subscription to 
 Rolandi's." 
 
 He started, and after a pause of a few moments 
 said gently, "Are you sure that Mr. and Mrs. 
 Charnock would like to trust your choice of foreign 
 books to Mrs. Buncombe ? " • 
 
 Taking no notice of the point of this question, she 
 
 VOL. I. M 
 
1 62 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 replied, " If it is an object to exchange books at home 
 faster than I can read them properly, I must look for 
 a supply elsewhere." 
 
 " You had better subscribe alone," he replied, still 
 without manifest provocation. 
 
 " That would be uncivil now." 
 
 " I take that upon myself." 
 
 Wherewith there came a silence ; while Cecil swelled 
 as she thought of the prejudice against her friend, and 
 Raymond revolved all he had ever heard about crea- 
 tures he knew so little as women, to enable him to 
 guess how to deal with this one. How reprove so as 
 not to make it worse ? Ought not his silent displea- 
 sure to suffice .'' And in such musings the carnage 
 reached home. 
 
 It had been an untoward day. He had been striving 
 hard against the stream at Willansborough. The 
 drainage was not only scouted as an absurd, unreason- 
 able, and expensive fancy, but the architect whom he 
 had recommended, in the hope that he would insist 
 on ground-work which might bring on the improve- 
 ment, had been rejected in favour of a kinsman of 
 Mr., Briggs, the out-going mayor, a youth of the lower ^ 
 walk of the profession — not the scholar and gentleman 
 he had desired, for the tradesman intellect fancied 
 such a person would be expensive and unmanageable. 
 
 Twin plans for church and town-hall had been pro- 
 duced, which to Raymond's taste savoured of the 
 gimcrack style, but which infinitely delighted all the 
 
A TRUANT. 163 
 
 corporation ; and where he was the only cultivated 
 gentleman except the timid Vicar, his reasonings were 
 all in vain. The plan was accepted for the town-hall, 
 and the specifications were ordered to be made out 
 for competition, and a rate decided on. The church 
 was to wait for subscription and bazaar; the drains, 
 for reason in Wilsbro', or for the hope of the mayor- 
 alty of Mr. Whitlock, a very intelligent and superior 
 linendraper. 
 
 M 2 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 
 
 " Pray, sir, do you laugh at me ?" 
 
 Title of Old Caricature. 
 
 Was Cecil's allegiance to Dunstone, or was it to the 
 heiress of Dunstone ? Tests of allegiance consist in 
 very small matters, and it is not always easy to see 
 the turning-point. Now Cecil had always stood on 
 a pinnacle at Dunstone, and she had found neither its 
 claims nor her own recognized at Compton. One 
 kind of allegiance would have remained on the level, 
 and retained the same standard, whether accepted 
 or not. Another would climb on any pinnacle that 
 anyone would erect for the purpose, and become 
 alienated from whatever interfered with such eminence. 
 So as nobody seemed so willing to own Cecil's 
 claims to county supremacy as Lady Tyrrell, her bias 
 was all towards Sirenwood ; and whereas such prac- 
 tices as prevailed at Dunstone evidently were viewed 
 as obsolete and narrow by these new friends, Cecil 
 was willing to prove herself superior to them, and was 
 
ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 1 65 
 
 far more irritated than convinced when her husband 
 appealed to her former habits. 
 
 The separation of the welfare of body and soul had 
 never occurred to the beneficence of Dunstone, and it 
 cost Cecil a qualm to accept it ; but she could not be 
 a goody in the eyes of Sirenwood ; and besides, she 
 was reading some contemporary literature, which made 
 it plain that any religious instruction v/as a most un- 
 justifiable interference with the great law, " Am I my 
 brother's keeper ? " and so, when she met Anne with 
 a handful of texts neatly written out in printing 
 letters, she administered her warning. 
 
 Cecil and Anne had become allies to a certain 
 extent, chiefly through their joint disapproval of 
 Rosamond, not to say of Julius ; and the order was 
 so amazing that Anne did not at first take it in ; and 
 when she understood that all mention of religion was 
 forbidden, she said, '' I do not think I ought to yield 
 in this." 
 
 " Surely," said Cecil, " there is no connection 
 between piety and cutting out." 
 
 " I don't know," said Anne ; "but it does not seem 
 to me to be right to go on with a work where my 
 Master's Name is forbidden." 
 
 " Religion ought never to be obtruded," said 
 Cecil. 
 
 " The Word ought to flavour everything, in season 
 or out of season," said Anne thoughtfully. 
 
 " Oh ! that's impossible. It's your narrow view. If 
 
1 66 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 you thrust preaching into everything, we can never 
 work together." 
 
 " Oh then," said Anne quickly, '' I must give it up !" 
 And she turned away with a rapid step, to carry her 
 texts back to her room. 
 
 '' Anne ! " called Cecil, " I did not mean that.'' 
 
 Anne paused for a moment, looked over the 
 baluster, and repeated firmly, " No, Cecil ; it would 
 be denying Christ to work where His Name is 
 forbidden," 
 
 Perhaps there was something in the elevation and 
 the carved rail that gave the idea of a pulpit, for 
 Cecil felt as if she w^as being preached at, and turned 
 her back, indignant and vexed at what she had by no 
 means intended to incur — the loss of such a useful 
 assistant as she found in Anne. 
 
 " Such nonsense ! " she said to herself, as she crossed 
 the hall alone, there meeting with Rosamond, equipped 
 for the village. " Is not Anne going to-day ? " she 
 said, as she saw the pony-carriage at the door. 
 
 '* No. It is so vexatious. She is so determined 
 upon preaching to the women, that I have been 
 obliged to put a stop to it." 
 
 " Indeed ! I should not have thought it of poor 
 Anne ; but no one can tell what those semi-dissenters 
 think right." 
 
 /' When she declared she ought to do it in season 
 or out of season, what was one to do "i " said Cecil. 
 
 *' I thought that was for clergymen," said 
 
ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 167 
 
 Rosamond, hitting the right nail on the head in her 
 ignorance, as so often happened. 
 
 " She sees no difference," said Cecil. " Shall I 
 drive you down ? " she added graciously, according 
 to the fashion of uniting with one sister-in-law against 
 the other ; and Rosamond not only accepted, but 
 asked to be taken on to Willansborough, to buy a 
 birthday present for her brother Terry, get stamps 
 for an Indian letter, and perform a dozen more com- 
 missions that seemed to arise in her mind with the 
 opportunity. Her two brothers were to spend the 
 Christmas holidays with her, and she was in high 
 spirits, and so communicative about them that she 
 hardly observed how little interest Cecil took in 
 Terry's achievements. 
 
 " Who is that ? " she presently asked, ** with those 
 red-haired children ? It looked like Miss Vivian's 
 figure." 
 
 '*I believe it was. Julius and I often see her walk- 
 ing about the lanes ; but she passes like — like a fire- 
 flaught, whatever that is — ^just bows, and hardly ever 
 speaks." 
 
 " She is a strange girl," said Cecil. " Lady Tyrrell 
 says she cannot draw her into any of her interests, 
 but she will go her own way." 
 
 " Like poor Anne ? " 
 
 " No, not out of mere moping and want of intellect, 
 like Anne. But Lady Tyrrell says she feels for her ; 
 she was brought a great deal too forward, and was 
 
J 68 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 made quite mistress of the house at Rockpier, being 
 her father's darhng and all, and now it is trying to 
 her, though it is quite wholesome, to be in her proper 
 place. It is a pity she is so bitter over it, and flies 
 off her own way." 
 
 " That boy ! " said Rosamond ; " I hope she does 
 something for his good." 
 
 " She teaches him, I believe ; but there's another 
 instance of her strange ways. She was absolutely 
 vexed when Lady Tyrrell took him into the house, 
 though he was her protege, only because it was not 
 done in her vjdiy. It is a great trial to Camilla." 
 
 " I could fancy a reason for that," said Rosamond. 
 " Julius does not like the tone of the household at all." 
 But she added hastily, "Who could those children be .'' 
 They did not look quite like poor children." 
 
 "Ah ! she is always taking up with some odd per- 
 son in her own way," said Cecil. " But here we 
 are. Will you drive on to the hotel, or get out 
 here.?" 
 
 When, at the end of two hours, the sisters-in-law 
 met at the workroom, and Rosamond had taken a 
 survey of the row of needle-women, coming up one 
 by one to give their work, be paid and dismissed, 
 there was a look of weariness and vexation on Cecil's 
 face. She had found it less easy to keep order and 
 hinder gossip, and had hardly known how to answer 
 when that kind lady, Mrs. Miles Charnock, had been 
 asked after ; but she would have scorned to allow that 
 
ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 1 69 
 
 she had missed her assistant, and only politely asked 
 how Rosamond had sped. 
 
 " Oh ! excellently. People were so well advised as 
 to be out, so I paid off all my calls." 
 
 "You did not return your calls without Julius ?" 
 
 " There's nothing he hates so much. I would not 
 have dragged him with me on any account." 
 
 " I think it is due to oneself." 
 
 "Ah ! but then Idon't care what is due to myself. 
 I saw a friend of yours, Cecil." 
 
 "Who.?" 
 
 "Mrs. Buncombe," said Rosamond. ''I went to 
 Pettitt's — the little perfumer, you know, that Julius 
 did so much for at the fire ; and there she was, lean- 
 ing on the counter, haranguing him confidentially 
 upon setting an example with sanatory measures." 
 
 " Sanz't^ry," corrected Cecil ; " sanitas is health, 
 sano to cure. People never know the difference." 
 
 *' Certainly I don't," said Rosamond. " It must be 
 microscopic ! " 
 
 " Only it shows the difference between culture and 
 the reverse," said Cecil. 
 
 " Well, you know, Pm the reverse," said Rosamond, 
 leaning sleepily back, and becoming silent ; but Cecil 
 was too anxious for intelligence to let her rest, and 
 asked on what Mrs. Buncombe was saying. 
 
 " I am not quite sure — she was stirring up his public 
 spirit, I think, about the drainage ; and they were 
 both of them deploring the slackness and insensibility 
 
I/O THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 of the corporation, and canvassing for Mr. Whitlock, 
 as I believe. It struck me as a funny subject for a 
 lady, but I believe she does not stick at trifles." 
 
 " No real work can be carried out by those who 
 do," said Cecil. 
 
 "Oh!" added Rosamond, ''I met Mrs. and Miss 
 Bowater, and they desired me to say that Jenny can't 
 come till the dinner-party on the 20th, and then they 
 will leave her." 
 
 " How cool to send a messag-e instead of writing ! " 
 
 " Oh ! she has always been like one o( themselves 
 like a sister to them all." 
 
 " I can't bear that sort of people." 
 
 " What sort > " 
 
 ** Who worm themselves in." 
 
 *' Miss Bowater could have no occasion for wormincf. 
 They must be quite on equal terms." 
 
 " At any rate, she was only engaged to their poor 
 relation." 
 
 " What poor relation ? Tell me ! Who told 
 you .? " 
 
 "Raymond. It was a young attorney — a kind of 
 cousin of the Poynsett side, named Douglas." 
 
 "What.'' There's a cross in the churchyard to 
 Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of Francis Poynsett, and 
 wife of James Douglas, and at the bottom another 
 inscription to Archibald Douglas, her son, lost in 
 the Hippolytay 
 
 *' Yes, that must be the man. He was flying from 
 
ROSAMONDS APOLOGUE. 171 
 
 England, having been suspected of some embezzle- 
 ment." 
 
 " Indeed ! And was Jenny engaged to him ? Julius 
 told me that Mrs. Douglas had been his mother's 
 dearest friend, and that this Archie had been brought 
 up with them, but he did not say any more." 
 
 " Perhaps he did not like having had a cousin in 
 an attorney's office. I am sure I had no notion of 
 such a thing." 
 
 Rosamond laughed till she was exhausted at the 
 notion of Julius's sharing the fastidious objections 
 she heard in Cecil's voice ; and then, struck by the 
 sadness of the story, she cried, '' And that makes them 
 all so fond of Miss Bowater. Poor girl, what must 
 she not have gone through ! And yet how cheerful 
 she does look ! " 
 
 " People say," proceeded Cecil, unable to resist the 
 impulse to acquire a partaker in her half-jealous 
 aversion, " that it was a great disappointment that 
 Mrs. Poynsett could not make her sons like her as 
 much as she did herself." 
 
 " Oh ! " cried Rosamond ; " how little peace we 
 should have if we always heeded what people say ! " 
 
 " People that know," persisted Cecil. 
 
 " Not very wise or very kind people to say so," 
 quoth Rosamond ; " though by the by, the intended 
 sting is happily lost, considering that it lies among 
 five." 
 
 " Why should you assume a sting ? " 
 
1/2 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "Because I see you are stung, and want to sting 
 me," said Rosamond ; in so merry a tone, that the 
 earnestness was disguised. 
 
 " I ! I'm not stung ! What Mrs. Poynsett or Miss 
 Bowater may have schemed is nothing to me," said 
 Cecil, with all her childish dignity. 
 
 " People talk of Irish imagination," said Rosamond 
 in her lazy meditative tone. 
 
 " Well ? " demanded Cecil sharply. 
 
 " Only it is not j/^y Irish imagination that has de- 
 vised this dreadful picture of the artful Jenny and 
 Mrs. Poynsett spinning their toils to entrap the whole 
 five brothers. Come, Cecil, take my advice, and put 
 it out of your head. Suppose it were true, small 
 blame to Mrs. Poynsett." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " said Cecil in a voice of hurt 
 dignity. 
 
 " I may mean myself." And Rosamond's peal of 
 merry laughter was most amazing and inexplicable to 
 her companion, who was not sure that she was not 
 presuming to laugh at her. 
 
 There was a silence, broken at last by Rosamond. 
 " Cecil, I have been tumbled about the world a good 
 deal more than you have, and I never found that one got 
 any good by disregarding the warnings of the natives. 
 There's an immense deal in the cat and the cock." 
 
 " I do not understand," said Cecil. 
 
 Whereupon Rosamond, in a voice as if she were 
 telling the story to a small child, began : *' Once upon 
 
ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 173 
 
 a time there was a wee bit mousiekie, that lived in 
 Giberatie O — that trotted out of her hole upon an 
 exploring expedition. By and by she came scuttling 
 back in a state of great trepidation — in fact, horribly 
 nervous. ' Mother, mother ! ' said the little mouse, 
 ' I've seen a hideous monster, with a red face, and a 
 voice like a trumpet, and a pair of spurs.' " 
 
 " Of course, I know that," broke in Cecil. 
 
 " Ah, you haven't heard all. 'I should have died 
 of terror,' said the little mouse, 'only that I saw a 
 dear sweet graceful creature, with a lovely soft voice, 
 and a smooth coat, and the most beautiful eyes, and 
 the most exquisite pathetic expression in her smile ; 
 and she held out her velvet paw to me, and said ''Dear 
 little mousiekie-pousie, you're the loveliest creature I 
 ever met, quite unappreciated in these parts. That 
 horrid old cock is terribly vulgar and common-place ; 
 and never you believe your mother if she tells you he 
 is better worth cultivating than one who has such a 
 deep genuine love and appreciation of all the excel- 
 lences of all mice, and of you in particular with your 
 dun fur." ' " 
 
 Rosamond could not for her very life help putting 
 in that word diui ; and Cecil, who had been driving 
 straight on with her eyes fixed on her pony's ears, and 
 rather a sullen expression of forced endurance, faced 
 about. " What you mean by all this I don't know ; 
 but if you think it applies to me or my friends, you 
 are much mistaken." 
 
174 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I told you," said Rosamond, with the same languor, 
 looking out under her half-shut eyes, " that I apply 
 things to myself. I've met both sorts in my time." 
 
 And silence reigned for the rest of the way. Cecil 
 had read many more books, knew much more, and 
 was altogether a far more cultivated personage than 
 the Lady Rosamond ; but she was not half so ready 
 in catching the import of spoken words ; and all this 
 time she was by no means certain whether all this 
 meant warning or meant mockery, though either was 
 equally impertinent, and must be met with the same 
 lady-like indifference, which Cecil trusted that she had 
 never transgressed. 
 
 Neither of them, nor indeed any other living crea- 
 ture, knew of a little episode, which had occurred 
 about eighteen months previously, when Joanna 
 Bowater had been taking care of Mrs. Poynsett during 
 Raymond's first absence from home after her accident. 
 Of course he took her back to Strawyers as soon as 
 he arrived ; and about half way, after a prolonged and 
 unusual silence, he said, "Jenny, I believe we know 
 one another's histories pretty well. It would be a 
 great happiness and blessing if you could bring your- 
 self to sink the past so far as to take me, and become 
 indeed my mother's daughter. Do not answer me in 
 haste. Think it over, and tell me if it is possible." 
 
 Jenny let him drive on more than a mile before she 
 spoke ; and when she did, the tears stood on her 
 cheek, and it was quite an effort that her voice was 
 
ROSAMOND'S APOLOGUE. 1/5 
 
 made steady. " No, Raymond, I am very sorry, but 
 it will not do. Two griefs will not make one joy." 
 
 " Yes they would, to my mother." 
 
 '* Ah ! there it lies ! Indeed, Raymond, I do feel 
 for you all so much, especially your dear mother, that 
 I would bring myself to it, if I could ; but the very 
 thought brings Archie up so vividly before me that I 
 cannot ! He has almost seemed to be sitting by me 
 all this time. It seems as though beginning again 
 would kill my right to think of him foremost 
 of all." 
 
 "I could bear with that and trust to time," said 
 Raymond. '' Think it over, Jenny. I will be candid 
 with you. The old delusion was too strong for any 
 repetition of that kind, as you may see by the lame 
 performance I am making now." 
 
 Jenny gave a little agitated laugh, and ejaculated, 
 " Dear Raymond ! " then added, " It is not on your 
 account, but mine." 
 
 " But," he added, " my marriage is becoming a 
 necessity, if only for my mother's sake ; and you stand 
 far before any other woman with me, if that would but 
 satisfy you. I verily believe that in a short time we 
 should be just as comfortable together as if we could 
 start with more romance." 
 
 " I dare say we should, dear Raymond," said Jenny ; 
 " but I cannot feel that it is the right thing, while I 
 have not tJiat feeling for you which overpowers every- 
 thing else, it seems to me that I ought not to give up 
 
1/6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 my place at home. Papa depends on me a good deal, 
 and they both will want me more and more." 
 
 " Less than my mother." 
 
 " I don't know ; and they are my first duty. I can 
 always come to your mother when I am wanted, and 
 I know in your secret soul you prefer me on those 
 terms." 
 
 He made no answer, only when passing the lodge 
 he said, " Will you consider it a little longer, Jenny ? " 
 
 But this only resulted in a note : — 
 
 "Dear Raymond, — Considering only shows me that I must be 
 Archie Douglas's now and for ever, I can't help it. It is better for 
 you ; for you can find some young girl who can wake your heart again, 
 as never could be done by your still affectionate 
 
 J. B." 
 
 Raymond and Jenny had met so often since, that 
 
 the matter was entirely past, and no one ever guessed 
 
 it. 
 
 At any rate, Rosamond, the most ready to plunge 
 
 into counsel to Cecil, was the least likely to have it 
 
 accepted ; Rosamond had foibles of her own that 
 
 Cecil knew of, and censured freely enough within 
 
 herself. 
 
 That never-ending question, whether what became 
 
 the colonel's daughter became the clergyman's wife, 
 
 would crop up under endless forms. Rosamond, in all 
 
 opinions, was good-natured and easy, and always for 
 
 pardon and toleration to an extent that the Compton 
 
 code could not understand. She could not bear that 
 
ROSAMONDS APOLOGUE. 1 7/ 
 
 anybody should be punished or shut out of anything ; 
 while there was no denying that, now the first novelty 
 was passing, she was very lazy as to her parochial 
 work, and that where her feelings were not stirred she 
 was of little use. 
 
 Julius seemed shamefully tolerant of her omissions, 
 and likewise of her eagerness for all gaieties. He 
 would not go himself, would not accept a dinner in- 
 vitation for any of the three busy nights of the week, 
 and refused all those to dances and balls for himself, 
 though he never hindered Rosamond's going. 
 
 She used absolutely to cry with passionate entreaties 
 that he would relent and come with her, declaring that 
 he was very unkind, he knew it took away all her 
 pleasure — he was a tyrant, and wanted her not to go. 
 And then he smiled, and owned that he hoped some 
 day she would be tired of it ; whereat she raged, and 
 begged him to forbid her, if he really thought her 
 whole life had been so shocking, declaring in the same 
 breath that she would never disown her family, or cast 
 a slur on her mother and sisters. 
 
 It always ended in her going, and though never 
 again offending as by her bridal gown, she seldom 
 failed to scandalize Cecil by an excess of talking and 
 of waltzing, such as even Raymond regretted, and 
 which disabled her for a whole day after from all but 
 sofa, sleep, novels, and yawns. 
 
 Was this the person whose advice the discreet 
 heiress of Dunstone was hkely to follow ? 
 
 VOL. I. N 
 
1/8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 It may be mentioned here, among other elements of 
 difficulty, that Cecil's maid Grindstone was a thorough 
 Dunstonite, who "kept herself to herself," was per- 
 fectly irreproachable, lived on terms of distant civility 
 with the rest of the household, never complained, but 
 constantly led her young mistress to understand that 
 she was enduring much for her sake. 
 
 Cecil was too well trained, and so was she, for a 
 word of gossip or censure to pass between them ; but 
 the influence was not the less strong. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PASTORAL VISITING. 
 
 ** A finger's breadth at hand may mar 
 A world of light in heaven afar ; 
 A mote eclipse a glorious star, 
 An eye-lid hide the sky." 
 
 Keble. 
 
 The dinner was over, and Cecil was favouring the 
 audience with a severely classical piece of music, 
 when, under cover thereof, a low voice said to Julius, 
 " Now, really and truly, tell me how he is getting 
 on .? " 
 
 " Really and truly, Jenny } " 
 
 " Well, not as you would tell mamma, for instance ; 
 but as you think in your secret soul." 
 
 " I am sorry you think me so duplex." 
 
 " Come, you understand how anxious I am about 
 the boy." 
 
 '' Exactly." And they both laughed. 
 
 " Is that all } " said Joanna Bowater. 
 
 " Really ajid truly it is ! Rose can manage him 
 much better than I can." 
 
 N 2 
 
l8o THE TPIREE BRIDES. 
 
 "He is very fond of her; but does he — is he — is 
 his heart in his work ? " asked the sister, looking with 
 her honest eyes earnestly at Julius, her contemporary 
 and playfellow as a child, and afterwards the com- 
 panion with whom she had worked out many a deep 
 problem, rendering mutual assistance that made each 
 enter in no common degree into the inner thoughts of 
 the other. 
 
 Julius smiled. " I doubt whether he has come to 
 his heart yet." 
 
 *' Why should he be so young } Think what you 
 were at twenty-three } " 
 
 "I never had Herbert's physique; and that makes 
 an immense difference. I had no taste or capacity 
 for what is a great privation to a fine young fellow 
 like him. Don't look startled ! He attempts nothing 
 unfitting; he is too good and dutiful, but^-" 
 
 " Yes, I know what that but means." 
 
 " Nothing to be unhappy about. You know how 
 blameless he has always been at Eton and Oxford ; 
 and though he may view his work rather in a school- 
 boy aspect, and me as a taskmaster, as long as he is 
 doing right the growth is going on. Don't be un- 
 happy, Jenny ! His great clear young voice is de- 
 lightful to hear ; he is capital at choral practices, and 
 is a hero to all the old women and boys, the more 
 so for the qualities that earnestness cannot giv^e, but 
 rather detracts from." 
 
 " You mean that he is not in earnest 1 " 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. l8l 
 
 " Don't pervert all I say ! He is not past the time 
 of life when all appointed work seems a task, and any 
 sort of excuse a valid cause against it ; but he is 
 conscientious, and always good-humoured under a 
 scolding, — and Rosamond does not spare him," he 
 added, laughing. 
 
 " Then you don't think there has been a mistake 
 about him .'' " said Jenny, in a low voice of alarm. 
 
 " I have little doubt that when anything develops 
 his inner life, so as to overcome the great strong 
 animal that demands play and exercise, he will be 
 a most useful clergyman." 
 
 *' Perhaps he is too young, though I don't see how 
 it could be helped. Papa always mtended it, because 
 of the living ; and Herbert never wished anything else. 
 I thought he really desired it, but now I don't know 
 whether he did not only take it as a matter of course." 
 
 " Obedience is no unwholesome motive. As things 
 stood, to delay his ordination would have been a 
 stigma he did not deserve ; and though he might 
 have spent a year with advantage in a theological 
 college, pupilage might only have prolonged his 
 boyhood. It must be experience, not simply years 
 of study, that deepens him." 
 
 " Ah, those studies ! " 
 
 " To tell the truth, that's what I am most uneasy 
 about. I take care he should have two hours every 
 forenoon, and three evenings every week, free ; but 
 when a man is in his own neighbourhood, and so 
 
1 82 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 popular, I am afraid he does not get many even- 
 ings at home ; and I can't hinder Bindon from 
 admonishing him." 
 
 " No," said the sister ; " nothing will stir him till 
 the examination is imminent; but I will try what I 
 can do with him for the present. Here he comes, the 
 dear old idle fellow ! " 
 
 " Joanie, here you are at last, in conclave with the 
 Rector. Lady Rose wants me to sing, and you must 
 accompany me. No one is so jolly for picking one 
 up." 
 
 " Picking one up " was apt to be needed by Her- 
 bert, who had a good ear and voice, but had always 
 regarded it as *' bosh " to cultivate them, except for 
 the immediately practical purposes that had of late 
 been forced on him. The choral society had im- 
 proved him ; but Jenny was taken aback by being 
 called on to accompany him in Mrs. Broiims Lug- 
 gage ; and his father made his way up to him, 
 saying, " Eh, Herbert ! is that the last clerical 
 fashion } " 
 
 ** 'Tis my Rectoress who sets me on, sir," was 
 
 Herbert's merry answer, looking at her. *' Now, 
 
 Lady Rose, you'll keep me in countenance ! My 
 
 father has never heard you sing Coming through the 
 
 Ryer 
 
 " No, no, Herbert, my singing is only to amuse 
 little boys. Here's the higher order of art ! " 
 
 For Cecil was leading a young lady to the piano, 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 1 83 
 
 and looking as if she by no means approved of such 
 folly, though everybody had listened to the Poor Old 
 Cockatoo, laughed and applauded heartily ; and the 
 ensuing performance seemed to be unappreciated by 
 anyone except Raymond and Cecil themselves. 
 
 Anne was sitting in a corner of the sofa, with a 
 straight back and weary ^ face, ^having been driven 
 out into the throng by the old friends who came to 
 sit with Mrs. Poynsett ; but she brightened as Miss 
 Bowater took a seat beside her, and accepted her 
 inquiries for Captain Charnock far more graciously 
 than the many which had preceded them. Was not 
 her hkeness in his album 1 And had he not spoken 
 of her as one whom Anne would like } 
 
 Soon Joanna had led her to tell not only of Miles's 
 last letter, but of those from Glen Fraser, of which 
 she had spoken to no one, under the impression that 
 nobody cared. She even spoke of the excellent farm 
 and homestead which Mr. Van Dorp wanted to sell 
 before going to the Free State, and which her father 
 thought would exactly suit Miles. 
 " Does he mean to settle there } " 
 
 " Oh yes ; he promised me to leave the navy and 
 take me home as soon as this voyage is over," said 
 Anne eagerly. " If the Salamanca only puts in for 
 long enough, he might run up to Glen Fraser, and 
 see Bocksfeld Stoop, and settle it all at once. I am 
 sure he would be delighted with it, and it is only tvv^o 
 miles from Mr. Pilgrim's." 
 
184 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I'm afraid you can never feel this like home," 
 said Jenny. 
 
 " Miles wanted me to know his family, and thought 
 I should be useful to his mother," said Anne ; " but 
 she does not want anything I could do for her. If 
 she has Raymond, she seems to need nobody else." 
 
 " And have you nothing to do ? " 
 
 " I have letters to write to Miles and to them all 
 at home ; and I am making a whole set of shirts 
 and stockings for Papa and the boys — it will spare 
 Mamma and Jeanie, and I have plenty of time." 
 
 " Too muchjl I am afraid ! But Herbert said you 
 were very useful at the Work Society at Wilsbro'." 
 
 " Not now." 
 
 '^ Indeed ! " 
 
 " No," in the old cold dry tone. But while Jenny 
 was doubting whether to inquire further, innate sym- 
 pathy conquered, and Anne added, " I wonder whether 
 I did wrong ! " 
 
 "As how.-*" asked Joanna kindly. 
 
 "They said" — she lowered her voice — "I must 
 never speak on religious subjects." 
 
 " How do you mean .? What had you done ? " 
 
 " One day I found a woman crying because her 
 husband had gone away to seek work, so I told her 
 my husband was further away, and repeated the texts 
 I like. She was so much comforted that I printed 
 them on a card for her." 
 
 " Was that all ? " 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 1 85 
 
 " No ; there was another poor dear that was un- 
 happy about her baby; and when I bade her pray 
 for it, she did not know how, so I had to tell her a 
 little. There is one who does know her Saviour, and 
 I did love to have a few words of peace with her." 
 
 " And was that what was objected to .'' " 
 
 " Yes ; they said it would change the whole charac- 
 ter of the institution." 
 
 " Who did .? " 
 
 ** Cecil — Mrs. Charnock Poynsett. I think Lady 
 Tyrrell and Mrs. Duncombe desired her. I thought 
 it was no place for me where I might not speak one 
 word for Christ, and I said so ; but since I have won- 
 dered whether the old Adam did not speak in me, 
 and I ought to have gone on." 
 
 " My wonder," said Jenny indignantly, " would be 
 what right they had to stop you. This was private 
 interference, not from the Vicar or the committee." 
 
 " But I am not a real visiting lady. I only go to 
 help Cecil." 
 
 " I see ; but why didn't you ask Julius what was 
 right } He would have told you." 
 
 " Oh no, I could not." 
 
 " Why not .? " 
 
 " It would seem like a complaint of Cecil. Be- 
 sides " 
 
 " Besides .? " 
 
 "I don't think Julius is a Christian." 
 
 The startling announcement was made in so humble 
 
t86 the three brides. 
 
 and mournful a voice as almost to disarm Jenny's 
 resentment ; and before she had recovered enough for 
 a reply, she was called to take leave of her parents. 
 
 Her brother was the professed object of her visit, 
 and she was only at the Hall because there was no 
 accommodation at his lodgings, so that she had no 
 scruple in joining the early breakfast spread for the 
 Rector and his wife, so as to have the morning free 
 for him ; but she found Julius alone, saying that his 
 wife was tired after the party; and to Jenny's offer to 
 take her class, he replied, " Thank you, it will be a 
 great kindness if you wnll teach ; but Rose has no 
 regular class. Teaching is not much in her line ; and 
 it is a pity she should have to do it, but we have 
 to make the most of the single hour they allow us 
 for godliness." 
 
 " Don't you utilize Mrs. Charnock ? or is she not 
 strong enough for early hours ? " 
 
 *' Poor Anne ! The truth is, I am afraid of her. I 
 fancy all her doctrine comes out of the Westminster 
 Catechism." 
 
 *' Could Calvinism be put in at seven years old ? 
 Would not it be a pouring of stiff glue into a narrow- 
 necked phial ? " 
 •' Result — ;///." 
 
 ** A few pure drops might get in — and you could 
 j^ive her books." 
 
 " It had struck me that it might be wholesome 
 work for her ; but the children's good must stand 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 1 8/ 
 
 first. And, timid and reserved as she seems, she 
 insisted on preaching at the workroom, so that Cecil 
 had to put a stop to it." 
 
 ** Are you certain about that preaching ? " 
 
 " Rose heard of it from Cecil herself." 
 
 ** Did she ask what it amounted to ? " 
 
 ** I don't know ; perhaps I had better find out. I 
 remember it came after that ride to Sirenwood. By 
 the by, Jenny, I wish Cecil could be hindered from 
 throwing herself into that oak of Broceliande !" 
 
 " Are not you so suspicious that you see the waving 
 arms and magic circles everywhere } " 
 
 " A friendship with anyone here is so unnatural, 
 that I can't but think it a waving of hands boding no 
 good. And there is worse than friendship in that 
 quarter too." 
 
 " Oh, but Lenore is quite different ! " 
 
 "AVivienne still!" said Julius bitterly. "If she 
 costs poor Frank nothing more than his appointment, 
 it will be well." 
 
 " I don't understand ! " 
 
 " She caught him in her toils two years ago at Rock- 
 pier ; and now she is playing fast and loose, with him 
 —withdrawing, as I believe ; and at any rate keeping 
 the poor foolish boy in such an agitation, that he-can't 
 or won't settle to his reading ; and Driver thinks he 
 will break down.". 
 
 " I can't think it of Lenore. — Oh ! good morning, 
 Raymond ! " 
 
1 88 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Good morning ! May I come to breakfast 
 number one ? I have to go to Backsworth." 
 
 " Yes," said Jenny ; " we told Papa it was too bad 
 to put you on the Prison Committee. What does 
 your wife say ? " 
 
 " My wife has so many occupations, that she is very 
 sufficient for herself," said Raymond. " I hope you 
 will get on with her, Jenny. If she could only be got 
 to think you intellectual ! " 
 
 " Me ? O Raymond ! you've not been telling her 
 so ? " exclaimed Jenny, laughing heartily. 
 
 "A very superior coach in divinity, &c.," said 
 Julius, in a tone half banter, half earnest. 
 
 But Jenny exclaimed in distress, " No, no, no ; 
 say nothing about that ! It would never do for 
 Herbert to have it known. Don't let him guess 
 that you know." 
 
 "Quite right, Jenny; never fear," said Julius; 
 *' though it is tempting to ask you to take Frank in 
 hand at the same time." 
 
 *' Have you seen anything of the Vivians.-*" asked 
 Raymond. 
 
 " Very little. I hoped to see something of Eleonora 
 from hence." 
 
 " I can't understand that young lady," said Julius. 
 " She was very friendly when first we met her ; but 
 now she seems absolutely repellent." 
 " Taut mieiix,'' muttered Raymond. 
 " They seem inclined to take up all the good works 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 1 89 
 
 in hand," said Jenny. "By the- by, what is all this 
 story about Raymond aftronting Wilsbro' by stirring 
 up their gutters ? Papa has been quite in a state of 
 mind for fear they should take offence and bring in 
 Mr. Moy." 
 
 ^'Julius only thinks I have not stirred the gutters 
 enough," said Raymond. " And after all, it is not I, 
 but Whitlock. I was in hopes that matters might 
 have been properly looked after if Whitlock had been 
 chosen mayor this year ; but, somehow, a cry was got 
 up that he was going to bring down a sanitary com- 
 mission, and put the town to great expense ; and 
 actually, this town-council have been elected because 
 they are opposed to drainage." 
 
 '* And Truelove, the grocer, is mayor } " 
 '' Yes ; one of the most impracticable men I ever 
 encountered. One can't get him so much as to under- 
 stand anything. Now Briggs does understand, only 
 he goes by £ s. dl' 
 
 " Posterity has done nothing for me, and I will do 
 nothing for posterity, is his principle," said Julius. 
 *' Moreover, he is a Baptist." 
 
 " No chance for the Church in his time," said 
 Jenny. 
 
 " There's the less harm in that/' said Raymond, 
 ** that the plan is intolerable. Briggs's nephew took 
 the plan of what he calls a German Rat-house, for 
 the town-hall, made in gilt gingerbread ; and then 
 adapted the Church to a beautiful similarity. If that 
 
190 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 could be staved off by waiting for the bazaar, or by 
 any other means, there might be a chance of some- 
 thing better. So poor Fuller thinks, though he is not 
 man enough to speak out at once." 
 
 '' Then the bazaar is really fixed .'' " 
 
 '* So far as the resolution goes of the lady popula- 
 tion, though Julius is sanguine, and hopes to avert 
 it. After all, I believe the greatest obstructive to 
 improvement is Moy." 
 
 " Old Mr. Proudfoot's son-in-law ? " said Jenny. 
 " I know he has blossomed out in great splendour on 
 our side of the county, and his daughter is the general 
 wonder. Papa is always declaring he will set up in 
 opposition to you." 
 
 " Not much fear of that," said Raymond. " But 
 the man provokes me, he has so much apparent 
 seriousness." 
 
 " Even to the persecution of Dr. Easterby," put in 
 Julius. '' And yet he is the great supporter of that 
 abominable public-house in Water Lane, the Three 
 Pigeons — which, unluckily, escaped the fire. He owns 
 it, and all those miserable tenements beyond it, and 
 nothing will move him an inch towards doing any 
 good there ! " 
 
 '* I remember," said Jenny, " Papa came home very 
 angry on the licensing day ; the police had com- 
 plained of the Three Pigeons, and the magistrates 
 would have taken away the licence, but that Mr. Moy 
 made such a personal matter of it." 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 19I 
 
 " You don't mean that he is a magistrate ! " 
 exclaimed JuHus. 
 
 " Yes," said Raymond. " He got the ear of the 
 Lord-Lieutenant." 
 
 "And since he has lived at the Lawn, they 
 have all quite set up for county people or any- 
 thing you please," said Jenny, a little bitterly. 
 " Mrs. Moy drives about with the most stylish 
 pair of ponies ; and as to Miss Gussie, she is 
 making herself into a proverb ! I can't bear them." 
 
 "Well done, Jenny ! " exclaimed Julius. 
 
 " Perhaps it is wrong," said Jenny, in a low voice. 
 " I dare say I am not just. You know I always did 
 think Mr. Moy could have cleared Archie if he would," 
 she added, with a slightly trembling tone. 
 
 ''So did I," said Raymond. "I gave him the 
 opportunity after George Proudfoot's death ; but 
 when the choice lay between two memories, one 
 could hardly wonder if he preferred to shield his 
 brother-in-law." 
 
 "Or himself! " said Jenny, under her breath. 
 
 " Come, Jenny," said Julius, feeling that the moment 
 for interruption had come, " it is time we should be 
 off. Methinks there are sounds as if the whole canine 
 establishment at Mrs. Hornblower's were prancing up 
 to meet us." 
 
 So it proved ; and Jenny had to run the gauntlet 
 through the ecstasies of all the dogs, whose ecclesias- 
 tical propriety was quite overthrown, for they danced 
 
192 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 about her to the very threshold of the church, and 
 had to have the door shut on their very noses. That 
 drop of bitterness, which her sad brief story could 
 not fail to have left in poor Joanna's heart, either 
 passed out of mind in what followed, or was turned 
 into the prayer, " And to turn their hearts ; " and she 
 was her bright self again for her promised assistance 
 at the school. 
 
 Then Herbert's address was, " Come, Joan, I pro- 
 mised to take you to see the Reeves's pheasant at the 
 Outwood Lodge. Such a jolly old woman ! " 
 " The pheasant } " 
 
 " No ; the keeper's mother. Tail a yard long ! I 
 don't see why we shouldn't turn them out at home. 
 If father won't take it up, I shall write to Phil." 
 
 "Thank you, Herbs. Hadn't you better secure a 
 little reading first .-* I could wait ; I've got to write 
 to Will." 
 
 " The post doesn't go till five." 
 
 " But I want to get it done. The mail goes to- 
 morrow." 
 
 ''You'll do it much better after a walk. I can't 
 understand anything after the fumes of the school, 
 unless I do a bit of visiting first ; and that pheasant is 
 a real stunner. It really is parish work, Jenny. Look 
 here, this is what I'm reading her." 
 
 " Leaj'U to Die!'' said Jenny, laughing heartily. 
 " Nothing could be more appropriate, only you should 
 have begun before October." 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. I93 
 
 " You choose to make fun of everything ! " answered 
 Herbert gruffly ; and Jenny, deciding that she would 
 see a specimen day, made her peace by consenting to 
 share in the pastoral visit, whether to pheasant or 
 peasant. Indeed, a walk with Herbert was one of 
 the prime pleasures of her life — and this was delight- 
 ful, along broad gravelled drives through the autumnal 
 woods, with tinted beech-leaves above, and brackens 
 of all shades of brown, green, and yellow beneath. 
 And it was charming to see Herbert's ways with the 
 old woman — a dainty old dame, such as is grown in 
 the upper ranks of service, whom he treated with a 
 hearty, bantering, coaxing manner, which she evidently 
 enjoyed extremely. His reading, for he did come to 
 more serious matters, was very good — in a voice that 
 without effort reached deaf ears, and with feeling 
 about it that did a great deal to reassure his sister 
 that there was something behind the big bright boy. 
 
 But by the time he had done the honours of all the 
 pheasants, and all the dogs, and all the ferrets, and 
 all the stuffed birds, and all the eggs (for the keeper 
 was a bit of a naturalist), and had discussed Mr. 
 Frank's last day's shooting, it was so late, that Jenny 
 had only just time to walk back to the Hall at her 
 best pace, to see Mrs. Poynsett for a few minutes 
 before luncheon ; and her reception was, " Is that 
 Herbert's step.? Call him in, my dear! — You must 
 make the most of your sister, Herbert. Come in to 
 all meals while she is here." 
 
 VOL. L o 
 
194 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 He heard with gratitude — his sister with consterna- 
 tion. If forenoon pastoral visits were to be on that 
 scale, and he dined out whenever he was not at school 
 or at church, how would his books fare .'* and yet she 
 could not grudge his pleasure. She could not help 
 looking half foolish, half sad, when she met the 
 Rector's eye. 
 
 Julius thought so much of her advice, as to knock 
 at Cecil's sitting-room door, and beg to ask her a 
 question ; and as she liked to be consulted, she wel- 
 comed him hospitably into that temple, sacred to 
 culture and to Dunstone — full of drawings, books, and 
 china. 
 
 " I v/as thinking," he said, " of offering Anne some 
 parish work. I wanted to know if you saw any 
 objection ? " 
 
 " Certainly not ; I have not been able to make 
 acquaintance yet with all our tenants, but they seem 
 quite to understand the difference in our positions," 
 said Cecil, with due deliberation. 
 
 Julius choked his amusement, and waived that 
 point. " But did you not feel obliged to decline her 
 services at the Wilsbro' workroom .'' " 
 
 *' That was quite another thing. What was most 
 undesirable in such an institution would be all very 
 well for your old women." 
 
 "What kind of thing?" 
 
 " Talking piously, giving away texts, and so on ; 
 just the way to make tlie women think we intended 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. I95 
 
 to impose religious instruction and give a sectarian 
 character, defeating our own object." 
 
 " Was there any flaw in what she said ? " 
 
 " I can't tell what she said. It was just a little 
 murmur over the work." 
 
 " Not preaching ? " 
 
 " Not in that sense," said Cecil, with a little com- 
 punction. 
 
 " I am glad to hear it ; it makes a great differ- 
 ence." 
 
 " You see," said the lady, " our institution is merely 
 intended to support these women in the time of w^ant; 
 and if we were to couple our assistance w^ith religion 
 w^e should just sink into a mothers' meeting, and 
 make the women think " 
 
 •* Think that you prize the soul more than the 
 body," said Julius, as she halted in search of a word- 
 " I understand, Cecil ; you would not be in the pre- 
 vailing fashion. I don't want to argue that point, 
 only to understand about Anne." 
 
 So saying, he went at once to Anne's abode, the 
 old schoolroom, w^hich, like ever^'thing else belonging 
 to Mrs. ]\Iiles Charnock, had a sad-coloured aspect, 
 although it had been fitted up ver\' prettily. The 
 light was sombre, and all the brighter pictures and 
 ornaments seemed to have been effaced by a whole 
 galler}^ of amateur photographs, in wdiich the glories 
 of the African bush were represented by brown 
 masses of shade variegated by blotches of white. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 Till-: lUKia': i!Rn>r:s. 
 
 Iwcii ill Milcs's own portrait on the tabic, the gold 
 seemed overwhelmed by the dark blue ; and even as 
 Julius entered, she: shut it up in its brown case, as too 
 sacred for even his brother's eyes. 
 
 However, a flush of pleasure came to her pale face 
 at the invitation to take a class, and to read to a good 
 old woman, whom in his secret soul he thought so 
 nearly a dissenter, that she could not be made more 
 so. She promised her help with some eagerness for 
 as long as she should remain in England, and accepted 
 the books he gave her without protest. Nay, that 
 same evening, .she took Jenny off into her grey abode, 
 to consult her whether, since .she must now join the 
 early breakffist, she could go to daily service without 
 becoming formal. 
 
 She even recurred to lier question, whether Julius 
 was a Christian, without nearly as much negation in 
 her tones as before; and Jenny, taking it as it was 
 meant, vouched for his i)iety, so as might render it a 
 little more comprehensible to one matured on Scottish 
 Calvinism and l^^nglish Methodism, diluted in devout 
 undogmatic minds, with no principle more developed 
 than horror of Vojiery and of worldliness. Turned 
 loose in solitude, reserve, and sadness, on her hus- 
 band's family, who did nothing but shock her with 
 manifestations of the latter, she could hardly turn 
 even to the clerical portion of it, while Julius, as well 
 as his curates, bore all the tokens by which she had 
 been taught to know a Papist. Daily intercourse was 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. 1 97 
 
 perhaps drawing her a little towards her brother-in- 
 law ; but Herbert Bowater united these obnoxious 
 externals to a careless tongue, and joyous easy-going 
 manner, and taste for amusement, which so horrified 
 Anne, that she once condoled with his sister, and 
 proposed to unite in prayer for his conversion ; but 
 this was more than Joanna could bear, and she cried, "I 
 only wish I were as good a Christian as dear Herbert !" 
 
 For, indeed, the sister's heart intensely esteemed 
 his sweetness, honesty, and simplicity, even while she 
 found it an up-hill task to coax him to steady work. 
 After that first morninGf he was indeed ashamed to 
 let her see the proportion between his pastoral visits 
 and his theological reading ; but the newspapers (he 
 had two or three weekly ones) had a curious facility 
 of expansion, and there was a perilous sound in " I'll 
 just see where the meet is," — not that he had the 
 most distant idea of repairing thither ; it was pure 
 filial interest in learning where his father and Edith 
 would be. 
 
 Jenny could not tell whether her presence conduced 
 to diligence or to chatter, but he minded her more 
 than anyone else, and always stuck close to her, in- 
 sisting on her admiring all \ii's> proteges. There was 
 one with whom he was certainly doing a work, which, 
 as Julius truly said, no one more clerical could have 
 done so well — namely, the son of his landlady, 
 a youth who held a small clerkship in an office at 
 Willansborough, and who had fallen this year under 
 
198 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 the attraction of the Backsworth races, so as to get 
 into serious difficulties with his master, and narrowly 
 escape dismissal for the sake of his mother. 
 
 The exceeding good nature and muscular Christian 
 side of the lodger's character was having a most 
 happy effect on the lad. He had set up a regular 
 hero-worship, which Herbert encouraged by always 
 calling for him when going to the choral practices, 
 getting him into the choir, lending him books, and 
 inviting him to read in his room in the evening. How 
 much they played with the dogs was not known ; but 
 at any rate, Harry Hornblower was out of mischief, 
 and his mother was so grateful to Mr. Bowater, that 
 she even went the length of preferring his sermons to 
 those of both his seniors. 
 
 The discovery that most vexed Jenny was that 
 Sirenwood had so much of his time. He seemed to 
 be asked to come to dinner whenever Sir Harry saw 
 him, or a chair was left vacant at a party ; and though 
 his Rector was inexorable as to releasing him on 
 casual notice from the parish avocations of three 
 nights in the week, the effect was grumbling as savage 
 as was possible from so good-humoured a being ; and 
 now and then a regular absence without leave, and a 
 double growl at the consequent displeasure. It was 
 true that in ten minutes he was as hearty and friendly 
 as ever to his colleagues, but that might be onl}' 
 a proof of his disregard of their reproofs, and their 
 small effect. 
 
PASTORAL VISITING. I99 
 
 Eleonora Vivian was not the attraction. No ; 
 Herbert thought her a proud, silent, disagreeable 
 girl, and could see no beauty in her ; but he had a 
 boy's passion for the matured splendour of her 
 sister's beauty ; and she was so kind to him ! 
 
 What could Jenny mean by looking glum about it ? 
 She was stunningly good, and all that. She had done 
 no end of good with clubs and mothers' meetings at 
 her married home ; and it was no end of a pity she 
 was not in Compton parish, instead of under poor 
 wretched old Fuller, whom you could not stir — no, 
 not if you tied a fire-brand to his tail. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 
 
 Lady Rosamond and Joanna Bowater could not 
 fail to be good friends ; Herbert was a great bond of 
 union, and so was Mrs. Poynsett. Rosamond found 
 it hard to recover from the rejection of her scheme of 
 the wheeled-chair, and begged Jenny to become its 
 advocate ; but Mrs. Poynsett listened with a smile of 
 the unpromising kind — " You too, Jenny ? " 
 
 " Why not, dear Mrs. Poynsett ? How nice it would 
 be to see you in your own corner again ! " 
 " I don't think my own corner remains." 
 " Oh ! but it could be restored at once." 
 "Do you think so .'* No, no, Jenny my dear; 
 cracked china is better left on the shelf out of the 
 way, even if it could bear the move, which it can't." 
 
 Then Jenny understood, and advised Rosamond to 
 bide her time, and wait till the session of parliament, 
 when the house would be quieter; and Rosamond- 
 nodded and held her peace. 
 
 The only person who held aloof was Cecil, who 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 201 
 
 would not rise to the bait when Raymond tried to 
 exhibit Miss Bowater as a superior intellectual 
 woman. 
 
 Unluckily, too, Jenny observed one evening at the 
 five o'clock tea, " I hear that Mrs. Duncombe has 
 picked up some very funny people — a lady lecturer, 
 who is coming to set us all to rights." 
 
 " A wonderful pair, I hear 1 " said Frank. " Mrs. 
 Clio Tallboys, she calls herself, and a poor little hus- 
 band, whom she carries about to show the superiority 
 of her sex." 
 
 "A Cambridge professor and a great political 
 economist!" observed Cecil, in a low but indignant 
 voice. 
 
 "The Yankee Cambridge ! " quoth Frank. 
 
 "The American Cambridge is a distinguished 
 university," returned Cecil, 
 
 " Cecil is right. Master Frank," laughed his mother ; 
 " Cam and Isis are not the only streams of learning in 
 the world." 
 
 " I never heard of him," said Jenny ; '' he is a mere 
 satellite to the great luminary." 
 
 "They are worth seeing," added Frank; "she is 
 one of those regular American beauties one would pay 
 to get a sight of." 
 
 " Where did you get all this information ? " asked 
 Cecil. 
 
 " From Duncombe himself. They met on the 
 Righi ; and nothing is more comical than to hear 
 
202 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 him describe the ladies' fraternization over female 
 doctors and lawyers, till they rushed into each other's 
 arms, and the Clio promised to come down on a 
 crusade and convert you all." 
 
 " There are two ways of telling a story," said Cecil. 
 
 " No wonder the gentlemen quake ! " said Mrs. 
 Poynsett 
 
 " I don't," said Frank, boyishly. 
 
 " Because you've no wife to take you in hand," 
 retorted Jenny. 
 
 " For my part," said Mrs. Poynsett, " I can't see 
 what women want. I have always had as many 
 rights as I could exercise." 
 
 " Ah ! but we are not all ladies of the manor," 
 said Jenny, " nor do we all drive coaches." 
 
 " I observe," said Cecil, with dignity, '' that there is 
 supposed to be a licence to laugh at Mrs. Duncombe 
 and whatever she does." 
 
 " She would do better to mind her children," said 
 Frank. 
 
 " Children ! Has she children ? " broke in Anne 
 and Rosamond, both at once. 
 
 " Didn't you know it .'' " said Jenny. 
 
 " No, indeed ! I didn't think her the sort of woman," 
 .said Rosamond. ''What does she do with them .'' " 
 
 " Drops them in the gutter," said Frank. " Literally, 
 as I came home, I heard a squeak, and found a child 
 flat in a little water-course. I picked it out, and the 
 elder one told me it was Ducky Duncombe, or some 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 203 
 
 such word. Its little boots had holes in them, 
 Mother; its legs were purple, and there was a fine 
 smart foreign woman flirting round the corner with 
 young Hornblower." 
 
 " Boys with long red hair, and Highland dresses .'' " 
 exclaimed Rosamond. " Yes, the same we saw with 
 Miss Vivian!" 
 
 " Exactly ! " said Frank eagerly. " She is quite a 
 mother to those poor little wretches ; they watch for 
 her at the Sirenwood gate, and she walks with them. 
 The boy's cry was not for mother or nurse, but for 
 Lena ! " 
 
 *' Pray, did she come at his call ? " 
 
 " No ; but w^hen I carried the brat home, poor 
 Buncombe told me, almost with tears, how good she 
 is to them. I fancy he feels their mother's neglect 
 of them." 
 
 " I'm sure I gave her credit for having none," said 
 Rosamond. 
 
 "Ah! "said Jenny, "you should have heard her 
 condolences with my sister Mary on her last infliction. 
 Fancy Mary's face ! " 
 
 *' No doubt it was to stem a torrent of nurser)^ 
 discussions," said Cecil. " Such bad taste ! " 
 
 "Which ?" murmured Rosamond under her breath, 
 with an arched eye-brow. 
 
 " Plain enough," said Frank : " if a woman is a 
 woman, the bad taste is to be ashamed of it." 
 
 " Yes," said Cecil, *' that is the way with men : 
 
204 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 they would fain keep us down to the level of the 
 nursery." 
 
 " I thought nurseries were usually at the top of the 
 house." 
 
 " Perhaps/' said Mrs. Poynsett, disregarding this 
 mischievous suggestion, '* they mean that organization, 
 like charity, should begin at home." 
 
 " You say that meaningly," said Rosamond. 
 
 " I have heard very odd stories of domestic affairs 
 at Aucuba Villa, and that she can't get a servant to 
 stay there." 
 
 " That man, Alexander, has always been there," 
 said Frank. 
 
 " Yes ; but he has occasionally to do all the work 
 of the house. Yes, I can't help it, Cecil, Susan will 
 regale me with cook-stories sometimes ; and I have 
 heard of the whole establishment turning out on being 
 required to eat funguses." 
 
 " I shall beware of dining there ! " said Rosamond. 
 
 " Don't they dine here to-morrow ? " asked Frank. 
 
 " No, they are engaged to the Moys," said Cecil. 
 
 " But the Vivians come } " 
 
 " Oh, yes." 
 
 Everyone knew that already ; but Frank could not 
 help having it repeated. It was a mere formal neces- 
 sity to ask them, and had been accepted as such; but 
 there was some amazement when Cecil brought home 
 Lady Tyrrell and Miss Vivian to lunch and spend 
 the afternoon. It might be intended as one of her 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 205 
 
 demonstrations ; for though it was understood that 
 any of the inmates were free to bring home friends to 
 luncheon, it was not done — except with a casual 
 gentleman — without notice to the mistress of the 
 house. Cecil, however, comported herself entirely as 
 in that position, explaining that Lady Tyrrell was come 
 to give her advice upon an intended fernery, and 
 would perform her toilette here, so as to have plenty 
 of time. Frank, little knowing what was passing, was 
 working the whole day at his tutor's for the closely 
 imminent examination ; Julius and Raymond were 
 gravely polite ; Eleonora very silent ; and as soon as 
 the meal was over, Rosamond declared that she should 
 not come out to stand planning in the cold ; and 
 though Herbert would have liked nothing better in 
 that company, his Rector carried him off to arrange 
 an Advent service in a distant hamlet ; Anne's horse 
 came to the door ; and only Joanna remained to ac- 
 company the gardening party, except that Raymond 
 came out with them to mark the limits of permissible 
 alteration. 
 
 " How unchanged ! " exclaimed Lady Tyrrell. 
 " Time stands still here ; only where is the grand old 
 magnolia .? How sweet it used to be ! " 
 
 " Killed by the frost," said Raymond, shortly, not 
 choosing to undergo a course of reminiscences, and 
 chafing his wife by his repressive manner towards her 
 guest. When he had pointed out the bed of 
 Americans that were to be her boundary, he excused 
 
206 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 himself as having letters to finish ; and as he went 
 away, Cecil gave vent to her distaste to the old shrubs 
 and borders, now, of course, at their worst — the azaleas 
 mere dead branches, the roses with a few yellow 
 night-capped buds still lingering, and fuchsias with a 
 scanty bell or two. 
 
 Jenny fought for their spring beauty, all the more 
 because Lady Tyrrell was encouraging the wife to 
 criticise the very things she had tried to sentimen- 
 talize over with the husband ; but seeing that she was 
 only doing harm, she proposed a brisk walk to 
 Eleonora, who gladly assented, though her sister 
 made a protest about damp, and her being a bad 
 walker. The last thing they heard was Cecil's sigh, 
 " It is all so shut in, wherever there is level ground, 
 that the bazaar would be impossible." 
 
 " I should hope so 1 " muttered Jenny. 
 
 " What do you mean to do about this bazaar ? " 
 asked Eleonora, as they sped awa3\ 
 
 " I don't know. Those things so often go off in 
 smoke, that I don't make up my mind till they 
 become imminent." 
 
 " I am afraid this will go on," said Eleonora. 
 " Camilla means it, and she always carries out her 
 plans ; I wish I saw the right line." 
 
 " About that .? " 
 
 " About everything. It seems to me that there 
 never was any one so cut off from help and advice as 
 I am ; " then, as Joanna made some mute sign of 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 20/ 
 
 sympathy, " I knew you would understand ; I have 
 been longing to be with you, for there has been no 
 one to whom I could speak freely since I left Rock- 
 pier." 
 
 '* And I have been longing to have you. Mamma 
 would have asked you to stay with us before, only we 
 had the house full. Can't you come now ? " 
 
 *' You will see that I shall not be allowed. It is of 
 no use to think about it ! " said the girl, with a sigh. 
 " Here, let us get out of this broad path, or she may 
 yet come after us — persuade Mrs. Charnock Poynsett 
 it is too cold to stand about — anything to break up a 
 tete-a- titer 
 
 Jenny saw she really was in absolute fear of pursuit ; 
 but hardly yet understood the nervous haste to turn 
 into a not very inviting side-path, veiled by the trees, 
 whose wet leaves were falling. 
 
 *' Do you mind the damp .?" asked the girl anxiously. 
 
 " No, not at all ; but " 
 
 " You don't know what it is never to feel free, but 
 be like a French girl, always watched — at least 
 whenever I am with anyone I care to speak to." 
 
 " Are you quite sure it is not imagination .^ " 
 
 " O Joanna, don't be like all the rest, blinded by 
 her ! You knew her always ! " 
 
 '' Only from below. I am four years younger ; you 
 know dear Emily was my contemporary." 
 
 " Dear Emily ! I miss her more now than even at 
 Rockpier. But you, who were her friend, and knew 
 
208 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Camilla of old, I know you can help me as no one 
 else can." 
 
 Jenny returned a caress ; and Eleonora spoke on. 
 "You know I was only eight years old when Camilla 
 married, and I had scarcely seen her till she came to 
 us at Rockpier, on Lord Tyrrell's death, and then she 
 was most delightful. I thought her like mother and 
 sister both in one, even more tender than dear Emily. 
 How could I have thought so for a moment ? But 
 she enchanted everybody. Clergy, ladies, and all 
 came under the spell ; and I can't get advice from 
 any of them — even from Miss Coles — you remember 
 her > " 
 
 " Your governess ? How nice she was ! " 
 
 " Emily and I owed everything to her ! She was 
 as near being a mother to us as anyone could be ; and 
 Camilla could not say enough of gratitude, or shew 
 esteem enough, and fascinated her like all the rest of 
 us ; but she never rested till she had got her off to a 
 situation in Russia. I did not perceive the game at 
 the time, but I see now how all the proposals for 
 situations within reach of me were quashed." 
 
 " But you write to her ? " 
 
 " Yes ; but as soon as I shewed any of my troubles 
 she reproved me for self-will and wanting to judge for 
 myself, and not submit to my sister. That's the way 
 with all at Rockpier. Camilla has gone about pitying 
 me to them for having to give way to my married 
 sister, but saying it was quite time that she took 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 209 
 
 charge of us ; and on that notion they all wrote to me. 
 Then she persuaded papa to go abroad ; and I was 
 delighted, little thinking she nev^cr meant me to go 
 back again." 
 
 " Did she not ? " 
 
 " Listen ! I've heard her praise Rockpier and its 
 church to the skies to one person — say Mr. Bindon. 
 To another, such as our own Vicar, she says it was 
 much too u/tra, and she likes moderation ; she tells 
 your father that she wants to see Papa among his old 
 friends ; and to Mrs. Buncombe, I've heard her go as 
 near the truth as is possible to her, and call it a weari- 
 some place, with an atmosphere of incense, curates, 
 and old maids, from whom she had carried me off 
 before I grew fit for nothing else ! " 
 
 " I dare say all these are true in turn, or seem so to 
 her, or she would not say them before you." 
 
 " She has left off trying to gloss it over with me, 
 except so far as it is part of her nature. She did at 
 first, but she knows it is of no use now." 
 
 " Really, Lenore, you must be going too far." 
 
 " I have shocked you ; but you can't conceive what 
 it is to hve with perpetual falsity. No, I can't use 
 any other word. I am always mistrusting and being 
 angered, and my senses of right and wrong get so 
 confused, that it is like groping in a maze." Her eyes 
 were full of tears, but she exclaimed, " Tell me, 
 Joanna, was there ever anything between Camilla and 
 Mr. Poynsett .? " 
 
 VOL. I. p 
 
2ro THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Why bring that up again now ? " 
 
 "Why did it go off? " insisted Lenore. 
 
 "Because Mrs. Poynsett could not give up and 
 turn into a dowager, as if she were not the mistress 
 herself." 
 
 " Was that all ? " 
 
 " So it was said." 
 
 '* I want to get to the bottom of it. It was not 
 because Lord Tyrrell came in the way." 
 
 " I am afraid they thought so here." 
 
 " Then/' said Eleonora, in a hard, dry way, " I know 
 the reason of our being brought back here, and of a 
 good deal besides." 
 
 "My dear Lena, I am very sorry for you ; but I 
 think you had better keep this out of your mind, or 
 you will fall into a hard, bitter, suspicious mood." 
 
 " That is the very thing. I am in a hard, bitter, 
 suspicious mood, and I can't see how to keep out of 
 it ; I don't know when opposition is right and firm, 
 and when it is only my own self-will." 
 
 " Would it not be a good thing to talk to Julius 
 Charnock .? You would not be betraying anything." 
 
 " No ! I can't 'seem to make up to the good clergy- 
 man ! Certainly not. Besides, I've heard Camilla 
 talking to his wife ! " 
 
 " Talking ? " 
 
 "Admiring that dress, which she had been sneering 
 at to your mother, don't you remember ? It was one 
 of her honey-cups with venom below — only happily, 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 211 
 
 Lady Rosamond saw through the flattery. I'm 
 ashamed whenever I see her ! " 
 
 " I don't think that need cut you off from JuHus." 
 
 " Tell me truly" again broke in Lenore, " what 
 Mrs. Poynsett really is. She is a standing proverb 
 with us for tyranny over her sons ; not with Camilla 
 alone, but with Papa." 
 
 " See how they love her ! " cried Jenny hotly. 
 
 " Camilla thinks that abject ; but I can't forget how 
 Frank talked of her in those happy Rockpier days." 
 
 " When you first knew him .? " said Jenny. 
 
 They must have come at length to the real point, 
 for Eleonora began at once — *' Yes ; he was with his 
 sick friend, and we were so happy ; and now he is 
 being shamefully used, and I don't know what to do ! " 
 
 '* Indeed, Lenore," said Jenny, in her downright 
 way, ''I do not understand. You do not seem to 
 care for him." 
 
 " Of course I am wrong," said the poor girl ; " but 
 I hoped I was doing the best thing for him." Then, as 
 Jenny made an indignant sound, " See, Jenny, when 
 he came to Rockpier, Camilla had been a widow 
 about three months. She never had been very sad, 
 for Lord Tyrrell had been quite imbecile for a year, 
 poor man ! And when Frank came, she could not 
 make enough of him ; and he and I both thought the 
 two families had been devotedly fond of each other, 
 and that she was only too glad to meet one of them." 
 
 " I suppose that was true." 
 
 P 2 
 
-212 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " So do I, as things stood then. She meant Frank 
 to be a sort of connecting link, against the time when 
 she could come back here ; but we, poor children, 
 never thought of that, and went on together, not 
 exactly saying anything, but quite understanding how 
 much we cared. Indeed, I know Camilla impressed 
 on him that, for his mother's sake, it must go no 
 farther then, while he was still so young; and next 
 came our journey on the Continent, ending in our 
 coming back here last July." 
 
 Jenny remembered that Raymond's engagement 
 had not been made known till August, and Frank had 
 only returned from a grouse-shooting holiday a week 
 or two before the arrival of the brides. 
 
 " Now," added Eleonora, " Camilla has made me 
 understand that nothing will induce her to let Papa 
 consent ; and though I know he would, if he were left 
 to himself, I also see how all this family must hate 
 and loathe the connection." 
 
 " May I ask, has Frank ever spoken ? " 
 " Oh no ! I think he implied it all to Camilla when 
 she bade him wait till our return, fancying, I suppose, 
 that one could forget the other." 
 
 " But why does she seem so friendly with him ? " 
 " It is her way ; she can't be other than smooth and 
 caressing, and likes to have young men about ; and I 
 try to be grave and distant, because — the sooner he is 
 cured of me the better for him," she uttered, with a 
 sob ; " but when he is there, and I see those grieved 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 213 
 
 eyes of his, I can't keep it up ! And Papa does like 
 him ! Oh ! if Camilla would but leave us alone ! See 
 here, Jenny !" and she shewed, on her watch-chain, a 
 bit of ruddy polished pebble. " Is it wrong to keep 
 this ? He and I found the stone in two halves, on 
 the beach, the last day we were together, and had 
 them set, pretending to one another it was only play. 
 Sometimes I think I ought to send mine back ; I know 
 he has his, he let me see it one day. Do you think I 
 ought to give it up ? " 
 
 " Why should you ? " 
 
 " Because then he would know that it must be all 
 over." 
 
 " But is it all over } Within I mean } " 
 
 " Jenny, you know better ! " 
 
 ''Then, Lenore, if so, and it is only your sister who 
 objects, not your father himself, ought you to torment 
 poor Frank by acting indifference when you do not 
 feel it .? " 
 
 '•' Am I untrue ? I never thought of that. I thought 
 I should be sacrificing myself for his good ! " 
 
 " His good .'' O Lenore, I believe it is the worst 
 wrong a woman can do a man, to let him think he has 
 wasted his heart upon her, and that she is trifling with 
 him. You don't know what a bad effect this is 
 having, even on his prospects. He cannot get his 
 brain or spirits free to work for his examination." 
 
 " How hard it is to know what is right ! Here have 
 I been thinking that what made me so miserable must 
 
214 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 be the best for him, and would it not make it all the 
 worse to relax, and let him see ? " 
 
 "I do not think so," returned Jenny. " His spirits 
 would not be worn by doubt of yoii — the worst doubt 
 of all ; and he would feel that he had something to 
 strive for." 
 
 Eleonora walked on for some steps in silence, then 
 exclaimed, "Yes, but there's his family. It would 
 only stir up trouble for them there. They can't 
 approve of me." 
 
 ** They don't know you. When they do, they will. 
 Now they only see what looks like — forgive me, Lena 
 — caprice and coquetry; they will know you in earnest, 
 if you will let them." 
 
 " You don't mean that they know anything about 
 it ! " exclaimed Eleonora. 
 
 Jenny almost laughed. " Not know where poor 
 Frank's heart is 1 You don't guess how those sons 
 live with their mother ! " 
 
 *' I suppose I have forgotten what sincerity and 
 openness are," said Eleonora sadly. *' But is not she 
 very much vexed t " 
 
 " She was vexed to find it had gone so deep with 
 him," said Jenny; "but I know that you can earn 
 her affection and trust by being staunch and true 
 yourself — and it is worth having, Lena ! " 
 
 For Jenny knew Eleonora of old, through Emily's 
 letters, and had no doubt of her rectitude, constancy, 
 and deep principle, though she was at the present 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 21 
 
 time petrified by constant antagonism to such untruth- 
 fulness as, where it cannot corrupt, almost always 
 hardens those who come in contact with it. And this 
 cruel idea of self-sacrifice was, no doubt, completing 
 the indurating process. 
 
 Jenny knew the terrible responsibility of giving 
 such advice. She had not done it lightly. She had 
 been feeling for years past that " 'Tis better to have 
 loved and lost, than never to have loved at all ; " and 
 she knew that uncertainty of the right to love and 
 trust would have been a pang beyond all she had 
 suffered. To give poor Eleonora, situated as she now 
 was, admission to the free wholesome atmosphere of 
 the Charnock family, was to her kind heart irresistible ; 
 and it was pleasant to feel the poor girl clinging to 
 her, as people do to those who have given the very 
 counsel the heart craved for. 
 
 It was twilight when the walk was over, and the 
 drawing-room was empty ; but Anne came to invite 
 them to Mrs. Poynsett's tea, saying that Cecil had 
 Lady Tyrrell in her own sitting-room. Perhaps Mrs. 
 Poynsett had not realized who was Jenny's com- 
 panion, for she seemed startled at their entrance ; 
 and Jenny said, '' You remember Lenore Vivian } " 
 
 " I must have seen you as a child," said Mrs. 
 Poynsett courteously. "You are very like your sister." 
 
 This, though usually a great compliment, disap- 
 pointed Eleonora, as she answered, rather frigidly,. 
 " So people say." 
 
2l6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Have you walked far ? " 
 
 '' To the Outwood Lodge." 
 
 " To-day ? Was it not very damp in the woods ? " 
 
 "Oh no, deh'ghtful!" 
 
 "Lena and I are old friends," said Jenny; "too 
 glad to meet to heed the damp." 
 
 Here Raymond entered, with the air of a man who 
 had just locked up a heavy post-bag at the last 
 possible moment ; and he too was amazed, though 
 he covered it by asking why the party was so 
 small. 
 
 " Rosamond has gone to meet her husband, and 
 Cecil has her guest in her own domains." 
 
 Then Jenny asked after his day's work — a county 
 matter, interesting to all the magistracy, and their 
 womankind in their degree ; and Eleonora listened 
 in silence, watching with quiet heedfulness Frank's 
 mother and brother. 
 
 When Frank himself came in, his face was a perfect 
 study ; and the colour mantled in her cheeks, so that 
 Jenny trusted that both were touched by the wonder- 
 ful beauty that a little softness and timidity brought 
 out on the features, usually so resolutely on guard. 
 But when, in the later evening, Jenny crept in to 
 her old friend, hoping to find that the impression 
 had been favourable, she only heard, ** Exactly like 
 her sister, who always had the making of a fine 
 countenance." 
 
 ** The mask — yes, but Lena has the spirit behind 
 
WITHERED LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS. 21/ 
 
 the mask. Poor girl ! she is not at all happy in the 
 atmosphere her sister has brought home." 
 
 " Then I wish they would marry her ! " 
 
 *' Won't you believe how truly nice and good she 
 is ? " 
 
 " That will not make up for the connection. My heart 
 sank, Jenny, from the time I heard that those Vivians 
 were coming back. I kept Frank away as long as I 
 could — but there's no help for it. It seems the fate 
 of my boys to be the prey of those sirens." 
 
 '' Well, then, dear Mrs. Poynsett, do pray believe 
 on my word, that Eleonora is a different creature ! " 
 
 " Is there no hope of averting it .'' I thought 
 Camilla would — poor Frank is such insignificant 
 game ! " 
 
 " And when it does come, don't be set against her, 
 please, dear Mrs. Poynsett. Be as kind to her — as 
 you were to me," whispered Jenny, nestling up, and 
 hiding her face, 
 
 " My dear, but I knew you ! You were no such 
 case." 
 
 '^ Except that you all were horribly vexed with us, 
 because we couldn't help liking each other," said 
 Jenny. 
 
 " Ah ! my poor child ! I only wish you could 
 have liked anyone else ! " 
 
 " Do you ? " said Jenny, looking up. " Oh no, you 
 don't ! You would not have me for your supple- 
 mentary child, if I had," she added playfully ; then 
 
2l8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 very low — " It is because the thought of dear Archie, 
 even ending as it did, is my very heart's joy, that I 
 want you to let them have theirs ! " 
 
 And then came a break, which ended the pleading ; 
 and Jenny was obliged to leave Compton without 
 much notion as to the effect of her advice, audacious 
 as she knew it to have been. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 
 
 ' A light that never was on sea or land." 
 
 UVordswot'ih. 
 
 Nothing could be prettier than Rosamond's happi- 
 ness in welcoming her school-boy brothers, and her 
 gratitude to Mrs. Poynsett for inviting them, declaring 
 that she liked boys. Her sons, however, dreaded the 
 inroad of two wild Irish lads, and held council what 
 covers and what horses could most safely be victim- 
 ized to them, disregarding all testimony in their favour 
 from interested parties. When, therefore, Terence 
 and Thomas de Lancey made their appearance, and 
 were walked in for exhibition by their proud and 
 happy sister, there was some surprise at the sight of 
 two peculiarly refined, quiet boys, with colourless com- 
 plexions, soft, sleepy, long-lashed, liquid brown eyes, 
 the lowest of full voices, and the gentlest of manners, 
 as if nothing short of an explosion could rouse them. 
 And it Avas presently manifest that their sister had 
 said rather too little than too much of Terry's abili- 
 ties. Not only had he brought home a huge pile of 
 
220 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 prizes, but no sooner was the seance after dinner 
 broken up, than he detained JuHus, saying, in a very 
 meek and modest tone, " Rose says you know all the 
 books in the library." 
 
 " Rose undertakes a great deal for me. What is 
 this the prelude to } " 
 
 "I wanted to ask if I might just look at any book 
 about the physical geography of Italy, or the History 
 of Venice, or the Phoenicians." 
 " Why, Terry ! " 
 
 " It is for the Prize Essay," explained the boy ; 
 " the subject is the effect of the physical configura- 
 tion of a country upon the character of a nation." 
 
 Julius drew a long breath, astounded at the march 
 of intellect since his time. " They don't expect such 
 things of fellows like you ! " he said. 
 
 " Only of the sixth, but the fifth may go in for it, 
 and I want to get up to the Doctor himself; I 
 thought, as I was coming to such a jolly library, I 
 might try ; and if I do pretty well, I shall be put up, 
 if any more fellows leave. Do you think I may use 
 the books ? I'm librarian, so I know how to take 
 care of them." 
 
 "You can be trusted for that, you book-worm," 
 said Julius; "here's the library, but I fear I don't 
 know much about those modern histories. My 
 mother is a great reader, and will direct us. Let us 
 come to her." 
 
 Quiet as Terry was, he was neither awkward nor 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 221 
 
 shy ; and when JuHus had explained his wishes, and 
 Mrs. Poynsett had asked a few good-natured ques- 
 tions, she was charmed as well as surprised at the 
 gentle yet eager modesty with which the low-pitched 
 tones detailed the ideas already garnered up, and in- 
 quired for authorities, in which to trace them out, 
 without the least notion of the remarkable powers 
 he was evincing. She was delighted with the boy ; 
 Julius guided his researches ; and he went off to bed 
 as happy as a king, with his hands full of little dark 
 tarnished French duodecimos, and with a ravenous 
 appetite for the pasture ground he saw before him. 
 Lower Canada had taught him French, and the stores 
 he found were revelry to him. 
 
 Cecil's feelings may be better guessed than de- 
 scribed when the return of Mudie's box was hastened 
 that he might have Motley's DittcJi Republic. She 
 thought this studiousness mere affectation ; but it 
 was indisputable that Terry's soul was in books, and 
 that he never was so happy as when turned loose into 
 the library, dipping here and there, or with an elbow 
 planted on either side of a folio. 
 
 Offers of gun or horse merely tormented him, and 
 only his sister could drag him out by specious pleas 
 of need, to help in those Christmas works, where 
 she had much better assistance in Anne and the 
 Curates — the one for clubs and coals, the other for 
 decorations. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett was Terry's best friend. He used 
 
222 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 to come to her in the evenirrGf and discuss what he 
 had been reading till she was almost as keen about 
 his success as Frank's. He talked over his ambition, 
 of getting- a scholarship, becoming a fellow, and living 
 for ever among the books, for which the scanty supply 
 in his wandering boyhood had but whetted his fer- 
 vour. He even confided to her what no one else 
 knew but his sister Aileen, his epic in twenty-four 
 books on Brian Boromhe and the Battle of Clontarf ; 
 and she was mother enough not to predict its inevitable 
 fate, nor audibly to detect the unconscious plagiar- 
 isms, but to be a better listener than even Aileen, 
 who never could be withheld from unfeeling laughter 
 at the touching fate of the wounded warriors who 
 were tied to stakes that they might die fighting. 
 
 Tom was a more ordinary youth, even more lazy 
 and quiet in the house, though out of it he amazed 
 Frank and Charlie by his dash, fire, and daring, and 
 witched all the stable- world with noble horseman- 
 ship. Hunting was prevented, however, by a frost, 
 which filled everyone with excitement as to the 
 practicability of skating. 
 
 The most available water was a lake between 
 Sirenwood and Compton ; and here, like eagles to 
 the slaughter, gathered, by a sort of instinct, the en- 
 tire skating population of the neighbourhood on the 
 first day that the ice was hard enough. Rosamond 
 was there, of course, with both her brothers, whom 
 she averred, by a bold figure of speech, to have skated 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 223 
 
 in Canada before they could walk. Anne was there, 
 studying the new phenomena of ice and snow under 
 good-natured Charlie's protection, learning the art 
 with unexpected courage and dexterity. Cecil was 
 there, but not shining so much, for her father had 
 been always so nervous about his darling venturing 
 on the ice, that she had no skill in the art ; and as 
 Raymond had been summoned to some political 
 meeting, she had no special squire, as her young 
 brother-in-law eluded the being enlisted in her ser- 
 vice ; and she began to decide that skating was irra- 
 tional and unwomanly ; although Lady Tyrrell had 
 just arrived, and was having her skates put on ; and 
 Eleonora was only holding back because she was 
 taking care of the two purple-legged, purple-faced, 
 and purple-haired little Buncombes, whom she kept 
 sliding in a corner, where they could hardly damage 
 themselves or the ice. 
 
 Cecil had just thanked Colonel Ross for pushing 
 her in a chair, and on his leaving her was deliberating 
 whether to walk home with her dignity, or watch for 
 some other cavalier, when the drag drew up on the 
 road close by, and from it came Captain and Mrs. 
 Buncombe, with two strangers, who were introduced 
 to her as " Mrs. Tallboys and the Professor, just 
 fetched from the station." 
 
 The former was exquisitely dressed in blue velvet 
 and sealskin, and had the transparent complexion 
 and delicate features of an American, with brilliant 
 
224 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 eyes, and a look of much cleverness ; her husband, 
 small, sallow, and dark, and apparently out of health. 
 *' Are you leaving off skating, Cecil ? " asked Mrs. 
 Duncombe ; '' goodness me, I could go on into next 
 year ! But if you are wasting your privileges, bestow 
 them on Mrs. Tallboys, for pity's sake. We came in 
 hopes some good creature had a spare pair of skates. 
 Gussie Moy offered, but hers were yards too long." 
 
 " I hope mine are not too small," said Cecil, not 
 quite crediting that an American foot could be as small 
 as that of a Charnock ; but she found herself mistaken, 
 they were a perfect fit ; and as they were tried, there 
 came a loud laugh, and she saw a tall girl standing by 
 her, whom, in her round felt hat and thick rough coat 
 with metal buttons, she had really taken for one of 
 the Captain's male friends. 
 
 " I wouldn't have such small feet," she said ; " I 
 shouldn't feel secure of my understanding." 
 
 " Mr^. Tallboys would not change with you, Gussie," 
 said Captain Duncombe. " I'd back her any day — : — " 
 
 "What odds will you take, Captain " 
 
 But Mrs, Duncombe broke in. *' Bless me, if there 
 aren't those little dogs of mine ! Lena Vivian does 
 spoil them. Send them home, for pity's sake. Bob." 
 
 " Poor little kids, they are doing no harm." 
 
 " We shall have them tumbling in, and no end of a 
 row ! I can't stand a swarm of children after me, and 
 they are making a perfect victim of Lena. Send 
 them home, Bob, or I shall have to do it." 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 22$ 
 
 The Captain obeyed somewhat ruefully. " Come, 
 my lads, Bessie says you must go home, and leave 
 Miss Vivian in peace." 
 
 '' O Bob, please let us stay; Lena is taking care 
 of us " 
 
 *' Indeed I like nothing so well," protested Lenore ; 
 but the Captain murmured something about higher 
 powers, and cheerfully saying he would give the boys 
 a run, took each by an unwilling hand, and raced 
 them into a state of frightened jollity by a short 
 cut, by which he was able to dispose of them in the 
 drag. 
 
 The Professor, meanwhile, devoted himself to Mrs. 
 Charnock Poynsett, took her chair for a whirl on the 
 ice ; described American sleighing parties ; talked of 
 his tour in Europe. He was really a clever, observant 
 man, and Cecil had not had anyone to talk of Italy 
 to her for a long time past, and responded with all her 
 full precision. The Professor might speak a little 
 through his nose, but she had seldom met anyone 
 more polite and accomplished. 
 
 Meantime, a quadrille was being got up. Such a 
 performance and such partners had never been seen in 
 light that shone on water or on land, being coupled 
 by their dexterity in the art. They were led off by 
 Mrs. Buncombe and the Reverend James Bindon. 
 Mrs. Tallboys paired with Terry De Lancey, Lady 
 Tyrrell with Herbert Bowater, Lady Rosamond with 
 one of the officers. Tom was pounced on by the great 
 
 . VOL. I. Q 
 
226 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Gussy Moy," who declared, to his bitter wrath, that 
 she preferred little boys, turning her back on Mr. 
 Strangeways and two or three more officers, as she 
 saw them first solicitous to engage Eleonora Vivian — 
 who, however, was to skate with Charlie. 
 
 A few wistful glances were cast towards the Wilsbro 
 road, for Frank had been obliged by the cruel exi- 
 gencies of the office to devote this magnificent frosty 
 day to the last agonies of cram. This, however, had 
 gone on better for the last fortnight — owing, perhaps, 
 to some relaxation of Eleonora's stern guard over 
 her countenance in their few meetings since Jenny's 
 departure. 
 
 "And after all," as Charlie said, with the cheeriness 
 of one who has passed his own ordeal, '' a man who 
 had taken such a degree as Frank could not depend 
 on a few weeks of mere cramming." 
 
 Frank did come speedily up the road just as the 
 quadrille was in full force ; and perhaps the hindrance 
 had stood him in good stead ; for when the perform- 
 ance ceased in the twilight, and voices were eagerly 
 talking of renewing it as a fackel-tanz in the later even- 
 ing, and only yielding at the recollection of dinner 
 engagements, it was not Charlie who was taking off 
 Eleonora's skates ; and when, after fixing grand plans 
 for the morrow, Lady Tyrrell mounted her pony- 
 carriage and looked for her sister, she heard that Miss 
 Vivian was walking home. 
 
 Yes, Miss Vivian was walking home ; and there was 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 22/ 
 
 .a companion by her side feeling as if that dark, 
 hard gravelled road were the pebbly beach of 
 Rockpier. 
 
 *' When do you go to London ? " she asked. 
 
 "To-morrow afternoon. Wish me well through, 
 Lenore." 
 
 '' Indeed I do." 
 
 " Say it again, Lenore ! Give me the elixir, that 
 will give me power to conquer everything." 
 
 " Don't say such exaggerated things." 
 
 ** Do you think it is possible to me to exaggerate 
 what a word from you is to me } " said Frank, in a low 
 voice of intense feeling. 
 
 " O Frank ! it is wiser not to say such things." 
 
 *' Wise ! what is that to me ? It is true, and you 
 have known it — and why will you not allow that you 
 do, as in those happy old days " 
 
 *' That's what makes me fear. It would be so much 
 better for you if all this had never begun." 
 
 " It has begun, then ! " murmured Frank, with joy 
 and triumph in the sound. *' As long as you allow 
 that, it is enough for me." 
 
 " I must 1 It is true ; and truth must be some- 
 where ! " was whispered in a strange, low, resolute 
 whisper. 
 
 •' True ! true that you can feel one particle of the 
 intensity — Oh ! what words can I find to make you 
 understand the glow and tenderness the very thought 
 ^of you has been !" 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Hush, hush ! — pray, Frank. Now, if I do own 
 it " 
 
 " It — what ? Let me hear ! I'm very stupid, you 
 know ! " said Frank, in a voice of exulting comprehen- 
 sion, belying his alleged stupidity. 
 
 " What "you have been to me " 
 
 ** Have been — eh } " said this cruel cross-examiner. 
 
 *' Do not let us waste time," said Eleonora, in a 
 trembling voice ; " you know very well." 
 
 " Do I .? " 
 
 " Now, Frank ! " 
 
 " If you only knew what it would be worth to me 
 to hear you say it ! " 
 
 " I'm afraid it would be only worth pain and grief 
 to you, and anger from every one," said she, in a low 
 dejected voice, " far more than I am worth." 
 
 " You } Trust me to judge of that, Lenore. Would 
 not you be worth all, and more than all, that flesh or 
 spirit could feel ! I could face it all for one look from 
 you ! " said Frank, with fervour from his heart of 
 hearts. 
 
 "You make me more and more afraid. It is all too 
 wretched to lead anyone into. Since I knew the 
 whole truth, I have tried to spare you from it." 
 
 " That is why you have been so cold, and held so 
 cruelly aloof all this time, so that if I had not caught 
 one ray now and then, you would have broken my 
 heart, Lenore ; as it is, I've been wretched beyond 
 description, hardly able to sleep by night or speak 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 229 
 
 rationally by day. How had you the heart to serve 
 me so, like a stony Greek statue ? " 
 
 " I thought it must be right. It seemed to break 
 my own heart too." 
 
 ''That's the woman's way of shewing a thing is 
 right ; but why I can't see. If you did hate me, it 
 might be all very well to throw me over ; but if not, 
 why torture two as well as one ? Are you afraid of 
 my people } I'll manage them." 
 
 " You Httle know " 
 
 '' Know what ?" 
 
 "All that made it cruel in Camilla to throw us 
 together." 
 
 " Cruel ! when it was the crowning joy of my past 
 life, and is to be the crowning joy of the future } " 
 
 *' How can it } Frank, you must know the causes 
 your mother has for abhorring any connection with 
 our unhappy family." 
 
 " My mother has too much sense to think a little 
 extravagance among the men of a family can affect 
 the daughters. I know the outer world is afraid of 
 her, but she is the tenderest and most indulgent 0/ 
 mothers to us. No fear of her ! " 
 
 "Ah! but that's not all." 
 
 "You mean that she has not taken much to your 
 sister. I know ; and I'm very sorry ; but bring them 
 together, and it would soon be got over. Besides, it 
 is not your sister, but you. What do you mean } " 
 rather disconcerted. 
 
230 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Then you really did not know of the old engage- 
 ment between Camilla and your eldest brother ? " 
 
 *' Oh, oh ! So she consented once ! Then she will 
 do so again." 
 
 " Listen ! Camilla broke it off because your mother 
 could not resign her position to her." 
 
 He gave a whistle of dismay, then recovering him- 
 self with a laugh, said, " Fourth sons don't have such 
 expectations founded on them. Don't fear, dearest ; 
 that can't be all the story, though no doubt it was 
 part of it. My mother would rather go into a 
 hermitage than stand in the way of Raymond's 
 happiness. Some one must have made mischief." 
 
 "It was not all," said the girl; "it was Lord 
 Tyrrell's coming in the way. Yes, my father told me 
 so ; he held it up to me as an example of what one 
 ought to do for one's family." 
 
 " Then she was coerced .■* " 
 
 " I don't know ; but such a marriage for me, with 
 some one who would redeem the property, is their 
 scheme for me. Even if your mother and brother 
 could tolerate the thought of one of us, my poor dear 
 father will never dare to consent as long as she is with 
 him." 
 
 " Nay, Lenore ; have I not often heard her say she 
 prefers happiness to ambition ^ Whatever she may 
 have done, she has come to think differently. She 
 has well-nigh told me so." 
 
 *'Yes, at Rockpier," sighed Eleonora. "HarkL"^ 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 23 1 
 
 The sound of the ponies' bells and hoofs was heard ; 
 Lenore put her hand on his arm, and drew him aside 
 on the grass, behind a clump of trees, hushing him by 
 a silent pressure as he tried to remonstrate. He 
 clasped her hand, and felt her trembling till the 
 tinkling and tramp were gone by. 
 
 ''You frightened darling!" were his first words, 
 when she let him speak. '* Who would have thought 
 you would be so shy .? But we'll have it out, 
 and " 
 
 " It is not that," interrupted Lenore, " not maidenly 
 shyness. That's for girls who are happy and secure. 
 No ; but I don't want to have it all overthrown at 
 once — the first sweetness " 
 
 " It can't be overthrown ! " he said, holding arm 
 and hand in the intense grasp. 
 
 " Not really, never ; but there is no use in attempt- 
 ing anything till I am of age — next autumn, the 7th 
 of November." 
 
 " Say nothing till then ! " exclaimed Frank, in some 
 consternation. 
 
 *' We are only where we were before ! We are 
 sure of each other now. It will be only vexation and 
 harass," said she, with the instinct of a persecuted 
 creature. 
 
 " I couldn't," said Frank. " I could not keep it in 
 with mother ! It would not be right if I could, nor 
 should I feel as if I were acting fairly by your 
 father." 
 
232 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " You are right, Frank. Forgive me ! You don't 
 know what it is to have to be ahvays saving one's 
 truth only by silence. Speak when you think right." 
 
 " And I believe we shall find it far easier than you 
 think. I'm not quite a beggar — except for you, my 
 Lena. I should like to go home this minute, and tell 
 Mother and Charlie and Rose, that I'm — I'm treading 
 on air ; but I should only be fallen upon for thinking 
 of anything but my task-work. So I'll take a leaf 
 out of your book, you cautious Lenore, and wait till 
 I come down victorious, happy and glorious — and I 
 shall now. I feel as if you had given me power to 
 scale Olympus, now I know I may carry your heart 
 with me. Do you remember this, Lena ? " He guided 
 her hand to the smooth pebble on his chain. She 
 responded by putting her own into his. 
 
 " My talisman ! " he said. " It has been miy talis- 
 man of success many a time. I have laid my hand 
 on it, and thought I was working for you. Mine! 
 mine ! mine ! Waters cannot quench love — never 
 fear." 
 
 ^' Hush ! " as the light of the opening hall door was 
 seen, and Lady Tyrrell's voice was heard, saying, " I 
 thought we passed her ; I am sure she was near." 
 
 Eleonora withdrew her arm, patted Frank back, 
 waved him into silence, and went forward saying, 
 " Here I am, Camilla ; I walked home." 
 
 Her voice was calm and self-contained as ever — the 
 unassailable dignity just as usual. The hall was full 
 
NEITHER LAND NOR WATER. 233 
 
 of officers, standing about the fire and drinking tea, 
 and Eleonora's well-worn armour was instantly on, as 
 her sister asked where she had been, since others had 
 walked home and had not overtaken her. 
 
 " I came by the lower road," said she. 
 
 ^' Indeed ! I never saw you." 
 
 " I saw you pass — or rather heard you." 
 
 *' And did not let me pick you up ! Did you hide 
 yourself .'* " 
 
 "It was much warmer to walk." 
 
 *' So you seem to have found it, to judge by your 
 cheeks," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 And Mr. Strangeways and one or two others could 
 not restrain a murmured exclamation on the exceed- 
 ing loveliness of that deepened colour and brightened 
 eye ; but Lenore only knew that an equally bright 
 and keen eye was watching her heedfully, and knew 
 that she was suspected, if not read through and 
 through. 
 
 She mingled in the discussion of the skating, with 
 those outward society-senses that she learnt to put on, 
 and escaped as soon as possible to her own room. 
 
 Again she almost fell on the ground in her own 
 little oratory chamber, in a tumult of gladness that 
 was almost agony, and fear that was almost joy. 
 
 She wanted to give thanks that Frank had become 
 so wholly and avowedly hers, and for that deep in- 
 tense affection that had gone on, unfed, uncherished, 
 for years ; but the overflow of delight was checked 
 
234 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 with foreboding — there was the instinctive terror of a 
 basilisk eye gazing into her paradise of joy — the 
 thanksgiving ran into a half-despairing deprecation. 
 
 And she knew that Frank was under Camilla's 
 spell, and admired and trusted her still ; nor had she 
 been able to utter a word of caution to undeceive 
 him. Should she have the power on the morrow ? 
 Camilla really loved skating, and surrounded as she 
 was sure to be, there was hope of escaping her vigi- 
 lant eye once more. To-morrow there would be 
 another meeting with Frank ! Perhaps another walk 
 with him ! 
 
 That anticipation was soothing enough to bring 
 back the power of joyful gratitude, and therewith of 
 hopeful prayer. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 
 
 ** A lady a party of pleasure made, 
 
 And she planned her scheme full well, 
 And day and night the party filled 
 The head of the demoiselle. " 
 
 Faber. 
 
 Though Frank had no reason to expect that the 
 tidings of his success would be hailed with much 
 satisfaction at home, yet his habit of turning to his 
 mother for sympathy would have been too much for 
 his prudence, but for the fact that Terry De Lancey 
 had dragged into her room a massive volume of 
 prints from the Uffizi Gallery, and was looking it over 
 with her, with a zest she had not seen since the days 
 when her father gloried in his collection. 
 
 His victory could only be confided to Charlie, who 
 might laugh, but fully appreciated the repose of mind 
 with which he could now encounter the examiners, 
 and promised to do his part to cover the meetings of 
 the lovers the next day. But even then the chances 
 of another performance on the lake, or of a walk 
 
236 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 among the icicles afterwards, were departing. Thaw 
 was setting in, and by breakfast-time there was a 
 down-pouring rain. Frank lingered about Cecil in 
 hopes of a message to serve as an excuse for a rush 
 to Sirenwood ; but she proved to be going to drive 
 to the working-room, and then to lunch at Mrs. 
 Buncombe's, to meet the Americans and the ladies 
 from Sirenwood, according to a note sent over in 
 early morning at first sight of the wet. 
 
 Thereupon Frank found he had a last reference 
 to make to his tutor, and begged for a lift. A touch 
 of warmth in Cecil would have opened the flood- 
 gates of his confidence, but she was exercised about 
 a mistake in the accounts, and claimed his aid in 
 tracking a defective seven-pence. When she heard 
 him utter the monstrous statement that a hundred 
 and five farthings were almost nine shillings, she 
 looked at him with withering compassion, as sure to 
 fail, and a small loss to Her Majesty ; nor would she 
 listen to any of his hints that he was very curious to 
 see her working-room. 
 
 His question to the tutor judiciously lasted till 
 twelve, when he dropped in to consult Captain Dun- 
 combe about horse-hire in London ; and that gentle- 
 man, who had been undergoing a course of political 
 economy all the morning, eagerly pounced on him for 
 a tour of his stables, which lasted till luncheon was 
 due, and he could casually enter the dining-room, 
 where Lady Tyrrell held out her hand good-naturedly 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 237 
 
 to him, laughing at the blankness he could not entirely 
 conceal. " Only me ! " she said. " It can't be helped ! 
 Poor Lenore caught such a dreadful sore throat last 
 night, that I have shut her up in her room with a 
 mustard poultice." 
 
 " Indeed ! I am very sorry." 
 
 " You may well look horrified ! You were the 
 guilty party, I suspect. Taking her all across the 
 dark under those dank trees ! " 
 
 He coloured up to the eyes, little expecting to be 
 thus convicted ; but Mrs. Buncombe came to his aid. 
 " My impartiality would impute the damage to her 
 standing about with those WTetched little dogs of 
 mine." 
 
 " It is your climate," said Mrs. Tallboys. " In our 
 dry atmosphere there would be no risk with a far 
 lower temperature." 
 
 "I hope it is nothing serious," said Frank 
 anxiously. 
 
 " I hope so too," said Lady Tyrrell, looking archly 
 into his face, which had not learnt such impenetrability 
 as poor Lenore's. 
 
 "No; but really.?" he said, in anxiety that would 
 not be rallied away. 
 
 " This is the way," said Lady Tyrrell. '*' Young 
 gentlemen persuade young ladies to do the most im- 
 prudent things— saunter about in the cold after skat- 
 ing, and dawdle under trees, and then wonder when 
 they catch cold. — Do they do such things in your 
 
238 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 country, Mrs. Tallboys, and expect the mammas and 
 elder sisters to be gratified ? " 
 
 *' Mammas and elder sisters are at a discount with 
 you, are not they ? " said Mrs. Duncombe. 
 
 '* Our young women are sufficient to protect them- 
 selves without our shewing tacit distrust, and en- 
 cumbering them with guardianship," returned the 
 Professor. 
 
 " Mr. Charnock wishes we had reached that point," 
 said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 She had put him completely out of countenance. 
 He had not supposed her aware of his having been 
 Lenore's companion, and was not certain whether her 
 sister had not after all confided in her, or if he himself 
 had not been an unconscious victim. The public banter 
 jarred upon him ; and while Cecil was making in- 
 quiries into the extent of the young ladies' privileges 
 in America, he was mentally calculating the possi- 
 biUties of rushing up to Sirenwood, trying to see 
 Lenore in spite of her throat, and ascertaining her 
 position, before his train was due ; but he was forced 
 to resign the notion, for Raymond had made an ap- 
 pointment for him in London which must not be 
 missed ; and before luncheon was over the dogcart, 
 .according to agreement with Charlie, called for 
 him. 
 
 '^ Good-bye, Mr. Frank," said Mrs. Duncombe ; 
 "will you have an old shoe thrown after you for 
 luck .? " 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 239 
 
 " The time is not come for that yet," said Cecil, 
 gravely. 
 
 " Tending in that direction. Eh, Charnock } " said 
 the Captain. " Here's to your success — now, and in 
 Avhat's to come 1 " 
 
 "Thank you, Captain," said Frank, shaking his 
 hand, liking the hearty voice. '' Lady Tyrrell, won't 
 you give me your good wishes .? " he asked half 
 diffidently. 
 
 " For the examination — yes, certainly," she replied. 
 "It is safer not to look too far into your wishing- 
 well." 
 
 *' And — and will you give my — my best regards to 
 Le — to Miss Vivian, and say I grieve for her cold, and 
 trust to her — to her good wishes — " he uttered, quick 
 and fast, holding her hand all the time. 
 
 "Yes, yes," she said quickly ; "but last messages 
 won't do when trains are due." 
 
 " Not due yet," said Frank ; " but I must go home. 
 I've not seen my mother to-day, and I shall not 
 have a] moment — Good-bye, Cecil ; have you any 
 commands for Raymond .'* " 
 
 " No, thank you," said Cecil, gravely ; and with a 
 bow to the Americans, he was gone. 
 
 '* That is one of your products of the highest 
 English refinement ? " said Mrs. Tallboys, whom in 
 his pre-occupation he had scarcely noticed. 
 
 " How does he strike you ? " said Cecil. " He is 
 my brother-in-law, but never mind that." 
 
240 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " He looks fitted for the hero of a vapid English 
 novel. I long to force him to rough it, and to 
 rub off that exquisite do-nothing air. It irritates 
 me ! " 
 
 ''Frank Charnock has done a good deal of hard 
 work, and is not to lead the life of an idle man," said 
 Captain Duncombe. " I know I should not like to be 
 in his shoes if he succeeds — grinding away in an office 
 ten months out of the twelve.'* 
 
 " In an office ! I should like to set him to work 
 with an axe ! " 
 
 " Well, those dainty-looking curled darlings don't 
 do badly in the backwoods," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 "Ah! I understand! You stand up for him be- 
 cause there's a little tendresse for your sister," said the 
 plain-spoken American. 
 
 " Poor fellow ! I am afraid he is far gone. It is an 
 impossible thing, though, and the sooner he can be 
 cured of it the better," said Lady Tyrrell. " I am 
 sorry that walk took place yesterday. — Did he 
 mention it at home, Cecil } " 
 
 " You are a very inconsistent woman, Lady Tyrrell," 
 broke in Mrs. Duncombe in her abrupt way. " Here 
 you are come to uphold the emancipation of woman, 
 and yet, when we come to your own sister taking one 
 poor walk " 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Bessie," said Lady Tyrrell, 
 with her most courteous manner. " I never said I was 
 come to uphold the emancipation of woman ; only to 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 24I 
 
 subject myself to Mrs. Tallboys' influence — she has 
 to make a convert of me." 
 
 For, of course, Lady Tyrrell was only drawn into 
 the controversy as a matter of amusement, and 
 possibly as something specially distasteful to the 
 house of Charnock Poynsett ; and Cecil was a good 
 deal influenced by the fascination of her example, as 
 well as by the eagerness of Mrs. Duncombe and the 
 charms of the Americans ; and above all, they con- 
 spired in making her feel herself important, and 
 assuming that she must be foremost in all that was 
 done. She did not controvert the doctrines of 
 Dunstone so entirely as to embrace the doctrines 
 of emancipation, but she thought that free ventilation 
 was due to every subject, most especially when the 
 Member's wife was the leading lady in bringing about 
 such discussion. The opposition made in the town to 
 Mrs, Buncombe's sanitary plans, and the contempt 
 with which they had been treated as ladies' fancies, 
 had given a positive field of battle, with that admix- 
 ture of right and wrong on either side which is essen- 
 tial to championship. And in truth Cecil was so 
 much more under the influence of Camilla Tyrrell and 
 Bessie Duncombe than under that of any other 
 person, that she was ready to espouse any cause that 
 they did. 
 
 How to arrange for the intended instruction was 
 the difficulty, since Wilsbro' was without a town-hall, 
 and, moreover, the inhabitants were averse to all 
 
 VOL. I. R 
 
242 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 varieties of change, either as to the claims of women, 
 the inequality of social laws, the improvement of 
 education, or the comprehension of social science — 
 the regular course which Mrs. Clio W. Tallboys was 
 wont to lecture. 
 
 The matter could only be managed by arranging a 
 series of soirees at different houses. Mrs. Buncombe's 
 rooms were far too small ; but if some person of more 
 note — " some swell " as she said — would make the 
 beginning, there would be no difficulty in bringing 
 others to follow suit. 
 
 "You must do it, Lady Tyrrell," said Mrs. 
 Buncombe. 
 
 " I ! If there's nobody else ; but it would come 
 much better from another quarter," nodding at 
 Cecil. 
 
 *' Bon't you wish you may get it 1 " muttered the 
 slang-loving Bessie. 
 
 " That's one point in which we leave you far be- 
 hind," said Mrs. Tallboys. " We issue our invitations 
 quite independently of the other members of the 
 household. Each has a separate visiting list." 
 
 "There need be no difficulty," said Cecil; "all 
 matters of visiting are in my hands. It is necessary 
 in our position ; and if Lady Tyrrell thinks it proper 
 that I should give the first party, I will do so." 
 
 " Bravo, what fun ! " cried Mrs. Buncombe, clapping 
 her hands. " You won't get into a jolly row, though } " 
 she added, anxiously. 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 243 
 
 " I am perfectly sure of my ground," said Cecil, 
 with the dignity of one to whom "a row" was un- 
 heard of " It is the simple duty of a Member 
 to come forward in promoting free discussion of 
 opinions." 
 
 " You are a public-spirited woman, Cecil," said 
 Lady Tyrrell. " When you have made the first move, 
 I'll follow. Then whom shall we ask next ^ " 
 
 " Mrs. Moy," said Bessie. " She is a nonentity her- 
 self, but if Gussie were to be strongly bitten she 
 could do more than any one else, and make her father 
 reform that nest of horrors in Water Lane ! " 
 
 "I'm afraid the freedom side will bite her more than 
 the sanitary side," said Lady Tyrrell, 
 
 " She is capital fun, though, and a great ally of 
 ours," said Mrs. Duncombe ; " and the rooms at 
 Proudfoot Lawn are worth anything ! " 
 
 Other details were fixed, even to the day of Cecil's 
 opening party, which must take place on the first 
 practicable day ; but there was none to be found till 
 the Wednesday week, the day before Raymond would 
 return home. Cecil did not recollect this till the day 
 had been unanimously agreed on, and it was with a 
 little alarm ; but after what she had asserted about 
 her freedom of action, she could not retract before the 
 eyes of the American lady ; and, as she said to her- 
 self, she could receive her own ladies' party, without 
 interfering with anyone else, in the library, so that no 
 one had a right to object. However, she had a certain 
 
 R 2 
 
244 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 anticipation of opposition, which caused her to act 
 before announcing her intention ; and thus it was that 
 Rosamond found her dropping a number of notes 
 through the sHt in the hd of the post-box. " Another 
 dinner ? " was the question. 
 
 *'No, this is a soiree in the hbrary, entirely for 
 ladies ; Mrs. Tallboys is to explain her views in the 
 evenings at the principal houses in the neighbourhood. 
 She will begin here on Wednesday week." 
 
 "Why, that's before Raymond comes back ! " 
 
 ''This is entirely for women." 
 
 "Women! women's rights! How have you got 
 Mrs. Poynsett to consent } " 
 
 " I have carte blanche in these matters." 
 
 " Do you mean that you have not consulted her } 
 Does Raymond know } Oh ! Yes, I see I have no 
 right to ask ; but, Cecil, for your own sake, I entreat 
 3^ou to consider what you are about, before running 
 into such a frightful scrape !" and Rosamond impuls- 
 ively^caught the hand that was still putting in a letter ; 
 but Cecil stood still, not withdrawing or moving a 
 muscle, perfectly impassive. Rosamond went on more 
 eagerly, " Oh yes, I know you don't like me — I'm 
 onty a poor battered soldier's daughter, quite an 
 unworthy associate for a Charnock of the Charnocks ; 
 but I can't help begging you to consider the con- 
 sequences of sending out invitations to hear this 
 strange woman hold forth in ]\Irs. Po}-nsett's own 
 house, in your husband's absence." 
 
TLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 245 
 
 *' Thank you for your solicitude," said Cecil, drop- 
 ping in her envelope the instant the obstructive hand 
 was removed, and going on her way with dignified 
 self-possession ; while Rosamond, in a tumult of 
 indignation, which made her scarcely comprehensible, 
 rushed up to her husband at his writing, and poured 
 cut her story. 
 
 Clio advocating female supremacy in Mrs. 
 Poynsett's own house, without notice to her ! Should 
 she be warned in time to stop the letters ? Should 
 Raymond be written to ? Rosamond was for both, 
 Julius for neither. He said that either way would 
 begin a system that could never be forgiven ; and 
 that they had better consider themselves as practically 
 at the Rectory, and not interfere. 
 
 " How can you be so cold-blooded } " cried she. 
 
 " I do not want to do worse harm. My mother 
 will learn what is to happen sooner or later ; and 
 then she can put a stop to it in any way she 
 chooses." 
 
 *' I wish she would send in Mrs. Crabtree with 
 her tawse ! " said Rosamond. " But is it right by 
 Raymond to let his wife bring this Yankee muse to 
 talk her nonsense in his very rooms '^ " 
 
 ** You have argued with her } " 
 
 " Or with a block — a stock — a stone ! " raved 
 Rosamond. 
 
 " Then depend upon it, to inform against her would 
 be far worse than letting any amount of absurdity be 
 
246 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 talked. I should like to know how you would get 
 over being so sensed ! " 
 
 " Don't make comparisons, sir I Poor things ! they 
 would not be the worse for a little of our foolishness!" 
 
 Things settled themselves according to Julius's 
 prediction ; for Mr. Bowater, coming up with his son 
 Herbert to see his old friend, said, " What grand 
 doings are you having here ? What is Raymond's 
 wife up to ? Ladies' conversazione — that's a new thing 
 in these parts ! " 
 
 *' I gave such matters up to her," said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 *' Young people like a little freedom of action ; and 
 there are changes in the neighbourhood since I was 
 laid up." It was a temporizing speech, to avoid 
 shewing her total ignorance. 
 
 Mr. Bowater cleared his throat. " Young folk may 
 like freedom of action, but it don't always follow that 
 it is good for them. I hope she v.'on't get Raymond 
 into a scrape, that's all — committing him and herself 
 to a course of lectures by that Yankee woman on 
 woman's rights." 
 
 " It does not commit him ; it is before he comes 
 home, on Wednesday," said Herbert. 
 
 " Never mind that ; what a woman does her hus- 
 band does. Look here, Mrs. Poynsett, I brought over 
 Jenny's note in my pocket ; see, here are two — o\\^ to 
 accept, and one to refuse, just as you choose." 
 
 " Oh ! accept, by all means," cried Mrs. Poynsett ; 
 " don't leave the wrong one ! " 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 247 
 
 Then she changed the conversation so decidedly, 
 that Mr. Bowater could not resume his warning ; but 
 after taking leave of her, he met Rosamond in the 
 avenue, and could not help saying, " Pray, was my old 
 friend aware of Mrs. Raymond's doings ^ " 
 
 " Have you told her ? Oh ! I am so glad ! " 
 
 " Then it is as you said, Herbert. Mrs. Raymond 
 had left her in ignorance ! The impudent baggage ! 
 That's what the world is coming to ! " 
 
 " But what regular game Mrs. Poynsett was ! " said 
 Herbert. '* You could not make out in the least that 
 she had been left in the lurch ; and I'm sure she has 
 a plan, by the way in which she desired Jenny and 
 Edie to come." 
 
 " Only make her understand that the Wilsbro' folks 
 are in a ticklish state," said Mr. Bowater ; " they are 
 sulking already, because they say the ladies have been 
 stirring him up to put them to expense about the 
 drains." 
 
 " Wilsbro' isn't sweet," said Herbert. 
 
 " There's been nothing amiss in my time," returned 
 his father. " Perfectly healthy in all reason ! Ay ! 
 you may laugh, young folks, but I never heard of any 
 receipt to hinder people from dying; and let well 
 alone is a safe maxim." 
 
 " If it be well," said Rosamond. " However, Ray- 
 mond says whatever is done must be by general 
 consent, and that small private attempts will do more 
 harm than good." 
 
248 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 '' He had better take care what he says. If they 
 fancy he is in league with that ridiculous Buncombe 
 woman against their pockets, Moy is on the watch to 
 take advantage of it ; and all the old family interest 
 will not save his seat." 
 
 When Rosamond reached home she found Anne 
 beside her mother-in-law, provided with a quire of 
 note-paper and pile of envelopes. ''My dear, I want 
 your help," she said. '* Till my accident I always had 
 a children's party at Christmas ; and now I have so 
 many young people to manage it for me, I think we 
 might try again, and combine it with Cecil's ladies' 
 party, on Wednesday." 
 
 *• Hurrah ! " cried Rosamond. '' You mean that we 
 should have plenty of fun — and, in fact, drum out the 
 rights of woman." 
 
 ''At any rate, present a counter-attraction. You 
 and Charlie and your brothers, with the Bowaters, 
 might do something ? " 
 
 " Trust me ! " cried Rosamond. " Oh ! I am so 
 thankful to Mr. Bowater. Julius and I had our blood 
 boiling ; and I said as much or more to Cecil than 
 woman could, but she minded me no more than the 
 old white cockatoo ; and Julius said our telling would 
 only make more mischief." 
 
 " He was quite right," said his mother. " Let 
 there not be one word of opposition, you know ; only 
 swamp it. You could get up some charades, and 
 have something going on all the evening." 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 249 
 
 " Trust me for that ! Oh ! if my darhng Aileen 
 were but here ! But Tom is the very model of an 
 actor, and Terry is grand, if only we can keep him 
 out of the high tragedy line. King Lear is the 
 mildest thing he condescends to ! " 
 
 " Could you manage a Christmas-tree ? The taking 
 up a room beforehand is inconvenient ; but I should 
 like to offer some little substantial bait, even to the 
 grown-up;" and her eyes twinkled merrily. 
 
 " I know a better thing," said Rosamond ; '* an 
 enchanted grove with a beneficent witch. We did it 
 at St. Awdry's, with bon-bons and trumpery, in a 
 little conservatory, hardly large enough to turn round 
 in. If I may have the key of the conservatory, I'll 
 manage." 
 
 " You shall have what you please ; and perhaps 
 you would kindly go and choose the things at 
 Backsworth. There is a very good fancy shop 
 there." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you ! How sweet ! — Now, 
 Anne, you will see what you shall see ! " 
 
 " Is there to be dancing ? " asked Anne, humbly yet 
 resolutely. 
 
 "There shall not be, my dear, if it will spoil the 
 evening for you," said Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " I promised," said Anne. 
 
 At that moment the servants came in with the 
 preparations for the afternoon tea, closely followed 
 by the ever-punctual Cecil. 
 
250 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett asked her whether she would require 
 the barouche on the morrow, since Rosamond and 
 Anne would want it to go to Backsworth, to obtain 
 requisites for a children's entertainment to take place 
 on Wednesday. 
 
 " Some friends of mine are coming on Wednesday," 
 said Cecil. 
 
 " Indeed ! In Raym^ond's absence ? " 
 
 " This is not a dinner, but a ladies' party." 
 
 *' Then it will combine the better." 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Cecil. " Mine is simply 
 intellectual — only a few intelligent women to meet 
 Mrs. Tallboys in the library. It will be quite apart 
 from any amusements Rosamond may like to have 
 for the children in the drawing-room." 
 
 *' Pray, will they require nothing but this feast of 
 reason and flow of soul ? — for the housekeeper will 
 need warning." 
 
 " They will have dined. Nothing but coffee will 
 be wanted." 
 
 " For how many ^ " 
 
 "About twelve or fourteen, thank you. Excuse 
 me — I have something to finish in my own 
 room." 
 
 They were very glad to excuse her, and the fol- 
 lowing note was concocted to serve both for those 
 she might have invited and those she might not ; 
 and it was copied by the two daughters for all the 
 acquaintance who had young folks in their houses. 
 
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 151 
 
 An appearance of want of unanimity was carefully 
 avoided, and it stood thus : — 
 
 "I am desired by Mrs. Poynsett to say that the ladies' party already 
 proposed for the 3rd is to undergo a little expansion, and that she much 
 
 hopes to see you and , at 7 p.m., disposed for a few Christmas 
 
 amusements." 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 
 
 *' She Avas betrothed to one now dead, 
 Or ^vorse, who had dishonoured fled." 
 
 Ccott. 
 
 The party set out for Backsworth early in the day. 
 It included Julius, who had asked for a seat in the 
 carriage in order to be able to go on to Rood House, 
 where lived Dr. Easterby, whom he had not seen 
 since he had been at Compton. 
 
 " The great light of the English Church," said 
 Rosamond gaily; while Anne shuddered a little, for 
 Miss Slater had told her that he was the great foun- 
 tain-head of all that distressed her in Julius and his 
 curates. But Julius merely said, '* I am very glad of 
 the opportunity ; " and the subject dropped in the 
 eager discussion of the intended pastimes, which 
 lasted beyond the well-known Wilsbro' bounds, when 
 again Julius startled Anne by observing, " No 
 dancing? That is a pity." 
 
 " There, Anne ! " exclaimed Rosamond. 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 253 
 
 " It was out of kindness to me/' said Anne ; and 
 then, with a wonderful advance of confidence, she 
 added, " Please tell me how you, a minister, can 
 regret it ? " 
 
 "Because I think it would be easier to prevent 
 mischief than when there has to be a continual inven- 
 tion of something original. There is more danger of 
 offence and uncharitableness, to speak plainly." 
 
 "And you think that worse than dancing?" said 
 Anne thoughtfully. 
 
 " Why is dancing bad at all, Anne ? " asked 
 Rosamond. 
 
 Anne answered at once, " It is worldly." 
 
 "Not half so worldly as driving in a carriage with 
 fine horses, and liveries, and arms, and servants, and 
 all," said Rosamond from her comfortable corner, 
 nestling under Miles's racoon-skin rug ; " I wonder 
 you can do that ! " 
 
 " The carriage is not mine," said Anne. 
 
 " The worldliness would be in sacrificing a duty to 
 the luxury and ostentation of keeping one," said 
 Julius. "For instance, if I considered it due to my 
 lady in the corner there to come out in this style, and 
 put down a curate and a few such trifles with that 
 object. To my mind, balls stand on the same ground ; 
 they are innocent as long as nothing right is given 
 up for them." 
 
 "You would not dance ? " said Anne. 
 
 " Wouldn't he ? " said Rosamond. '' I've seen him. 
 
254 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 It was at St. Awdry's at a Christmas party, in our 
 courting days. No, it wasn't with me. Oh no ! That 
 was the cruel cut ! It was with little Miss Marks, 
 whose father had just risen from the ranks. Such 
 a figure she was, enough to set your teeth on edge ; 
 when, behold ! this reverend minister extracts her 
 from the wall-flowers, and goes through the Lancers 
 with her in first-rate style, I assure you. It had such 
 an effect, do you know, that what does my father do 
 but go and ask her next ; and I heard an old lady 
 remarking that there were only two gentlemen in the 
 room, Mr. Charnock and Lord Rathforlane. So you 
 see it was all worldliness after all, Anne." 
 
 " I suppose it was good-nature," said Anne. 
 
 " Indignation, I fancy," said Julius. 
 
 " Now, was he very wicked for it, Anne } " 
 
 " N — no, if dancing be not wrong." 
 
 " But why should it ? " 
 
 " All the bad people danced in the Bible." 
 
 " Miriam — King David, eh } " 
 
 " That was part of their religious service." 
 
 " The welcome to the prodigal son ? " further'sug- 
 gested Julius. " Does not this prove that the exercise 
 is not sinful in itself.'' " 
 
 ** But you would not do it again ^ " repeated^Anne, 
 
 " I certainly should not make a practice of it, nor 
 go to balls, any more than I would be a sportsman or 
 a cricketer, because I am bound to apply my whole 
 self to the more direct service ; but this does not shew 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 255 
 
 that there is evil necessarily connected with these 
 amusements, or that they may not safely be enjoyed 
 by those who have time, and who need an outlet for 
 their spirits, or by those who wish to guard these 
 pleasures by presiding over them." 
 
 " Don't persuade me ! " exclaimed Anne. '' I gave 
 my word to Mr. Pilgrim that nothing should induce 
 me to dance or play at cards." 
 
 " Mr. Pilgrim had no right " began Rosamond ; 
 
 but Julius hushed her, saying, " No one wishes to per- 
 suade you, Anne. Your retirement during Miles's 
 absence is very suitable and becoming." 
 
 '' Till we live in the Bush, out of the way of it all," 
 said Anne. 
 
 " I wish you could have seen one of our real old 
 Christmas parties ; but those can never be again, 
 without Mother herself or Mrs. Douglas." 
 
 "Do tell me about those Douglases," said Rosamond. 
 " Cecil hinted at some romance, but seemed to think 
 you had suppressed the connection because he was an 
 attorney." 
 
 " Not exactly," said Julius, smiling ; " but it is a sad 
 story, though we have no doubt he bore the guilt of 
 others." 
 
 " Something about two thousand pounds ? " 
 
 " Yes. It was the year that my mother and 
 Raymond were abroad. She had been buying some 
 property near, and sent home an order from Vevay. 
 It did not come, and was inquired for ; but as it was 
 
256 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 an order, not a draft, it was not stopped at the bank ; 
 and In about a fortnight more it was presented by a 
 stranger, and paid without hesitation, as it was en- 
 dorsed * Proudfoot and Moy.' Old Proudfoot was 
 away at Harrogate, and came home to investigate ; 
 young Proudfoot denied all knowledge of it, and so did 
 his brother-in-law Moy ; but Raymond, working at 
 the other end, found that the waiter at the hotel at 
 Vevay had forgotten to post the letter for more than 
 a week, and It was traced through the post to Wilsbro', 
 where the postman remembered delivering a foreign- 
 looking letter to Archie Douglas at the door of the 
 office. It came alone by the afternoon post. His ac- 
 count was this. They were all taking it rather easy 
 in old Proudfoot's absence ; and w^ien a sudden sum- 
 mons came to take the old farmer's Instructions for 
 his will, Archie, as the junior, was told off to do it. 
 He left George Proudfoot and Moy In a private room 
 at the office, with Tom Vivian leaning over the fire 
 talking, as he had a habit of doing in old Proudfoot's 
 absence. As he opened the office door the postman 
 put the letter into his hand ; and recognising the 
 writing, he ran back, and gave it in triumph to George 
 Proudfoot, exclaiming that there it was at last ; but he 
 was in danger of being late for the train, and did not 
 wait to see It opened ; and when he came back he 
 was told that it had been merel}- a letter of inquiry, 
 with nothing in it, and destroyed at once. That was 
 his account ; but Proudfoot, Moy, and Vivian all 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKS WORTH. 257 
 
 denied any knowledge of this return of his, or of the 
 letter. The night of this inquiry he was missing. 
 Jenny Bowater, who was with an aunt in London, 
 heard that a gentleman had called to see her while 
 she was out for a couple of days ; and a week later 
 we saw his name among the passengers lost in the 
 Hippolyta off Falmouth." 
 
 " Poor Jenny ! Was she engaged to him ? " 
 " On sufferance. On her death-bed Mrs. Douglas 
 had wrung from Mr. Bowater a promise that if 
 Archie did well, and ever had means enough, he would 
 not refuse consent ; but he always distrusted poor 
 Archie, because of his father, and I believe he sent 
 Jenny away to be out of his reach. If any of us 
 had only been near, I think we could have persuaded 
 him to face it out, and trust to his innocence; but 
 Raymond was abroad. Miles at sea, I at Oxford, 
 and nothing like a counsellor was near. If Jenny 
 had but seen him ! " 
 
 " And has nothing happened to clear him } " 
 " No. Raymond hurried home, and did his best, 
 but all in vain. George Proudfoot was indeed known 
 to have been in debt to Vivian ; but Moy, his brother- 
 in-law, an older man, was viewed as a person whose 
 word was above all question, and they both declared 
 the signature at the back of the order not to be 
 genuine. Archie's flight, you see, made further inves- 
 tigation impossible ; and there was no putting on oath, 
 no cross-examination." 
 
 VOL. I. S 
 
258 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Then you think those three had it ? " 
 
 " We can think nothing else, knowing Archie as we 
 did. Raymond shewed his suspicions so strongly, 
 that old Proudfoot threw up all agencies for our pro- 
 perty, and there has been a kind of hostihty ever since. 
 Poor Vivian, as you know, came to his sad end the 
 next year, but he had destroyed all his papers ; and 
 George Proudfoot has been dead four or five years, 
 but without making any sign. Moy has almost risen 
 above the business, and — see, there's Proudfoot Lawn, 
 where he lives with the old man. He claims to 
 compete with the county families, and would like to 
 contest Wilsbro' with Raymond." 
 
 '' And Jenny } " asked Anne. " Did she bear it as 
 a Christian } I know she would." 
 
 " She did indeed — most nobly, most patiently. 
 Poor p-irl ! at her own home she knew she stood alone 
 in her faith in Archie's innocence ; but they were kind 
 and forbearing, and kept silence, and the knowledge 
 of our trust in him has bound her very close to us." 
 
 " Was that call, when she did not see him, all she 
 ever heard of him } " 
 
 ''All ! except that he left a fragment of paper with 
 the servant, with the one pencil scrawl, ' A Dieu ! ' — 
 a capital D to mark the full meaning. She once 
 shewed it to me — folded so as to fit into the back of a 
 locket with his photograph." 
 
 " Dear Jenny ! And had you traced him on board 
 this ship "^ " 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 259 
 
 ** No, but his name was in the list ; and we knew 
 he had a strong fancy for South Africa, whither the 
 Hippolyta was bound. In fact he ought to have been 
 a sailor, and only yielded to his mother's wishes." 
 
 "We knew a Mr. Archibald Douglas once," said 
 Anne ; " he came and outspanned by us when he was 
 going north after elephants. He stayed a fortnight, 
 because his waggon had to be mended." 
 
 " O Julius ! if we could but find him for her again ! " 
 cried Rosamond. 
 
 " I am afraid Archibald Douglas is not much more 
 individual a name than John Smith," said Julius 
 sadly. 
 
 ''That tells as much against the Hippolyta man," 
 said Rosamond. 
 
 " Poor Archie would not be difficult to identify," 
 said Julius ; " for his hair was like mine, though his 
 eyes were blue, and not short-sighted." 
 
 " That is all right, then," cried Anne ; " for we had 
 a dispute whether he were young or old, and I remem- 
 ber Mamma saying he had a look about him as if his 
 hair might have turned white in a single night." 
 
 " Julius ! Now won't you believe t " cried Rosa- 
 mond. 
 
 " Had he a Scotch accent } " said Julius. 
 
 " No ; I recollect Papa's teUing him he never should 
 have guessed him to be a Scot by his tongue; and 
 he said he must confess that he had never seen 
 Scotland." 
 
 . S 2 
 
260 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "Now, Julius!" pleaded Rosamond, with clasped 
 hands, as if Jenny's fate hung on his opinion. 
 
 " How long ago was this ? " asked he. 
 
 " Four years," said Anne, with a little consideration. 
 "He came both in going and returning, and Alick 
 was wild to join him if he ever passed our way again. 
 My father liked him so much that he was almost ready 
 to consent ; but he never came again. Ivory hunters 
 go more from Natal now." 
 
 **You will trace him! There's a dear Anne!" 
 exclaimed Rosamond. 
 
 " I will write to them at home ; Alick knows a 
 good many hunters, and could put Miles into the 
 way of making inquiries, if he touches at Natal on his 
 way home." 
 
 " Miles will do all he can," said Julius ; " he was 
 almost broken-hearted when he found how Archie had 
 gone. I think he was even more his hero than Ray- 
 mond when we were boys, because he was more enter- 
 prising ; and my mother always thought Archie's 
 baffled passion for the sea re-acted upon Miles." 
 
 " He will do it ! He will find him, if he is the 
 Miles I take him for ! How old was he — Archie,'! 
 mean .? " 
 
 " A year older than Raymond ; but he always 
 seemed much younger, he was so full of life and ani- 
 mation — so unguarded, poor fellow ! He used to play 
 tricks with imitating handwriting ; and these, of 
 course, were brought up against him." 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 261 
 
 " Thirty-four ! Not a bit too old for the other end 
 of the romance ! " 
 
 " Take care, Rosie. Don't say a word to Jenny till 
 we know more. She must not be unsettled only to be 
 disappointed." 
 
 " Do you think she would thank you for that, you 
 cold-blooded animal ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; but I think the suspense would be 
 far more trying than the quiet resigned calm that has 
 settled down on her. Besides, you must remember 
 that even if Archie were found, the mystery has never 
 been cleared up." 
 
 *' You don't think that would make any difference 
 to Jenny .? " 
 
 '' It makes all the difference to her father ; and 
 Jenny will never be a disobedient daughter." 
 
 " Oh ! but it will — it must be cleared ! I know it 
 will ! It is faithless to think that injustice is not 
 always set right ! " 
 
 " Not always here," said Julius sadly. " See, there's 
 the Backsworth race-ground, the great focus of the 
 evil." 
 
 " Were racing debts thought to have any part in the 
 disaster .'' " 
 
 " That I can't tell ; but it was those races that 
 brought George Proudfoot under the Vivian 
 influence ; and in the absence of all of us, poor 
 Archie, when left to himself after his mother's 
 death, had become enough mixed up in their amuse- 
 
262 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 ments to give a handle to those who thought him 
 unsteady." 
 
 " As if anyone must be unsteady who goes to the 
 races ! " cried Rosamond. '' You were so liberal about 
 balls, I did expect one little good word for races ; 
 instead of which, you are declaring a poor wretch who 
 goes to them capable of embezzling two thousand 
 pounds, and I dare say Anne agrees with you ! " 
 
 " Now, did I ever say so, Anne ? " 
 
 " You looked at the course with pious horror, and 
 said it justified the suspicion ! " persisted Rosamond. 
 
 " That's better," said Julius ; " though I never even 
 said it justified the suspicion, any more than I said 
 that balls might not easily be overdone, especially by 
 some people." 
 
 " But you don't defend races } " said Anne. 
 
 " No ; I think the mischief they do is more exten- 
 sive, and has less mitigation than is the case with any 
 other public amusement." 
 
 '*Hm!" said Rosamond. "Many a merry day 
 have I had on the top of the regimental drag ; so 
 perhaps there's nothing of which you would not 
 suspect me." 
 
 "I'll tell you what I more than suspect you of," 
 said Juhus, " of wearing a gay bonnet to be a bait 
 and a sanction to crowds of young girls, to whom the 
 place was one of temptation, though not to you." 
 
 " Oh, there would be no end to it if one thought of 
 such things." 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 263 
 
 "Or the young men who -" 
 
 ''Well," broke in Rosamond, "It was always said 
 that our young officers got into much less mischief 
 than where there was a straight-laced colonel, 
 who didn't go along with them to give them a 
 tone." 
 
 " That I quite believe. I remember, too, the in- 
 tense and breathless sense of excitement in the hush 
 and suspense of the multitude, and the sweeping by 
 of the animals " 
 
 " Then you've been ! " cried his wife. 
 
 " As a boy, yes." 
 
 " Not since you were old enough to think it over .'' " 
 said Anne eagerly. 
 
 " No. It seemed to me that the amount of genuine 
 interest in the sport and the animals was infinitesimal 
 compared with the fictitious excitement worked up 
 by betting." 
 
 " And what's the harm of betting when you've got 
 the money ? " 
 
 " And when you haven't } " 
 
 " That's another question." 
 
 " Do you approve it at the best .'* " 
 
 " It's a man's own concern." 
 
 " That's arguing against your better sense." 
 
 " Can't be helped, with two such solemn com- 
 panions ! There would be no bearing you if I didn't 
 take you down sometimes, when you get so didactic, 
 and talk of fictitious excitement, indeed ! And now 
 
264 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 you are going to Rood House, what will you be 
 coming back ? " 
 
 Rood House stood about two miles on the further 
 side of Backsworth. It was an ancient almshouse, 
 of which the mastership had been wisely given to 
 Dr. Easterby, one of the deepest theological scholars, 
 holiest men, and bravest champions of the Church, 
 although he was too frail in health to do much, save 
 with his pen, and in council with the numerous indi- 
 viduals who resorted to him from far and wide, and 
 felt the beautiful old fragment of a monastic building 
 where he dwelt a true court of peace and refreshment, 
 whence they came forth, aided by prayer and counsel, 
 for their own share of the combat. 
 
 Julius Charnock had, happily for himself, found his 
 way thither when his character and opinions were in 
 process of formation, and had ever since looked to 
 Rood House for guidance and sympathy. To be 
 only fourteen miles distant had seemed to him one 
 great perfection of Compton Poynsett ; but of course 
 he had found visits there a far more possible thing 
 to an unoccupied holiday son of the great house than 
 to a busy parish priest, so that this opportunity was 
 very valuable to him. 
 
 And so it proved ; not so much for the details as 
 for the spirit in which he was aided in looking at 
 everything, from the mighty questions which prove 
 the life of the Church by the vehement emotion 
 they occasion, down to the difficulties of theory and 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 265 
 
 practice that harassed himself — not named, perhaps, 
 but still greatly unravelled. 
 
 Those perpetual questions, that have to be worked 
 out again and again by each generation, were before 
 him in dealing with his parish ; and among them 
 stood in his case the deeper aspects of the question 
 that had come forward on the drive, namely, the 
 lawfulness and expedience of amusements. 
 
 Granting the necessity of pastimes and recreation 
 for most persons, specially the young, there opened 
 the doubtful, because ever-varying, question of the 
 kind and the quantity to be promoted or sanctioned, 
 lest restraint should lead to reaction, and lest absti- 
 nence should change from purity and spirituality to 
 moroseness or hypocrisy. And if Julius found one 
 end of the scale represented by his v/ife and his 
 junior curate, his sister-in-law and his senior curate 
 were at the other. Yet the old recluse was far more 
 inclined to toleration than he had been in principle 
 himself, though the spur of the occasion had led him 
 to relaxatfons towards others in the individual cases 
 brought before him, when he had thought opposition 
 would do more harm than the indulgence. His con- 
 science had been uneasy at this divergence, till he 
 could discuss the subject. 
 
 The higher the aspiration of the soul, the less, of 
 course, would be the craving for diversion, the greater 
 the shrinking from those evil accompaniments that 
 soon mar the most innocent delights. Some spirits 
 
266 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 are austere in their purity, like Anne ; some so fervent 
 in zeal, as to heed nothing by the way, like Mr. 
 Bindon ; but most are in an advanced stage of child- 
 hood, and need play and pleasure almost as much as 
 air or food ; and these instincts require wholesome 
 gratification, under such approval as may make the 
 enjoyment bright and innocent ; and yet there should 
 be such subduing of their excess, such training in 
 discipline, as shall save them from frivolity and from 
 passing the line of evil, prevent the craving from 
 growing to a passion, and where it has so grown 
 tone it back to the limits of obedience and safety. 
 
 Alas ! perhaps there lay the domestic difficulty of 
 which Julius could not speak ; yet, as if answering 
 the thought, Dr. Easterby said, " After all, charity is 
 the true self-acting balance to many a sweet un- 
 taught nature. Self-denials which spring out of love 
 are a great safeguard, because they are almost sure 
 to be both humble and unconscious." 
 
 And Julius went away cheered as he thought of 
 his Rosamond's wells of unselfish affection, confident 
 that all the cravings for variety and excitement, 
 which early habit had rendered second nature, would 
 be absorbed by the deeper and keener feelings within, 
 and that these would mount higher as time went on, 
 under life's great training. 
 
 Pleasant it was to see the triumphant delight of 
 the two sisters over their purchases. Such a day's 
 English shopping was quite a new experience to 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKS WORTH. 26/ 
 
 Anne ; and she had not been cautioned against It, 
 so her enjoyment was as fresh and vivid as a child's ; 
 and they both chattered all the way home with a 
 merriment in which Julius fully shared, almost sur- 
 prised to see Anne so eager and lively, and — as her 
 cheeks glowed and her eyes brightened — beginning 
 to understand what had attracted Miles. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett had not had quite so pleasant a day, 
 for Cecil knocked at her door soon after luncheon 
 with an announcement that Lady Tyrrell wished for 
 admission. Expecting an exposition of the Clio 
 scheme, she resigned herself, looking with some 
 curiosity at the beautiful contour of face and droop- 
 ing pensive loveliness, that had rather gained than 
 lost In grace since the days when she had deemed 
 them so formidable. 
 
 " This is kind, dear Mrs. Poynsett," said the soft 
 voice, while the hand insisted on a pressure. " I 
 have often wished to come and see you, but I could 
 not venture without an excuse." 
 
 " Thank you," was the cold reply. 
 
 " I have more than an excuse — a reason, and I 
 think we shall be fully agreed ; but first you must 
 let me have the pleasure of one look to recall old 
 times. It is such a treat to see you so unchanged. 
 I hope you do not still suffer." 
 
 " No, thank you." 
 
 " And are you always a prisoner here ? Ah ! I 
 know your patience." 
 
268 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " What was the matter on which you wanted to 
 speak to me ? " said Mrs. Poynsett, fretted beyond 
 endurance by the soft, caressing tone. 
 
 *' As I said, I should hardly venture if I did not 
 know we agreed — though perhaps not for the same 
 reasons. We do agree in our love and high opinion 
 of your dear Frank ! " 
 
 *' Well ! " repressing a shudder at the " dear." 
 
 " I am afraid we likewise agree that, under all 
 circumstances, our two young people are very un- 
 fortunately attached, and that we must be hard- 
 hearted, and let it go no further." 
 
 *' You mean your sister ? " 
 
 '' My dear Lena ! I cannot wonder ! I blame 
 myself excessively, for it was all through my own 
 imprudence. You see, when dear Frank came to 
 Rockpier, it was so delightful to renew old times, 
 and they both seemed such children, that I candidly 
 confess I was off my guard ; but as soon as I had 
 any suspicion, I took care to separate them, knowing 
 that, in the state of my poor father's affairs, it would 
 be most unjustifiable to let so mere a youth be drawn 
 into an attachment." 
 
 '' Frank is no prize," said his mother with some 
 irony. 
 
 " I knew you would say that, dear Mrs. Poynsett. 
 Pecuniarily speaking, of course, he is not ; though as 
 to all qualities of the heart and head, he is a prize in 
 the true sense of the word. But, alas ! it is a sort of 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 269 
 
 necessity that poor Lena, if she marry at all, should 
 marry to liberal means. I tell you candidly that she 
 has not been brought up as she ought to have been, 
 considering her expectations or no expectations. 
 What could you expect of my poor father, with his 
 habits, and two mere girls ? I don't know whether 
 the governess could have done anything ; but I 
 know that it was quite time I appeared. I tell you 
 in confidence, dear Mrs. Poynsett, there was a 
 heavy pull on my own purse before I could take 
 them away from Rockpier ; and, without blaming 
 a mere child like poor dear Lena, you can see 
 what sort of preparation she has had for a small 
 income." 
 
 It is hard to say which tried Mrs. Poynsett's 
 patience most, the "dears" or the candour ; and the 
 spirit of opposition probably prompted her to say, 
 " Frank has his share, like his brothers." 
 
 " I understand, and for many girls the provision 
 would be ample ; but poor Lena has no notion of 
 economizing^ — how should she ? I am afraidjthere'is 
 no blinking it, that, dear children as they both are, 
 nothing but wretchedness could result from their 
 coming together ; and thus I have been extremely 
 sorry to find that the affair has been renewed." 
 
 " It was not an unnatural result of their fmeetincf 
 again." 
 
 " Ah ! there I was to blame again ; but no one can 
 judge whether an attachment be real between such 
 
2/0 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 children. I thought, too, that Frank would be gone 
 out into the world, and I confess I did not expect to 
 find that he had absolutely addressed her, and kept 
 it secret. That is what my poor father feels so much. 
 Eleonora is his special darling, and he says he could 
 have overlooked anything but the concealment." 
 
 Maternal affection assumed the defensive ; and, 
 though the idea of concealment on the part of one 
 of her sons was a shock, Mrs. Poynsett made no be- 
 trayal of herself, merely asking, " How did it come to 
 light ? " 
 
 " I extorted the confession. I think I was justi- 
 fied, standing in a mother's position, as I do. I 
 knew my vigilance had been eluded, and that your son 
 had walked home with her after the skating ; and you 
 know very well how transparent young things are." 
 
 The skating ! The mother at once understood that 
 Frank was only postponing the explanation till after 
 his examination ; and besides, she had never been 
 ignorant of his attachment, and could not regard any 
 display thereof more or less as deception] towards 
 herself. The very fact that Lady Tyrrell was trying 
 to prejudice her beforehand, so as to deprive him of 
 the grace of taking the initiative towards his own 
 mother, enlisted her feelings in his defence, so she 
 coldly answered, " I am sorry if Sir Harry Vivian 
 thinks himself unfairly treated ; but I should have 
 thought my son's feelings had been as well known in 
 the one family as in the other." 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 2/1 
 
 " But, dear Mrs. Poynsett," exclaimed Lady Tyrrell, 
 " I am sure you never encouraged them. I am quite 
 enough aware — whatever I may once have been — of the 
 unfortunate contrast between our respective families." 
 
 Certainly there was no connection Mrs, Poynsett 
 less wished to encourage; yet she could not endure to 
 play into Camilla's hands, and made reply, " There 
 are many matters in which young men must judge 
 for themselves. I have only once seen Miss Vivian, 
 and have no means of estimating my son's chances of 
 happiness with her." 
 
 Her impenetrability ruffled Lady Tyrrell ; but the 
 answer was softer than ever. " Dear Mrs. Poynsett, 
 what a happy mother you are, to be able so freely to 
 allow your sons to follow their inclinations ! Well ! 
 since you do not object, my conscience is easy on that 
 score ; but it was more than I durst hope." 
 
 To have one's approval thus stolen was out of the 
 question, and Mrs. Poynsett said, " Regret is one 
 thing, opposition another. Sir Harry Vivian need not 
 doubt that, when my son's position is once fixed, he 
 will speak openly and formally, and it will then be 
 time to judge." 
 
 " Only," said Lady Tyrrell, rising, *' let this be im- 
 pressed on your son. Eleonora cannot marry till she 
 is of age, and my father cannot sanction any previous 
 entanglement. Indeed it is most unfortunate, if her 
 affections have been tampered with, for me, who have 
 outgrown romance, and know that, in her position, a 
 
2^2 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 wealthy match is a necessity. I have spoken candidly," 
 she repeated ; " for I like Frank too well to bear that 
 he should be trifled with and disappointed." 
 
 " Thank you ! " 
 
 The ladies parted, liking one another, if possible, 
 less than before. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett's instinct of defence had made her 
 profess much less distaste to the marriage than she 
 really felt ; she was much concerned that another son 
 should be undergoing Raymond's sad experiences, 
 but she had no fear that Lady Tyrrell would ever 
 allow it to come to a marriage, and she did not think 
 Frank's poetical enthusiasm and admiration for 
 beauty betokened a nature that would suffer such an 
 enduring wound as Raymond's had done. 
 
 So she awaited his return, without too much un- 
 easiness for amusement in Rosamond's preparations. 
 One opening into the conservatory was through her 
 room, so that every skilful device, or gay ornament, 
 could be exhibited to her ; and she much enjoyed the 
 mirth that went on between the queen of the revels 
 and her fellow-workers. 
 
 'Cecil did not interfere, being indeed generally with 
 her friends at Sirenwood, Aucuba Villa, or the work- 
 ing-room, in all of which she had the pleasure of being 
 treated as a person of great consideration, far superior 
 to all her natural surroundings, and on whom hinged 
 all the plans for the amelioration of Wilsborough. 
 
 Sometimes, however, it happens that the other side 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 2/3 
 
 of a question is presented ; and thus it was on the 
 day before the entertainment, when Rosamond had 
 taken her brother Tom to have his hair cut, and to 
 choose some false moustaches, and the Hke requisites, 
 for their charades. 
 
 They went first to Pettitt's, the httle hair-dresser, 
 where Tom was marvellously taken with the two 
 Penates, and could hardly be dragged into the inner- 
 most recesses, where in the middle of a sheet, with a 
 ^peignoir on his shoulders, he submitted to the clipping 
 of his raven-black locks, as Mr. Pettitt called them, 
 on the condition of his sister looking on. 
 
 Presently they heard some feet enter the outer shop, 
 and Mrs. Buncombe's voice asking for Mr. Pettitt ; 
 while his mother replied that he would wait on her 
 immediately, but that he was just now engaged with 
 the Honourable Mr. De Lancey. '' Could she show 
 them anything t " 
 
 " Oh no, thank you, we'll wait ! Don't let us keep 
 you, Mrs. Pettitt, it is only on business." 
 
 "Ay!" said the other voice — female, and entirely 
 untamed. " He's your great ally about your gutters 
 and drains, isn't he } " 
 
 "The only landowner in Wilsbro' who has a 
 particle of public spirit ! " said Mrs. Buncombe. 
 
 Whereat good-natured Lady Rosamond could not 
 but smile congratulation to the haircutter, who looked 
 meekly elevated, while Tom whispered, ^' Proverb 
 contradicted." 
 
 VOL. I. T 
 
2/4 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 But the other voice replied, **0f course — he's a 
 perfumer, learned in smells ! You'd better drop it, 
 Bessie ! you'll never make anything of it." 
 
 " I'll never drop what the health and life of hundreds 
 of my fellow-creatures depend on ! I wish I could 
 make you understand, Gussie !" 
 
 '' You'll never do anything with my Governor, if 
 that's your hope — you should hear him and the Mum 
 talking! ' It's all nonsense,' he says ; 'I'm not going 
 to annoy my tenants, and make myself unpopular, 
 just to gratify a fashionable cry.' * Well,' says 
 Mumsey, 'it is not what was thought the thing for 
 ladies in my time ; but you see, if Gussie goes along 
 with it, she will have the key to all the best county 
 society.' ' Bother the county society ! ' says L 
 ' Bessie Buncombe's jolly enough — but such a stuck- 
 up set as they all are at Compton, I'll not run after, 
 
 behaving so ill to the Governor, too ! ' However " 
 
 "There's a proverb about listeners!" said Rosamond, 
 emerging when she felt as if she ought to hearken no 
 longer, and finding Mrs. Buncombe leaning with her 
 back to the counter, and a tall girl, a few degrees from 
 beauty, in a riding-habit, sitting upon it. 
 
 They both laughed ; and the girl added, " If you 
 had waited a moment, Lady Rosamond, 'you would 
 have heard that you were the only jolly one of all 
 the b'ihng!" 
 
 " Ah ! we shall see where you are at the end of 
 Mrs. Tallboys' lectures!" said Mrs. Buncombe. 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTII. 275 
 
 " On what ? " asked Rosamond. ** Woman's rights, 
 or sanitary measures ? for I can't in the least under- 
 stand why they should be coupled up together." 
 
 " Nor I ! " said Miss Moy. '' I don't see why we 
 shouldn't have our own way, just as well as the men ; 
 but what that has to do with drains and gutters, I 
 can't guess." 
 
 " I'm the other way," said Rosamond. " I think 
 houses and streets ought to be made clean and 
 healthy ; but as for woman's rule, I fancy we get more 
 of it now than we should the other way." 
 
 " As an instance," said Mrs. Duncombe, " woman 
 is set on cleansing Wilsbro'. Man will not stir. Will 
 it ever be done till woman has her way ? " 
 
 " Perhaps, if woman would be patient, man would 
 do it in the right way, Instead of the wrong ! " quoth 
 Rosamond. 
 
 " Patient ! No, indeed ! Nothing is to be done by 
 that ! Let every woman strive her utmost to get the 
 work done, as far as her powers go, and the crusade 
 will be accomplished for very shame ! " 
 
 Just then Tom, looking highly amused, emerged, 
 followed by Mr. Pettitt, the only enlightened landlord 
 on whom Mrs. Duncombe had been able to produce 
 the slightest impression. He had owned a few small 
 tenements in Water Lane, which he was about 
 to rebuild, and which were evidently the pivot of 
 operations. 
 
 At the door they met Cecil, and Rosamond detained 
 
 T 2 
 
2/6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 her a moment in the street to say, " My dear Cecil, 
 is that Miss Moy coming on Wednesday ? " 
 
 *' Of course she is. We greatly want to move her 
 father. He has the chief house property there." 
 
 " It is too late now," said Rosamond ; " but do you 
 think it can be pleasant to Jenny Bowater to meet 
 her } " 
 
 " I know nothing of the old countrified animosities 
 and gossipings, which you have so heartily adopted," 
 replied Cecil proudly. '' Firstly, I ignore them as 
 beneath me ; secondly, I sacrifice them all to a great 
 cause. If Miss Bowater does not Hke my guests, let 
 her stay away." 
 
 Here Mrs. Buncombe stood on the step, crying out, 
 " Well, Cecil, how have you sped with Mrs. Bungay } " 
 " Horrid woman ! " and no more was heard, as 
 Cecil entered Mr. Pettitt's establishment. 
 
 " That might be echoed," said Tom, who was boiling 
 over at the speech to his sister. " I knew that ape 
 was an intolerable little prig of a peacock, but I 
 didn't think she could be such a brute to you, Rosie i 
 Is she often like that, and does your Parson stand 
 such treatment of you } " 
 
 " Nonsense, Tom ! " said Rosamond ; " it doesn't 
 often happen, and breaks no bones when it does. It's 
 only the ignorance of the woman, and small blame to 
 her — as Mrs. M'Kinnon said when Corporal Sims's 
 wife threw the red herring's tail at her ! " 
 
 " But does Julius stand it .^ " repeated Tom fiercely, 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 2/7 
 
 as if hesitating whether to call out Julius or Mrs. 
 Charnock Poynsett. 
 
 " Don't be so ridiculous, Tom ! I'd rather stand a 
 whole shower of red herrings' tails at once than bother 
 Julius about his brother's wife. How would you and 
 Terry like it, if your wives took to squabbling, and 
 setting you together by the ears ? I was demented 
 enough to try it once, but I soon saw it was worse 
 than anything." 
 
 " What .? He took her part > " 
 
 " No such thing ! Hold your tongue, Tommy, and 
 don't talk of married folk till you're one yourself ! " 
 
 " Papa never meant it," repeated the indignant 
 Tom. " I've a great mind to write and tell him how 
 you are served ! " 
 
 '' Now, Tom," cried Rosamond, stopping short, " if 
 you do that, I solemnly declare I'll never have you 
 here again ! What could Papa do ? Do you think 
 he could cure Raymond's wife of being a ridiculous 
 little prig } And if he could — why, before your letter 
 got to Meerut, she will be gone up to London ; and 
 by the time she comes back we'll be safe in our own 
 Rectory. Here, come in, and get our string and 
 basket at Mrs. Bungay's."' 
 
 " I'll pay her out ! " muttered Tom, as he followed 
 his sister into Mrs. Bungay's siiop, one of much 
 smaller pretensions, for the sale of baskets, brushes, 
 mats, &c. 
 
 The mistress, a stout, red-faced woman, looked as if 
 
2/8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 she liad been " speaking a bit of her mind," and was 
 at first very gruff and ungracious, until she found they 
 were real customers ; and moreover, Tom's bland 
 Irish courtesy perfectly disarmed her, when Rosa- 
 mond, having fixed her mind on a box in the very 
 topmost pigeon-hole, they not only apologized for the 
 trouble they were giving, but Tom offered to climb up 
 and bring it down, when she was calling for the errand- 
 boy in vain. 
 
 " It's no trouble, sir, thank you ; I'd think nothing 
 of that for you, my Lady, nor for Mr. Charnock — 
 which I'm sure I'll never forget all he did for us at the 
 fire, leading my little Alferd out like a lamb ! I beg 
 your Ladyship's pardon, Ma'am, if I seemed a bit 
 hasty ; but I've been so put about — and I thought at 
 first you'd come in on the same matter, which I'm sure 
 a lady like you wouldn't ever do — about the drains, 
 and such like, which isn't fit for no lady to speak of ! 
 As if Water Lane weren't as sweet and clean as it has 
 any call to be, and as if we didn't know what was 
 right by our tenants, which are a bad lot, and don't 
 merit no money to be laid out on them ! " 
 
 " So you have houses in Water Lane, ]\Irs. Bungay ? 
 I didn't even know it I " 
 
 " Yes, Lady Rosamond ! My husband and I 
 thought there was no better investment than to buy a 
 bit of land, when the waste was inclosed, and run 
 'em up cheap. Houses always lets here, you see, and 
 the fire did no damage to that side. But of course 
 
THE DRIVE TO BACKSWORTH. 279 
 
 you didn't know, Lady Rosamond ; a real lady like 
 you wouldn't go prying into what she's no call to, 
 like that fine decked-out body, Buncombe's wife, 
 which had best mind her own children, which it is 
 a shame to see stravaging about the place ! I know 
 it's her doing, which I told young Mrs. Charnock 
 Poynsett just now, which I'm right sorry to see led 
 along by the like of her, and so are more of us ; and 
 we all wishes some friend would give her a hint, which 
 she is but young — and 'tis doing harm to Mr. Charnock 
 Poynsett, Lady Rosamond, which all of us have a 
 regard for, as is but right, having been a good cus- 
 tomer, and friend to the town, and all before him ; but 
 we can't have ladies coming in with their fads, and 
 calling us names for not laying out on what's no good 
 to nobody, just to satisfy them ! As if Wilsbro' 
 
 hadn't been always healthy ! " 
 
 Tom was wicked enough to put in a good many 
 
 notes of sympathy, at the intervals of the conjunctive 
 
 whiches, and to end by declaring, " Quite right, Mrs. 
 
 Bungay ! You see how much better we've brought 
 . up m.y sister ! I say — what's the price of that little 
 
 doll's broom .? " 
 
 " What do you want of it, Tom 1 " 
 " Never you mind ! " 
 
 • '' No mischief, I hope ? " 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE ENCHANTMENTS. 
 
 " ' It seems a shame,' the Walrus said, 
 ' To play them such a trick, 
 After we've brought them out so far, 
 
 And made them trot so quick.' 
 The cai-penter said nothing, but 
 'The butter's spread too thick.' " 
 
 Lewis Carroll. 
 
 A TELEGRAM arrived from Frank, in the midst of the 
 preparations on Wednesday, announcing that " he was 
 all right, and should be at Hazlitt's Gate at 8.10 P.M." 
 
 At 6.30 children of all sizes, with manes of all 
 colours, were arriving, and were regaled in the dining- 
 room by Anne, assisted by Jenny and Charlie. Anne 
 had a pretty pink colour in her cheeks, her flaxen 
 locks were bound with green ribbons, and green 
 adorned her white dress, in which she had a gracious,, 
 lily-like look of unworldly purity. She thoroughly 
 loved children, was quite equal to the occasion, and 
 indeed enjoyed it as much as the recent Christmas- 
 tree in the village school. 
 
 Such of Cecil's guests as were mothers for the most 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 28 1 
 
 part came with their children ; but Lady Tyrrell, her 
 sister, and others, who were unattached, arrived later, 
 and were shown to the library, where she entertained 
 them on the specified refreshments, biscuits and 
 coffee, and enthroned Mrs. Tallboys in the large arm- 
 chair, where she looked most beautiful and gorgeous 
 in a robe of some astonishing sheeny sky blue, edged 
 with paly gold, while on her head was a coronal of 
 sapphire and gold, with a marvellous little plume. 
 The cost must have been enormous, and her delicate 
 and spirituelle beauty was shown to the greatest ad- 
 vantage ; but as the audience was far too scanty to be 
 worth beginning upon, Cecil, with a sigh at the folly 
 of maternal idolatry, went to hunt up her ladies from 
 gazing at the babyish amusements of their offspring ; 
 and Miss Moy, in spite of her remonstrance, jumped 
 up to follow her; while Mrs. Buncombe, the only 
 good mother in this new sense, remained, keeping 
 guard lest curiosity, and the echo of piano music, 
 which now began to be heard, should attract away 
 any more of the ladies. 
 
 Cecil was by no means prepared for the scene. The 
 drawing-room was crowded — chiefly indeed with 
 ladies and children, but there was a fair sprinkling of 
 gentlemen — and all had their faces turned towards the 
 great glass doors opening into the conservatory, which 
 was brilliantly lighted, and echoing with music and 
 laughter. Cecil tried to summon some of the ladies 
 of her own inviting, announcing that Mrs. Tallboys 
 
282 THE THREE BRIDE^:. 
 
 was arrived ; but this appeared to have no effect. 
 "Yes, thank you," was all she heard. Penetrating a 
 little farther, "Mrs. Tallboys is ready." " Thank yon, 
 I'll come ; but my little people are so anxious to have 
 me with^them." — " Mrs. Tallboys is waiting ! " to the 
 next ; who really did not hear, but only responded, 
 " Did you ever see anything more charming ? " 
 
 By this time Cecil could see over the heads of the 
 front rank of children. She hardly knew the conser- 
 vatory. All the veteran camellia and orange-trees 
 and a good many bay and laurel boughs besides, 
 were ranged along the central alley, gorgeous with 
 fairy lamps and jewels, while strains of soft music 
 proceeded from some unseen quarter. "Very pretty!" 
 said Cecil hastily, trying another of her intended 
 guests with her intelligence. " Really — yes, presently, 
 thank you," was the absent answer. " There is some 
 delightful mystery in there." 
 
 Cecil found her attempts were vain, and was next 
 asked, as one of the household, what delicious secret 
 was going on there ; and as it hurt her feelings to be 
 left out, she pressed into the conservatory, with some 
 vague intention of ordering Anne, if not Rosamond, 
 to release her grown-up audience, and confine their 
 entertainment to the children ; but she found herself 
 at once caught by the hand by a turbaned figure like 
 a prince in the Ai-abian Nights, who, with a low 
 salaam, waved her on. 
 
 *' No, thank you. Fm looking for ' 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 283 
 
 But retreat was impossible, for many were crowding 
 up in eager curiosity ; moreover, a muslin bandage 
 descended on her eyes. " Don't ! " she expostulated ; 
 " I'm not at play — I'm " but her words were lost. 
 
 " Hush ! the Peri's cave is near, 
 No one enters scatheless here ; 
 Lightly tread and lowly bend, 
 Win the Peri for your friend," 
 
 sung a voice to the mysterious piano accompaniment ; 
 and Cecil found both hands taken, and was forced to 
 move on, as she guessed, the length of the conserva- 
 tory, amid sounds of suppressed laughter that ex- 
 ceedingly annoyed her, till there was a pause and 
 repetition of the two last lines, with an attempt to 
 make her obey them. She was too impatient and 
 angry to perceive that it would have been much better 
 taste to enter into the humour of the thing ; and she 
 only said, with all her peculiar cold petulance, just 
 like sleet, " Let me go, if you please ; I am engaged. 
 I am waited for." 
 
 " Peri gracious, 
 
 She's contumacious ; 
 
 Behold, every hair shall bristle 
 
 When she heai-s the magic whistle ! " 
 
 and a whistle, sharp, long, and loud, sounded behind 
 her, amid peals of merriment. She turned sharply 
 round, but still the whistle was behind her, and rang 
 out again and again, till she was half deafened, and 
 wholly irate ; while the repetition of 
 
284 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Bend, bend, lowly bend, 
 Win the Peri for your friend," 
 
 forced on her the conviction that on no other condi- 
 tion should she be set free, though the recognition of 
 Terry's voice made the command doubly unpalatable, 
 and as she made the stiffest and most reluctant of 
 courtesies, a voice said, 
 
 ** Homage done, you may be 
 Of this merry company ; " 
 
 and with a last blast of the whistle the bandage was 
 removed, and she found herself in the midst of a half 
 circle of laughing children and grown people ; in 
 front of her a large opening, like a cavern, hung 
 with tiny lamps of various colours, in the midst of 
 which stood the Peri, in a Persian pink robe, white 
 turban, and wide white trousers, with two oriental 
 genies attendant upon her. 
 
 A string was thrust into Cecil's hand, apparently 
 fastened to her, and accounting for some sharp pulls 
 she had felt during the whistling. She drew it in 
 front in sharp haste, to be rid of the obnoxious in- 
 strument ; but instead of a whistle, she found in her 
 hand a little dust-pan and brush, fit for a baby-house, 
 drawn through a ring, while the children eagerly cried, 
 "What have you got ? What have you got ? " 
 
 " Some nonsense. I do not approve of practical 
 jokes," began Cecil ; but the song only replied, 
 
 '* Away, a^ay. 
 In the cave no longer stay ; 
 Others come to share our play ; " 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 285 
 
 and one of the genles drew her aside, while another 
 blindfolded victim was being introduced with the 
 same rites, only far more willingly. The only way 
 open to her was that which led to the window of the 
 dining-room, where she found Anne with the children 
 who had had their share, and were admiring their 
 prizes. Anne tried to soothe her by saying, " You 
 see everyone is served alike. They thought it would 
 be newer than a tree." 
 
 '^ Did you mean to £-ive me ^/iis f " asked a little 
 girl, in whose hands Cecil had thrust her dust-pan, 
 without a glance at it. 
 
 " Oh, the ring ! " said Anne. " You must keep 
 that, Mrs. Poynsett thought you would like it. It 
 is a gem — some Greek goddess, I think." 
 
 " Is this her arrangement t " asked Cecil, pointing 
 to the dust-pan. 
 
 " Oh no ! she knew nothing about that, nor I ; but 
 you see everyone has something droll. See what Mr. 
 Bowater has ! " 
 
 And Herbert Bowater showed that decidedly un- 
 complimentary penwiper, where the ass's head declares 
 ''' There are two of us ; " while every child had some 
 absurdity to show ; and Miss Moy's shrieks of delight 
 were already audible at a tortoiseshell penholder 
 disguised as a hunting-whip. 
 
 " I must go to my friends," said Cecil, vouchsafing 
 no admiration of the ring, though she had seen enough 
 to perceive that it was a beautifully engraved ruby : 
 
286 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 and she hurried back to the library, but only to find 
 all her birds flown, and the room empty ! Pursuing 
 them to the drawing-room, she saw only the backs of 
 a few, in the rearmost rank of the eager candidates 
 for admission to the magic cave. 
 
 Lady Tyrrell alone saw her, and turned back from 
 the eager multitude, to say in her low, modulated 
 voice, " Beaten, my dear. Able strategy on /a belle 
 mars part ! " 
 
 " Where's Mrs. Tallboys ? " 
 
 "Don't you see her blue feather, eagerly expectant? 
 Just after you were gone, Edith Bowater came in, and 
 begged us to come and see the conservatory lighted 
 up ; and then came a rush of the Brendon children 
 after their aunt, exclaiming wildly it was delicious — 
 lights, and a fairy, and a secret, and everyone got 
 something, if they were ever so old. Of course, after 
 that there was nothing but to follow the stream." 
 
 " It is a regular plot for outwitting us ! Rosamond 
 is dressed up for the fairy. They are all in league." 
 
 " Well, we must put a good face on it for the pre- 
 sent," said Lady Tyrrell. " Don't on any account 
 look as if you were not in perfect accordance. You 
 can show your sentiments afterwards, you know." 
 
 Cecil saw she must acquiesce, for ]Mrs. Tallboys 
 was full in the midst. With an infinitely better grace 
 than her hostess, she yielded herself to the sports, 
 bowed charmingly to the Peri, whirled like a fairy at 
 the whistling, and was rewarded with a little enamel 
 
TI-LE EN'CHANTMENTS. 287 
 
 padlock as a brooch, and two keys as ear-rings ; 
 indeed she professed, with evident sincerity, that she 
 was dehghted with these sports of the old country, 
 and thought the two genies exquisite specimens of 
 the fair, useless, gentle English male aristocracy. 
 
 Mrs. Duncombe, too, accepted the inevitable with 
 considerable spirit and good humour, though she had 
 a little passage-at-arms with Julius ; when showing 
 him the ivory cardcase that had fallen to her lot, she 
 said, " So this is the bribe 1 Society stops the mouth 
 of truth." 
 
 " That is as you choose to take it," he said. 
 
 " Exactly. When we want to go deep into eternal 
 verities, you silence us with frivolous din and dainty 
 playthings, for fear of losing your slaves." 
 
 " I don't grant that." 
 
 *' Then why hinder an earnest discussion by all this 
 hubbub ? " 
 
 " Because this was not the right place or time." 
 
 " It never is the right time for the tyrants to let 
 their slaves confer, or to hear home-truths." 
 
 "On the contrary, my curiosity is excited. I want 
 to hear Mrs. Tallboys' views." 
 
 " Then when will you dine with us ? Next 
 Wednesday ? " 
 
 " Thank you. W^ednesday has an evening service." 
 
 " Ah ! I told you it was never the rio-ht time ! 
 Then Thursday ? And you'll trust your wife with 
 us : 
 
288 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 '' Oh yes, certainly." 
 
 " It is a bargain, then ? Seven o'clock, or there 
 will be no time." 
 
 Julius's attention suddenly wandered. Was not a 
 whisper pervading the room of a railway accident ? 
 Was not Frank due by that night's train ? 
 
 There were still so many eager to visit the magic 
 cave, that Julius trusted his wife would remain there 
 sheltered from the report ; Jenny Bowater was behind 
 a stand of trees, acting orchestra ; but when Terry 
 came to the outskirts of the forest in search of other 
 knights of the whistle, Julius laid a hand on him, and 
 gave instructions in case any rumour should reach 
 Rosamond to let her know how vague it was, tell her 
 that he was going to ascertain the truth, and beg her 
 to keep up the game and cause no alarm. 
 
 Next encountering Anne, he begged her to go to 
 his mother and guard her from any alarm, until there 
 was some certainty. 
 
 '' Can't we send all these people away } " she asked. 
 
 *'Not yet. We had better make no unnecessary 
 disturbance. There will be time enough if anything 
 be amiss. I am going down to Hazlitt's Gate." 
 
 Anne was too late. Charlie had not outgrown the 
 instinct of rushing to his mother with his troubles ; 
 and he was despairingly telling the report he had 
 heard of a direful catastrophe, fatal to an unknown 
 quantity of passengers, while she, strong and composed 
 because he gave way, was trying to sift his intelligence. 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 289 
 
 No sooner did he hear from Anne that Julius was 
 going to the station, than he started up to accompany 
 him — the best thing he could do in his present state. 
 Hardly, however, had he closed the door, before he 
 returned with fresh tears in his eyes, leading in 
 Eleonora Vivian, whom he had found leaning against 
 the wall just outside, white and still, scarce drawing 
 her breath. 
 
 " Come," he said ; and before she knew what he 
 was doing, she was at Mrs. Poynsett's side. " Here, 
 Mother," he said, " take her." And he was gone. 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett stretched out her arms. The hearts 
 of the two women who loved Frank could not help 
 meeting. Eleonora sank on her knees, hiding her face 
 on the mother's breast, with two tender arms clasped 
 round her. 
 
 Anne was kneeling too, but she was no longer the 
 meek, shy stranger. Now, in the hour of trouble, she 
 poured forth, in a voice fervent and sweet, a prayer 
 for protection and support for their beloved one, so 
 that it might be well with him, whatever might be 
 his Heavenly Father's Will. 
 
 As she paused, Mrs. Poynsett, in a choked voice^ 
 said, " Thank you, dear child ; " when there were steps 
 in the hall. Anne started up, Lenore buried her face 
 on Mrs. Poynsett's bosom, the mother clasped her 
 hands over her convulsively, then beheld, as the door 
 opened, a tall figure, with a dark bright face full of 
 ineffable softness and joy. Frank himself, safe and 
 
 VOL. I. U 
 
290 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 sound, with his two brothers behind him. They 
 stayed not to speak, but hastened to spread the glad 
 tidings ; while he flung himself down, including both 
 his mother and Lenore in one rapturous embrace, and 
 carrying his kiss from one to the other — conscious, if 
 no one else was, that this first seal of his love was 
 o-iven in his mother's arms. 
 
 Lenore did indeed extricate herself, and stand up as 
 rosy red as she had been pale ; but she had no room 
 for any thought beyond his mother's trembling " Not 
 hurt, my dear^.? " 
 
 " Not hurt ! Not a scratch ! Thank God ! Oh ! 
 thank God ! " answered Frank, quivering all over with 
 thankfulness, though probably far more at the present 
 joy than the past peril. 
 
 " Yes — oh, thanks for His mercy ! " echoed Anne, 
 giving fervent hand and tearful cheek to the eager 
 salutation, which probably would have been as 
 energetic to Clio or old Betty at that moment ! 
 
 ''But there's blood on your wristband," cried the 
 mother. " You are hurt ! " 
 
 " No ; it's not mine. I didn't know it. It is from 
 the poor fellow I helped to carry into the public-house 
 at Knoll, just this side Backsworth, a good deal hurt, 
 I'm afraid. Something had got on the lines, I believe. 
 I was half asleep, and knew nothing till I found our- 
 selves all crushed up together in the dark, upside- 
 down, my feet above my head. There was but one 
 man in my carriage, and we didn't get foul of one 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 29I 
 
 another, and found we were all right, when we scram- 
 bled out at the window. So we helped out the others, 
 and found that, besides the engineer and stoker — who 
 I don't suppose can live, poor fellows ! — there was only 
 this man much damaged. Then, when there seemed 
 no more to be done, I took my bag and walked across 
 country, to reach home before you heard. But oh, 
 this is worth anything ! " 
 
 He had to bend down for another embrace from his 
 mother, whose heart was very full as she held his 
 bright young healthful face between her hands, though 
 all she said was, " You have walked eleven miles and 
 more ! You must be half starved ! — Anne, my dear, 
 pray let him have something. He can eat it here." 
 '•' I'll see," said Anne, hastening away. 
 " Oh, don't go, Lenore," cried Frank, springing up. 
 ^' Stay, I've not seen you ! — Mother, how sweet of 
 you ! But I forgot ! You don't know ! I was only 
 waiting till I was through." 
 " I understand, my dear boy." 
 
 " But how ? How did you find out .'* Was it only 
 that you knew she was the precious darling of my 
 heart } and now you see and own why," cried Frank, 
 almost beside himself with excitement and delight. 
 
 "It was Lady Tyrrell who told me," said Mrs. 
 Poynsett, sympathizing too much with the lovers to 
 perceive that her standpoint of resistance was gone 
 from her. 
 
 " Yes," said Lenore. " She knew of our walk, and 
 
 u 2 
 
292 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 questioned me so closely that I could not conceal 
 anything without falsehood." 
 
 " After she met me at Aucuba Villa.'*" asked Frank. 
 
 " Yes. Did you tell her anything ? " 
 
 *' I thought she knew more than I found afterwards 
 that she did," said Frank ; '' but there's no harm done. 
 It is all coming now." 
 
 " She told my father," said Eleonora sadly, " and 
 he cannot understand our delay. He is grieved and 
 displeased, and thinks I have not been open with 
 him." 
 
 " Oh ! that will be all right to-morrow," said Frank. 
 " I'll have it out with a free heart, now there's no fear 
 but that I have passed ; and I've got the dearest of 
 mothers ! I feel as if I could meet him if he were a 
 dozen examiners rolled into one, instead of the good 
 old benevolent parent that he is ! Ha ! Anne — Susan 
 — Jenkins —thank you — that's splendid ! May I have 
 it here ^ Super-excellent ! Only here's half the clay- 
 pit sticking to me ! Let me just run up and make 
 myself decent. Only don't let her run away." 
 
 Perhaps Clio would have scorned the instinct that 
 made a Charnock unable to enjoy a much-needed 
 meal in the presence of mother and of love till the 
 traces of the accident and the long walk had been 
 removed. His old nurse hurried after — ostensibly to 
 see that his linen was at hand, but really to have her 
 share of the petting and congratulation ; and Lenore 
 stood a little embarrassed, till Mrs. Poynsett held out 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 293 
 
 her arms, with the words, ''My dear child ! " and again 
 she dropped on her knee by the couch, and nestled 
 close in thankful joy. 
 
 Presently, however, she raised herself, and said 
 sadly, almost coldly, " I am afraid you have been 
 surprised into this." 
 
 " I must love one who so loves my boy," was the 
 ardent answer. 
 
 " I couldn't help it ! " said the maiden, again aban- 
 doning herself to the tenderness. " Oh ! it is so good 
 of you ! " 
 
 " My dear dear daughter ! " 
 
 '^Only please give me one mother's kiss! I have 
 so longed for one." 
 
 " Poor motherless child 1 My svveet daughter ! " 
 
 Then after a pause Eleonora said, " Indeed, I'll try 
 to deserve better ; but oh ! pray forgive me, if I cost 
 him much more pain and patience than I am worth." 
 
 "He thinks you well worth anything, and perhaps 
 I do," said Mrs. Poynsett, who was conquered, won 
 over, delighted more than by either of the former 
 brides, in spite of all antecedents. 
 
 '' Then will you always trust me } " said Eleonora, 
 with clasped hands, and a wondrous look of earnest 
 sincerity on her grave open brow and beautiful pensive 
 dark blue eyes. 
 
 " I must, my dear." 
 
 " And indeed I don't think I could help holding to 
 /iwt, because he seems my one stay and hope here ; 
 
294 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 and now I know it Is all right with you, Indeed it is 
 such happiness as I never knew." 
 
 She laid her head down again in subdued joy and 
 rest : but the pause was broken by Frank's return ; 
 and a moment after, in darted the Peri in her pink 
 cashmere costume, with a glow transforming her 
 usually colourless face. '' Dear, dear Frank, I'm so 
 glad ! " she cried, bestowing her kiss ; while he cried 
 in amazement, " Is it Rose ? Is there a fancy ball .'* " 
 
 '' Only Aladdin's Cave. I'm just out of it ; and 
 while Jenny is keeping up games, and Edith Is getting 
 up a charade, I could dash in to see that Frank was 
 all there, and more too. The exam, is safe, eh ? " 
 
 '' I trust so," said Frank ; " the list will not come 
 just yet ; but I am told I am certain of a pass — indeed, 
 that I stand high as to numbers." 
 
 " That's noble ! — Now, Mrs. Poynsett, turn him out 
 as soon as he has eaten his dinner. We want anyone 
 who can keep up a respectable kind of a row. I say, 
 will you two do Ferdinand and Miranda playing at 
 chess ? You look just like It." 
 
 " Must we go } " asked Frank reluctantly ; and there 
 was something in the expression of his face, a little 
 paler than usual, that reminded his mother that the 
 young man had for the first time seen sudden and 
 violent death that day, and that though his present 
 gladness was so great, yet that he had gone through 
 too much in body and mind for the revels of the 
 evening not either to jar, or to produce a vehement 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 295 
 
 reaction, if he were driven into them. So she an- 
 swered by pleading the eleven miles' walk ; and the 
 queen of the sports was merciful, adding, '^ But I must 
 be gone, or Terry will be getting up his favourite 
 tableau of the wounded men of Clontarf, or Rothesay, 
 or the Black Bull's Head, or some equally pleasing 
 little incident." 
 
 " Is it going on well "i " asked Mrs. Poynsett. 
 
 " Sweetly ! Couldn't be better. They have all 
 amalgamated, and are in the midst of the ' old family 
 coach,' with Captain Duncombe telling the story. 
 He is quite up to the trick, and enjoys turning the 
 tables on his ladies." 
 
 " And Camilla 1 " asked Lenore, in a hesitating, 
 anxious tone. 
 
 " Oh ! she's gone in for it. I think she is the 
 springs ! I heard her ask where you were, and 
 Charley told her ; so you need not be afraid to stay 
 in peace, if you have a turn that way. Good-bye ; 
 you'd laugh to see how delighted people are to be 
 let off the lecture." And she bent over Lenore with 
 a parting kiss, full of significance of congratulation. 
 
 She returned, after changing her dress, to find a 
 pretty fairy tableau, contrived by the Bowater sisters, 
 in full progress, and delighting the children and the 
 mothers. Lady Vivian contrived to get a word with 
 her as she returned. 
 
 " Beautifully managed, Lady Rosamond. I tell 
 Cecil she should enjoy a defeat by such strategy." 
 
296 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " It is Mrs. Poynsett's regular Christmas party," 
 said Rosamond, not deigning any other reply. 
 
 " I congratulate her on her skilful representatives," 
 said Lady Tyrrell. " May I ask if we are to see the 
 hero of the day ? No ^ What ! you would say better 
 ■employed ? Poor children, we must let them alone 
 to-night for their illusion, though I am sorry it should 
 be deepened ; it will be only the more pain by and 
 by." 
 
 " I don't see that," said Rosamond stoutly. 
 
 "Ah! Lady Rosamond, you are a happy young 
 bride, untaught what is Vinipossibler Rosamond could 
 not help thinking that no one understood it better 
 than she, as the eldest of a large family with more 
 rank and far more desires than means ; but she dis- 
 liked Lady Tyrrell far too much for even her open 
 nature to indulge in confidences, and she made a suc- 
 cessful effort to escape from her neighbourhood by 
 putting two pale female Fullers into the place of 
 honour in front of the folding doors into the small 
 drawing-room, which served as a stage, and her- 
 self hovered about the rear, wishing she could find 
 some means of silencing Miss Moy's voice, which was 
 growing louder and more boisterous than ever. 
 
 The charade which Rosamond had expected was 
 the inoffensive, if commonplace. Inspector, and the 
 window she beheld, when the curtain drew up was, 
 she supposed, the bar of an inn. But no ; on the 
 board were two heads, ideals of male and female 
 
THE ENCHANTMENTS. 297 
 
 beauty, one with a waxed moustache, the other with 
 a huge chignon, vividly recaUing Mr. Pettitt's Penates. 
 Presently came by a dapper professor, in blue spec- 
 tacles and a college cap, who stood contemplating, 
 and indulging in a harangue on entities and mole- 
 cules, spirit and matter, affinities and development, 
 while the soft deep brown eyes of the chignoned head 
 languished, and the blue ones of the moustached one 
 rolled, and the muscles twitched and the heads turned 
 till, by a strong process of will explained by the Pro- 
 fessor, they bent their necks, erected themselves, and 
 finally started into life, and the curtain fell on them 
 with clasped hands ! 
 
 It rose to show the newly-animated pair, Junius 
 Brutus and Barberina his wife, at the breakfast-table 
 with a boar's head of brawn before them, while the 
 Lady Barberina boldly asserted her claims to the 
 headship of the house. Had she not lately been all 
 head ? 
 
 The pathetic reply was, "Would it were so still, 
 my dear. All head and no tongue, like our present 
 meal." 
 
 The lady heaved up the boar's head to throw at 
 him, and the scene closed. 
 
 Next, Brutus was seen awkwardly cleaning his 
 accoutrements, having enlisted, as he soliloquized, to 
 escape from woman. 
 
 Enter a sergeant with a rich Irish brogue, and 
 other recruits, forming the awkward squad. The 
 
298 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 drill was performed with immense spirit, but only- 
 one of the soldiers showed any dexterity ; but while 
 the sergeant was upholding him as '' the very moral 
 of a patthern to the rest," poor Brutus was seized 
 with agonizing horror- at the recognition of Barberina 
 in this disguise ! 
 
 " Why not ? " she argued. " Why should not woman 
 learn to use the arms of which man has hitherto 
 usurped the use ? " 
 
 Poor Brutus stretched out his arms in despair, and 
 called loudly for the Professor to restore him to his 
 original state of silent felicity in the barber's window. 
 
 " Ye needn't do that, me boy," quoth the sergeant 
 with infinite scorn. " Be ye where ye wull, ye'll never 
 be aught but a blockhead." 
 
 Therewith carriages were being announced to the 
 heads of families ; and with compliments and eager 
 thanks, and assurances that nothing could have been 
 more delightful, the party broke up. 
 
 Captain Duncombe, while muffling his boys, de- 
 clared that he never saw a cleverer hit in his life, and 
 that those two De Lancey brothers ought to be on 
 the stage ; while Miss Moy loudly demanded whether 
 he did not feel it personal ; and Mrs. Tallboys, grace- 
 fully shaking hands with Anne and Rosamond, de- 
 clared it a grand challenge where the truth had 
 been unconsciously hit off. Cecil was nowhere ta 
 be seen. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 DEMONSTRATIONS. 
 
 " Nursing her wrath to keep it warm." 
 
 Bwns. 
 
 The hours of the soiree had been early ; but the 
 breakfast was so irregular and undecided as to time, 
 that no one took much notice of an intimation which 
 Jenkins had received from the grim Mrs. Grindstone 
 that Mrs. Charnock Poynsett would take breakfast 
 in her own room. Indeed, they all felt glad that her 
 views of etiquette did not bind them to their places ; 
 for Frank was burning to be off to Sirenwood, for- 
 getting that it was far easier to be too early than too 
 late for Sir Harry Vivian, who was wont to smoke 
 till long after midnight, and was never visible till the 
 midday repast. 
 
 And thus it was Lady Tyrrell who came to Frank 
 alone. ^' Early afoot," she said ; " you foolish, im- 
 patient fellow ! You will outrun my best advice." 
 
 " Ah ! but I'm armed. I always told you we might 
 trust to my mother, and it is all right. She loves 
 
300 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Lenore with all her heart, and consents freely and 
 gladly." 
 
 '' Indeed ! Well, the dear child has made her 
 conquest ! " 
 
 " I always knew she would when once reserve was 
 broken down." 
 
 " Did you get up the alarm on purpose ? " 
 
 " Really, one would think I had done so. One 
 such moment was worth years of ordinary meetings ! 
 Half the battle is won ! " 
 
 '^ Have you seen your mother this morning } " 
 
 " No ; but she knew I was coming." 
 
 " Then you do not know what her feelings are on 
 cooler reflection ? " 
 
 ^'My mother would never retract what she has 
 once assured me of," said Frank haughtily. 
 
 " Forgive me — of what has she assured you .'' " 
 
 " That she regards Eleonora as a dear daughter, 
 and that impHes doing the same for me as for my 
 brothers. If Sir Harry would but be so good as to 
 come and see her " 
 
 " Stay, Frank, you have not come that length. You 
 forget that if you have, as you say, gained half the 
 battle, there is another half ; and that my father very 
 reasonably feels hurt at being the last to be favoured 
 with the intelligence." 
 
 ^' Dear Lady Tyrrell, }'ou can see how it was. There 
 was no helping it when once I could speak to Lenore ; 
 and then no one would have let me utter a word till 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 3OI 
 
 I had gone through the examination. We never 
 meant to go on a system of concealment ; but you 
 know how every one would have raved and stormed 
 if I had betrayed a thought beyond old Driver, and 
 yet it was only being at rest about Lenore that 
 carried me through without breaking down. Can't 
 you see ? " 
 
 " You special pleader ! May you win over my 
 father ; but you must remember that we are a fallen 
 house, unable to do all we wish." 
 
 " If I might see Sir Harry ! I must make him 
 forgive me." 
 
 " I will see whether he is ready." 
 
 Could Frank's eyes have penetrated the walls, he 
 would have seen Lady Tyrrell received with the 
 words, "Well, my dear, I hope you have got rid of 
 the young man — poor fellow ! " 
 
 " I am afraid that cannot be done without your 
 seeing him yourself." 
 
 '' Hang it ! I hate it ! I can't abide it, Camilla. 
 He's a nice lad, though he is his mother's son ; and 
 Lenore's heart is set on him, and I can't bear vexing 
 the child." 
 
 "Lena cares for him only because she met him 
 before she knew what life is like. After one season 
 she will understand what five hundred a year means." 
 
 " Well, you ought to know your sister best ; but if 
 the lad has spoken to her, Lena is not the girl to 
 stand his getting his co7t^e so decidedly." 
 
302 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Exactly ; it would only lead to heroics, and deepen 
 the mischief." 
 
 *' Hang it ! Then what do you want me to say ? " 
 
 " Stand up for your rights, and reduce him to sub- 
 mission by displeasure at not having been consulted. 
 Then explain how there can be no engagement at 
 once ; put hirn on his honour to leave her free till 
 after her birthday in November." 
 
 " What ! have him dangling after her } That's no 
 way to make her forget him." 
 
 " She never will under direct opposition — she is too 
 high-spirited for that ; but if we leave it alone, and 
 they are unpledged, there is a fair chance of her 
 seeing the folly both for her and for him." 
 
 " I don't know that. Lena may be highflown ; but 
 things go deep with the child — deeper than they did 
 with you, Camilla ! " 
 
 Perhaps this was a stab, for there was bitterness in 
 the answer. "You mean that she is less willing to 
 give up a fancy for the family good. Remember, it 
 is doubly imperative that Lena should marry a man 
 whose means are in his own power, so that he could 
 advance something. This would be simply ruin — 
 throwing up the whole thing, after all I have done 
 to retrieve our position." 
 
 " After all, Camilla, I am growing an old man, and 
 poor Tom is gone. I don't know that the position is 
 worth so much to me as the happiness to her, poor 
 child ! " said Sir Harry wistfully. 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 303 
 
 " Happiness ! " was the scornful answer. " If you 
 said 'her own way,', it would be nearer the truth. 
 A back street in London — going about in a cab — 
 and occasional holidays on sufferance from Mrs. 
 Poynsett," 
 
 However little happiness either father or daughter 
 had derived from their chosen ways, this idea was 
 abhorrent to both ; and Lady Tyrrell pressed her 
 advantage. " If we keep him waiting much longer 
 he will be rushing after Lena, and if you show the 
 least sign of relenting he will insist on dragging you 
 to an interview with his mother." 
 
 The threat was effectual ; for Sir Harry had had 
 passages-at-arms enough with Mrs. Poynsett to make 
 him dread her curt, dry civility far more than either 
 dun or bailiff, and he was at once roused to the 
 determination to be explicit. 
 
 Frank met him, with crimson face and prepared 
 speech. " Good morning, Sir Harry ! I am afraid 
 you may think that you have reason to complain of 
 my not having spoken to you sooner ; but I trusted 
 to your previous knowledge of my feelings, and I 
 was anxious to ascertain my position before laying 
 it before you, though I don't believe I should have 
 succeeded unless my mind had been set at rest." 
 
 Soft-hearted Sir Harry muttered, " I understand, 
 but " 
 
 The pause at that " but " was so long that Frank 
 ventured on going on. ''I have not had an official 
 
304 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 communication, but I know privately that I have 
 passed well and stand favourably for promotion, so 
 that my income will go on increasing, and my mother 
 will make over to me five thousand pounds, as she 
 has done to Miles and Julius, so that it can be settled 
 on Eleonora at once." 
 
 " There, there, that's enough ! " said Sir Harry, 
 coerced by his daughter's glances ; " there's plenty of 
 time before coming to all that ! You see, my dear 
 boy, I always liked you, and had an immense respect 
 for your — your family ; but, you see, Eleonora is 
 young, and under the circumstances she ought not to 
 engage herself. She can't any way marry before 
 coming of age, and — considering all things — I should 
 much prefer that this should go no further." 
 
 " You ought both to be free ! " said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " That I can never be ! " 
 
 " Nor do you think that she can — only it sounds 
 presumptuous," smiled Lady Tyrrell. " V;ho can 
 say ^ But things have to be proved ; and considering 
 what young untried hearts are, it is safer and happier 
 for both that there should be perfect freedom, so that 
 no harm should be done, if you found that you had 
 not known your own minds." 
 
 '' It will make no difference to me." 
 
 "Oh yes, we know that!" laughed Sir Harry, 
 " Only suppose you changed your mind, we could not 
 be angry with you." 
 
 "You don't think I could!" 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 305 
 
 " No, no," said Lady Tyrrell ; " we think no such 
 thing. Don't you see, if we did not trust your honour, 
 we could not leave this in suspense. All we desire is 
 that these matters may be left till it is possible to see 
 our way, when the affairs of the estate are wound up ; 
 for we can't tell what the poor child will have. Come 
 don't repeat that it will make no difference. It may 
 not to you ; but it must to us, and to your mother." 
 
 '^ My mother expects nothing ! " said Frank eagerly ; 
 but it was a false step. 
 
 Sir Harry bristled up, saying, '' Sir, my daughter 
 shall go into no family that — that has not a proper 
 appreciation of — and expectations befitting her 
 position." 
 
 " Dear Papa," exclaimed Lady Tyrrell, " he means 
 no such thing. He is only crediting his mother with 
 his own romantic ardour and disinterestedness. — 
 Hark ! there actually is the gong. Come and have 
 some luncheon, and contain yourself, you foolish 
 boy ! " 
 
 " I am sorry I said anything that seemed unfitting," 
 said Frank meekly. "You know I could not mean it !" 
 
 "Yes, yes, yes, I bear no malice; only one does 
 not like to see one's own child courted without a voice 
 in the matter, and to hear she is to be taken as a 
 favour, expecting nothing. But, there, we'll say no 
 more. I like you, Frank Charnock ! and only wish 
 you had ten thousand a year, or were anyone else ; 
 but you see — you see. Well, let's eat our luncheon." 
 
 VOL. I. X 
 
306 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 *' Does she know this decision ? " asked Frank, 
 aside, as he held open the door for Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " Yes, she knows it can go no further ; though we 
 are too merciful to deny you the beatific vision, pro- 
 vided you are good, and abstain from any more little 
 Undresses for the present. — Ah ! " — enter Cecil — " I 
 thought we should see you to-day, my dear ! " 
 
 " Yes ; I am on my way to meet my husband at 
 the station," said Cecil, meeting her in the hall, and 
 returning her kiss. 
 
 " Is Raymond coming home to-day .'' " said Frank, 
 as he too exchanged greetings. " Ah ! I remember ; 
 I did not see you at breakfast this morning." 
 
 '* No ! " and there was signification in the voice ; 
 but Frank did not heed it, for coming down stairs 
 was Eleonora, her face full of a blushing sweet- 
 ness, which gave it all the beauty it had ever 
 lacked. 
 
 He could do no more than look and speak before 
 all the rest ; the carriage was ordered for the sisters 
 to go out together, and he lingered in vain for a few 
 words in private, for Sir Harry kept him talking about 
 Captain Buncombe's wonderful colt, till Cecil had 
 driven off one way, and their two hostesses the other ; 
 and he could only ride home to tell his mother how 
 he had sped. 
 
 Better than Rosamond, better even than Charlie, 
 was his mother as a confidante ; and though she had 
 been surprised into her affectionate acceptance of 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 307 
 
 Eleonora, it was an indescribable delight to mother 
 and son to find themselves once more in full 
 sympathy ; while he poured out all that had been 
 pent up ever since his winter at Rockpier. She 
 almost made common cause with him in the question, 
 what would Raymond say ? And it proved to be 
 news to her that her eldest son was to be immediately 
 expected at home. Cecil had not come to see her, 
 and had sent her no message ; but ungracious inatten- 
 tion was not so uncommon as to excite much remark 
 from one who never wished to take heed to it ; and it 
 was soon forgotten in the praise of Eleonora. 
 
 Cecil meanwhile was receiving Raymond at the 
 station. He was pleased to see her there in her pony- 
 carriage, but a little startled by the brief coldness of 
 her reply to his inquiry after his mother, and the tight 
 compression of her lips all the time they were making 
 their way through the town, where, as usual, he was 
 hailed every two or three minutes by persons wanting 
 a word with him. When at last there was a free 
 space, she began : *' Raymond, I wish to know whether 
 you mean me to be set at naught, and my friends 
 deliberately insulted ? " 
 
 "What.?" 
 
 A gentleman here hurried up with " I'll not detain 
 you a minute." 
 
 He did, however, keep them for what seemed a 
 great many, to the chafing spirit which thought a 
 husband should have no ears save for his wife's 
 
 X 2 
 
308 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 „ . • — 
 
 wrongs ; so she made her preface even more startling 
 — " Raymond, I cannot remain in the house any longer 
 with Lady Rosamond Charnock and those intolerable 
 brothers of hers ! " 
 
 " Perhaps you will explain yourself," said Raymond, 
 almost relieved by the evident exaggeration of the 
 expressions. 
 
 " There has been a conspiracy to thwart and insult 
 me — a regular conspiracy ! " 
 
 " Cecil ! let me understand you. What can have 
 happened ? " 
 
 "When I arranged an evening for my friends to 
 meet Mrs. Tallboys, I did not expect to have it 
 swamped by a pack of children, and noisy nonsensical 
 games, nor that both she and I should be insulted by 
 practical jokes and a personal charade." 
 
 " A party to meet Mrs. Tallboys } " 
 
 " A ladies' party, a conversazioner 
 
 " What — by my mother's wish } " 
 
 " I was oriven to understand that I had carte blanche 
 in visiting matters." 
 
 '^ You did not ask her consent } " 
 
 " I saw no occasion," 
 
 "You did not.?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 "■ Then, Cecil, I must say that whatever you may 
 have to complain of, you have committed a grave act 
 of disrespect." 
 
 " I was told that I was free to arrange these things !" 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 309 
 
 " Free ! " said Raymond, thoroughly roused ; " free 
 to write notes, and order the carriage, and play lady 
 of the house ; but did you think that made you free 
 to bring an American mountebank of a woman to 
 hold forth absurd trash in my mother's own drawing- 
 room, as soon as my back was turned ? " 
 
 " I should have done the same had you been 
 there." 
 
 ''Indeed!" ironically; "I did not know how far 
 you had graduated in the Rights of Women. So you 
 invited these people ? " 
 
 " Then the whole host of children was poured in on 
 us, and everything imaginable done to interrupt, and 
 render everything rational impossible. I know it 
 was Rosamond's contrivance, she looked so trium- 
 phant, dressed in an absurd fancy dress, and her whole 
 train doing nothing but turning me into ridicule, and 
 Mrs. Tallboys too. Whatever you choose to call her, 
 you cannot approve of a stranger and foreigner being 
 insulted here. It is that about which I care — not 
 myself; I have seen none of them since, nor shall I 
 do so until a full apology has been made to my guest 
 and to myself." 
 
 " You have not told me the offence." 
 
 " In the first place, there was an absurd form of 
 Christmas-tree, to which one was dragged blindfold, 
 and sedulously made ridiculous ; and I — I had a 
 dust-pan and brush. Yes, I had, in mockery of our 
 endeavours to purify that unhappy street." 
 
310 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " I should have taken it as a little harmless fun," 
 said Raymond. " Depend on it, it was so intended." 
 
 " What, when Mrs. Tallboys had a padlock and 
 key } I see you are determined to laugh at it all. 
 Most likely they consulted you beforehand." 
 
 *' Cecil, I cannot have you talk such nonsense. Is 
 this all you have to complain of .'' " 
 
 " No. There was a charade on the word Block- 
 head, where your brother Charles and the two De 
 Lanceys caricatured what they supposed to be Mrs. 
 Tallboys' doctrines." 
 
 " How did she receive it .'*" 
 
 '' Most good-humouredly ; but that made it no 
 better oi th^Ir part." 
 
 " Are you sure it was not a mere ordinary piece of 
 pleasantry, with perhaps a spice of personality, but 
 nothing worth resenting ? " 
 
 '' You did not see it. Or perhaps you think no 
 indignity towards me worth resentment ? " 
 
 "I do not answer that, Cecil; you will think better 
 of those words another time," said Raymond sternly. 
 '' But when you want your cause taken up, you have 
 to remember that whatever the annoyance, you 
 brought it upon yourself and her, by your ou^n ex- 
 traordinary proceeding towards my mother — I will 
 not say towards myself. I will try to smooth 
 matters. I think the De Lanceys must have acted 
 foolishly ; but the first step ought to be an expression 
 of regret for such conduct tbwards my mother." 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 3II 
 
 •* I cannot express regret. I ought to have been 
 told if there were things forbidden." 
 
 "■ Must I forbid your playing Punch and Judy, 
 or dancing on the tight-rope ? " cried Raymond, 
 exasperated. 
 
 Cecil bit her lip, and treated the exclamation with 
 the silent dignity of a deeply injured female ; and 
 thus they reached home, when Raymond said, '' Come 
 to your senses , Cecil, and apologize to my mother. 
 You can explain that you did not know the extent of 
 your powers." 
 
 " Certainly not. They all plotted against me, and 
 I am the person to whom apology is due." 
 
 Wherewith she marched up stairs, leaving Raymond, 
 horribly perplexed, to repair at once to his mother's 
 room, where Frank still was ; but after replying about 
 his success in the examination, the younger brother 
 retreated, preferring that his story should be told by 
 his mother ; but she had not so much as entered on 
 it when Raymond demanded what had so much 
 disturbed Cecil. 
 
 " I was afraid she would be vexed," said Mrs. 
 Poynsett ; " but we were in a difficulty. We thought 
 she hardly knew what she had been led into, and that 
 as she had invited her ladies, it would do less harm 
 to change the. character of the party than to try to get 
 it given up." 
 
 " I have no doubt you did the best you could," said 
 Raymond, speaking with more like censure of his 
 
312 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 mother than he had ever done since the hot days of 
 his love for Camilla Vivian ; "and you could have 
 had nothing to do with the personalities that seem to 
 have been the sting." 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett, true boy-lover that she was, had 
 been informed of the success of Tom's naughtiness 
 — not indeed till after it was over, when there 
 was nothing to be done but to shake her head 
 and laugh; and now she explained so that her 
 son came to a better understanding of what had 
 happened. 
 
 As to the extinguishing Women's Rights in child's 
 play, he saw that it had been a wise manoeuvre of his 
 mother, to spare any appearance of dissension, while 
 preventing what she disapproved and what might 
 have injured his interests ; but he was much annoyed 
 with the De Lanceys for having clogged the measure 
 with their own folly ; and judging of cause by effect, 
 he would hear of no excuse for Rosamond or her 
 brothers, and went away resolved that though no- 
 thing should induce him to quarrel with Julius, yet 
 he should tell him plainly that he must restrain his 
 wife and her brothers from annoying Cecil by their 
 practical jokes. He was, as usual, perfectly gentle to 
 his mother, and thanked her for her arrangement. 
 *' It was not her fault that it had not turned out 
 better," he said ; and he did not seem to hear her 
 exoneration of Rosamond. 
 
 He had scarcely gone when Rosamond came in 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 3 1 3 
 
 from the village, asking whether he had arrived, as 
 she had seen his hat in the hall. 
 
 "Yes, Rosamond. You did not tell me of Cecil's 
 vexation ! " 
 
 " Cecil ? Have I seen her since } No, I remember 
 now. But is she angry ? Was it the dust-pan ? Oh ! 
 Tom, Tom ! " 
 
 " That and the Blockhead. Did Tom say anything 
 very cutting .'' " 
 
 " Why it was an old stock charade they acted two 
 years ago ! I had better tell her so." 
 
 " If you would it would be an immense relief, my 
 dear. Raymond is very much annoyed ; she says she 
 will speak to nobody till she has had an apology." 
 
 " Then she can be as great a goose as I ! Why, 
 the Yankee muse and Mrs. Buncombe took all in 
 good part ; but Cecil has not an atom of fun in 
 her. Don't you think that was the gift the fairies 
 left out at the christening of the all-endowed 
 princess ^ " 
 
 Mrs. Poynsett laughed, but anxiously. " My 
 dear, if you can make peace, it will be a family 
 blessing." 
 
 " I ! I'll eat any dirt in the world, and make Tom 
 eat it too, rather than you should be vexed, or make 
 discord in the house," cried Rosamond, kissing her, 
 and speeding away to Cecil's door. 
 
 It was Raymond who opened it, looking perturbed 
 and heated, but a good deal amazed at seeing his 
 
314 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 intended scapegoat coming thus boldly to present 
 herself. 
 
 "Let me In," she breathlessly said. "I am come 
 to tell Cecil how sorry I am she was so much vexed ; 
 I really did not know it before." 
 
 " I am ready to accept any proper apology that is 
 offered me," said Cecil, with cold dignity; ''but I 
 cannot understand your profession that you did not 
 know I was vexed. You could have intended nothing 
 else." 
 
 " But, Cecil, you misunderstood " began Rosa- 
 mond. 
 
 " I never misunderstand " 
 
 *' No human creature can say that ! " interposed 
 Raymond, immensely thankful to Rosamond — what- 
 ever her offence — for her overtures, and anxious they 
 should be accepted. 
 
 ** I could not," continued Cecil, " misunderstand 
 the impertinent insults offered to my friends and 
 to myself; though if Lady Rosamond is willing to 
 acknowledge the impropriety I will overlook it." 
 
 Rosamond's face and neck crimsoned, but Ray- 
 mond's presence helped her to rein in her temper ; 
 and she thought of Julius, and refrained from more 
 than a ''Very well. It was meant as a harmless joke, 
 and — and if you — you did not take it so, I am very 
 sorry." 
 
 Raymond saw the effort, and looked at his wife for 
 softening ; but as he saw none, he met the advance 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS. 315 
 
 by sa3ang kindly, " I am sure it was so meant, though 
 the moment was unfortunate." 
 
 "Indeed it was so," cried Rosamond, feeling it 
 much easier to speak to him, and too generous to 
 profess her own innocence and give up Tom. " It was 
 just a moment's idle fancy — ^just as we've chaffed one 
 another a hundred times ; and for the Blockhead, it 
 is the boys' pet old stock charade that they've acted 
 scores of times. It was mere thoughtlessness ; and 
 I'll do or say anything Cecil pleases, if only she won't 
 bother Julius or Mrs. Poynsett about our foolishness." 
 And the mist of tears shone in the dark lashes as she 
 held out her hand. 
 
 " I cannot suppose it mere thoughtlessness " 
 
 began Cecil ; but Raymond cut her short with angry 
 displeasure, of which she had not supposed him capable. 
 *' This is not the way to receive so kind an apology. 
 Take Rosamond's hand, and respond properly." 
 
 To respond properly was as little in Cecil's power 
 as her will ; but she had not been an obedient daughter 
 for so large a proportion of her life without having an 
 instinct for the voice of real authority, and she did 
 not refuse her hand, with the words, " If you express 
 regret I will say no more about it." 
 
 And Rosamond, thinking of Julius and his mother, 
 swallowed the ungraciousness, and saying " Thank 
 you," turned to go away. 
 
 " Thank you most heartily for this, my dear 
 Rosamond," said Raymond, holding out his hand as 
 
3l6 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 he opened the door for her ; " I esteem it a very- 
 great kindness." 
 
 Rosamond, as she felt the strong pressure of his 
 hand, looked up in his face with a curious arch com- 
 passion in her great grey eyes. He shut the door 
 behind her, and saw Cecil pouting by the mantel- 
 piece, vexed at being forced into a reconciliation, even 
 while she knew she could not persist in sending all the 
 family except Frank to Coventry. He was thoroughly 
 angry at the dogged way in which she had received 
 this free and generous peace-making, and he could 
 not but show it. '' Well," he said, '' I never saw an 
 apology made with a better grace nor received with a 
 worse one." 
 
 Cecil made no reply. He stood for a minute 
 looking at her with eyes of wondering displeasure, 
 then, with a little gesture of amazement, left the room. 
 
 Cecil felt like the drowning woman when she gave 
 the last scissor-like gesture with her fingers. She 
 was ready to fall into a chair and cry. A sense of 
 desolateness was very strong on her, and that look in 
 his dark eyes had seemed to blast her. 
 
 But pride came to her aid. Grindstone was moving 
 about ready to dress her for dinner. No one should 
 see that she was wounded, or that she took home dis- 
 pleasure which she did not merit. So she held up 
 her head, and was chilling and dignified all dinner- 
 time ; after which she repaired to Lady Tyrrell's 
 conversazione. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 
 
 " Descend, my muse ! " 
 
 Raymond had been invited by one of his fellow- 
 guests to make a visit at his house, and this was 
 backed up on the morning after his return by a letter 
 containing a full invitation to both himself and his 
 wife. He never liked what he called "doing nothing 
 in other people's houses," but he thought any sacri- 
 fice needful that might break up Cecil's present inti- 
 macies, and change the current of her ideas ; and 
 his mother fully agreed in thinking that it would be 
 well to begin a round of visits, to last until the Session 
 of Parliament should have begun. By the time it was 
 over Julius and Rosamond would be in their own 
 house, and it might be easier to make a new beginning. 
 The friends whom he could reckon on as sure to 
 welcome him and his bride were political acquaint- 
 ances of mark, far above the Dunstone range, and 
 Cecil could not but be gratified, even while Mrs. 
 Buncombe and her friend declared that they were 
 
3l8 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 going to try to demoralize her by the seductions of 
 aristocracy. 
 
 After all, Cecil was too much of an ingrained Char- 
 nock to be very deeply imbued with Women's Rights. 
 All that she wanted was her own way, and opposition- 
 Lady Tyrrell had fascinated her and secured her affec- 
 tion, and she followed her lead, which was rather that 
 of calm curiosity and desire to hear the subject venti- 
 lated than actual partizanship, for which her ladyship 
 was far too clever, as well as too secure in her natural 
 supremacy. They had only seemed on that side 
 because other people were so utterly alien to it, and 
 because of their friendship with the really zealous 
 Mrs. Buncombe. 
 
 The sanitary cause which had become mixed with 
 it was, however, brought strongly before their minds 
 by Mrs. Tallboys' final lecture, at which she impressed 
 on the ladies' minds with great vehemence that here 
 they might lead the way. If men would not act as a 
 body, the ladies should set the example, and shame 
 them, by each doing her very utmost in the cleansing 
 of the nests of disease that reeked in the worn-out 
 civilization of the cities of the old country. The ladies 
 listened : Lady Tyrrell, with a certain interest in such 
 an eager flow of eloquence ; Eleonora, with thoughts 
 far away. Bessie Buncombe expressed a bold prac- 
 tical determination to get one fragment, at least, of 
 the work done, since she knew Pettitt, the hairdresser, 
 was public-spirited enough to allow her to carry out 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 319 
 
 her ideas on his property, and Cecil, with her ample 
 allowance, as yet uncalled for, in the abundance of 
 her trousseau, promised to supply what the hair- 
 dresser could not advance, as a tangible proof of her 
 sincerity. 
 
 She held a little council with Mrs. Buncombe at 
 the working society, when she resigned her day into 
 that lady's hands on going away. " I shall ask Mrs. 
 Miles Charnock," said that lady. "You don't 
 object.?" 
 
 " Oh no, only don't ask her till I'm gone, and you 
 know she will only come on condition of being allowed 
 to expound." 
 
 " We must have somebody, and now the thing has 
 gone on so long, and will end in three months, 
 the goody element will not do much harm, and, 
 unluckily, most women will not act without it." 
 
 ''• You have been trying to train Miss Moy." 
 
 " I shall try still, but I can't get her to take interest 
 in anything but the boisterous side of emancipation." 
 
 " I can't bear the girl," said Cecil ; " I am sure she 
 comes only for the sake of the horses." 
 
 " I'm afraid so ; but she amuses Bob, and there's 
 always a hope of moving her father through her, 
 though she declares that the ' Three Pigeons ' is his 
 tenderest point, and that he had as soon meddle with 
 it as with the apple of his eye. I suppose he gets a 
 great rent from that Gadley." 
 
 " Do you really think you shall do anything with 
 
520 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 her ? " said Cecil, who might uphold her at home, but 
 whose taste was outraged by her. 
 
 " I hope so ! At any rate, she is not conventional. 
 Why, when I was set free from my school at Paris, 
 and married Bob three months later, I hadn't three 
 ideas in my head beyond horses and balls and 
 soldiers. It has all come with life and reading, my 
 dear." 
 
 And a very odd " all " it was, so far ; but there was 
 this difference between Bessie Buncombe and Cecil 
 Charnock Poynsett, that the " gospel of progress " 
 was to the one the first she had ever really known, 
 and became a reaching forward to a newly-perceived 
 standard of benevolence and nobleness : to the other 
 it was simply retrograding, and that less from 
 conviction than from the spirit of rivalry and 
 opposition. 
 
 Lady Tyrrell with her father and sister were like- 
 wise going to leave home, to stay among friends with 
 whom Sir Harry could hunt until the London cam- 
 paign, when Eleonora was to see the world. Thus 
 the bazaar was postponed until the return of the ladies 
 in the summer, when the preparations would be more 
 complete and the season more suitable. The church 
 must wait for it, for nothing like a sufhcient amount 
 of subscription had been as yet promised. 
 
 There was still, however, to come that select dinner- 
 party at Mrs. Buncombe's, to which Julius, moved by 
 her zeal and honesty, as well as by curiosity, had 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 32 1 
 
 promised his presence with Rosamond, " at his peril," 
 as she said. 
 
 They were kept so long at the door of Aucuba Villa 
 that they had begun to doubt if they had not mis- 
 taken the day, until the Sirenwood carriage crashed 
 up behind them ; and after the third pull at the bell 
 they were admitted by an erect, alert figure, — a 
 remnant of Captain Buncombe's military life. 
 
 He marshalled them into the drawing-room, where 
 by dim firelight they could just discern the Professor 
 and a certain good-natured horsey friend of the 
 Captain's, who sprang up from easy-chairs on the 
 opposite sides of the fire to greet them, while the 
 man hastily stirred up the fire, lighted the gas, dashed 
 at the table, shutting up an open blotting-book that 
 lay on it, closing an ink-bottle, and gathering up some 
 torn fragments of paper, which he would have thrown 
 into the scrap-basket but that it was full of little 
 books on the hundred ways of dressing a pumpkin. 
 Then he gave a wistful look at the ami de la maiso7i, 
 as if commending the guests to him, and receiving a 
 nod in return retired. 
 
 " I fear we are too early," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " Fact is," said the familiar, whose name Julius was 
 trying to remember, " there's been a catastrophe ; cook 
 forgot to order the turkey, went to bed last night in 
 hysterics, and blew out the gas instead of turning it 
 off. No, no " — as the guests, expecting fatal con- 
 sequences, looked as if they thought they had better 
 
 VOL. I. Y 
 
322 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 remove themselves : " she came round, and Duncombe 
 has driven over to Backsworth to bring home the 
 dinner. He'll soon be back." 
 
 This not appearing greatly to reassure the visitors, 
 the Professor added, '' No, no, ladies. Mrs. Duncombe 
 charged me to say that she will be perfectly fixed in 
 a short time, and I flatter myself that my wife is equal 
 to any emergency." 
 
 " It is very kind in her," said Lady Tyrrell. 
 
 " I confess," said Professor Tallboys, " that I am 
 not sorry that such an occasion should occur of 
 showing an American lady's domestic powers. I 
 flatter myself they do not discredit her cause." 
 
 Just then were heard the wheels of the drag, and in 
 rushed one of the boys, grasping Eleonora's skirts, 
 and proclaiming, " We've got the grub ! Oysters and 
 a pie ! Oh my ! " 
 
 " Satisfactory ! " said the friend. " But let go, 
 Ducky, you are rumpling Miss Vivian." 
 
 " She's coming to see the quarion ! You promised, 
 Lena ! Here's a jolly crayfish ! He'll pinch ! " 
 
 There was a small conservatory or glazed niche 
 on one side of the room, into which the boy dragged 
 Lenore, and Julius followed, dimly sensible of what 
 the quarion might be, and hoping for a word with 
 the young lady, while he trusted to his wife to occupy 
 her sister. 
 
 The place contained two desolate camellias, with 
 leaves in the same proportion as those on trees in the 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 323 
 
 earlier ages of illumination, and one scraggy, leafless 
 geranium, besides a green and stagnant tank, where a 
 goldfish moved about, flapping and gasping, as the 
 boy disturbed it in his search for the crayfish. He 
 absorbed all the conversation, so that Julius could only 
 look back into the room, where an attempt at artistic 
 effect was still dimly visible through accumulated 
 litter. The Venus of Milo stood on a bracket, with a 
 riding-whip in her arms, and a bundle of working 
 society tickets behind her, and her vis-a-vis, the Faun 
 of Praxiteles, was capped by a glove with one finger 
 pointing upwards, and had a ball of worsted tangled 
 about his legs ; but further observation was hindered 
 by the man-servant's voice at the outer door, " Master 
 Ducky, where are you ? Your Ma says you are to go 
 to bed directly." 
 
 ♦' No, no, I'll put myself to bed ! " 
 
 " Come, sir, please do, like a good boy — Master 
 Pinney won't go without you, and I must put him 
 to bed while they are dishing up. Come, sir, I've got 
 a mince pie for you." 
 
 " And some oysters — Bobby said I should have 
 some oysters ! " 
 
 ** Yes, yes ; come along, sir." 
 
 And Master Ducky submitted to his fate, while 
 Julius looked his wonder, and asked " Is he nursery- 
 maid ? " 
 
 "Just now, since the bonne went," said Lenore. 
 " He is a most faithful, attached servant, who will do 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 anything for them. She does attach people deeply 
 when the first shock is over." 
 
 *' I am coming to beheve so," he answered. " There 
 seem to me to be excellent elements." 
 
 " I am so glad ! " said Lenore ; "she is so thorough, 
 so true and frank ; and much of this oddness is 
 really an inconsistent struggle to keep out of debt." 
 
 " Well ! at any rate I am thankful to her for this 
 opportunity of seeing you," said Julius. " We have 
 both been longing to speak our welcome to you." 
 
 " Thank you. It is so kind," she fervently whispered ; 
 " all the kinder for the state of things that is insisted 
 on — though you know that it can make no real differ- 
 ence," she added, apparently addressing the goldfish. 
 
 " Frank knows it," said Julius, in a low voice. 
 
 " I trust he does, though I cannot see him to assure 
 him — you will } " she added, looking up at him with a 
 shy brightness in her eye and a flush on her cheek. 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! " he said, laying his hand on hers 
 for a moment. " I fear you may both have much 
 to pull through, but I think you are of a steadfast 
 nature." 
 
 " I hope so — I think I am, for none of my feelings 
 seem to me ever to change, except that I get harder, 
 and, I am afraid, bitterer." 
 
 " I can understand your feeling that form of trial." 
 
 " Oh, if you could, and would help me ! " 
 
 " As a brother ; if I may." 
 
 Again she laid a hand on his, saying, " I have 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 325 
 
 longed to talk openly to you ever since we met in the 
 cow-shed ; but I could not make any advance to any 
 of you, because," she whispered in haste, " I thought 
 it my duty to hold back from Frank. And now, till 
 we go away, Camilla watches me and occupies me 
 every minute, will not even let me ride out with Papa. 
 I wonder she lets me talk to you now." 
 
 "We know each other," said Julius shortly. 
 
 It was so. Once, in the plain-spoken days of child- 
 hood. Miles and Julius had detected Camilla Vivian 
 in some flagrant cheating at a game, and had roundly 
 expressed their opinion. In the subsequent period of 
 Raymond's courtship. Miles had succumbed to the 
 fascination, but Julius had given one such foil, that 
 she had never again attempted to cajole him. 
 
 " I have seen that you did from the first," said 
 Lenore. " And it would make it much easier to talk 
 to you than to any outsider, who would never under- 
 stand, even if it were possible for me to explain, how 
 hard it is to see which way my duty lies — especially 
 filial." 
 
 ''Do you mean in general, or in this special matter }" 
 
 " Both. You see, in her hands he is so different from 
 what he was before she came home, that I don't feel 
 as if I was obeying him — only her ; and I don't think 
 I am bound to do that. Not in the great matter, I 
 am clear. Nobody can meddle with my real sincere 
 pledge of myself to Frank, nobody ! " she spoke as if 
 there was iron in her lips. " But as far as overt acts 
 
326 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 go, they have a right to forbid me, till I am of age at 
 least, and we must bear it." 
 
 " Yes, you are right there.'' 
 
 " But there are thousands of other little cases of 
 right and wrong, and altogether I have come to such 
 a spirit of opposition that I find it easier to resist than 
 to do anything with a good grace." 
 
 *' You cannot always tell when resistance is prin- 
 ciple, and when temper or distaste." 
 
 " There's distaste enough always," said poor Lenore. 
 
 "To gaieties.'*" he said, amazed as one habituated 
 to his wife's ravenous appetite for any sort of society 
 or amusement. 
 
 " Of course/' she answered sadly. " A great deal 
 of trouble just for a little empty babble. Often not 
 one word worth remembering, and a general sense of 
 having been full of bad feelings." 
 
 " No enjoyment .'' " he asked in surprise. 
 
 " Only by the merest chance and exception," she 
 answered, surprised at his surprise ; " what is there to 
 enjoy .? " 
 
 The peculiar-looking clergyman might have seemed 
 more likely to ask such a question than the beau- 
 tiful girl, but he looked at her anxiously and said, 
 " Don't nourish morbid dislike and contempt, my 
 dear Lena, it is not a safeguard. There are such 
 things as perilous reactions. Try to weigh justly, 
 and be grateful for kindness, and to like what is 
 likeable." . 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 327 
 
 At that moment, after what had been an interval 
 of weary famine to all but these two, host and hostess 
 appeared, the lady as usual, picturesque, though in 
 the old black silk, with a Roman sash tied trans- 
 versely, and holly in her hair ; and gaily shaking 
 hands — " That's right. Lady Rosamond ; so you are 
 trusted here ! Your husband hasn't sent you to 
 represent him ? " 
 
 " I'm afraid his confidence in me did not go so far," 
 said Rosamond. 
 
 " Ah ! I see — Lady Tyrrell, how d'ye do — you've 
 brought Lena ? Well, Rector, are you prepared ? " 
 
 " That depends on what you expect of me." 
 
 " Have you the convinceable spot in your mind ? " 
 
 " We must find it. It is very uncommon, and 
 indurates very soon, so we had better make the most 
 of our opportunity," said the American lady, who had 
 entered as resplendent as before, though in so dif- 
 ferent a style that Rosamond wondered how such a 
 wardrobe could be carried about the world ; and the 
 sporting friend muttered, " Stunning ! she has been 
 making kickshaws all day, and looks as if she came 
 out of a bandbox ! If all women were like that, it 
 might pay." 
 
 It was true. Mrs. Tallboys was one of those women 
 of resource whose practical powers may well inspire the 
 sense of superiority, and with the ease and confidence 
 of her country. 
 
 The meal was a real success. That some portion 
 
328 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 had been procured, ready dressed, at Backsworth, was 
 evident, but all that had been done at home had a 
 certain piquant Transatlantic flavour, in which the 
 American Muse could be detected ; and both she and 
 her husband were polished, lively, and very agreeable, 
 in spite of the twang in their voices. Miss Moy, the 
 Captain and his friend, talked horses at one end of 
 the table, and Rosamond faltered her woman's horror 
 for the rights of her sex, increased by this supposed 
 instance. 
 
 When the ladies rose at dessert, Mrs. Buncombe 
 summoned him, " Come, Rector ! — come, Professor ! 
 you're not to sit over your wine." 
 
 "We rise so far above the ordinary level of man- 
 hood !" said Julius, obediently rising. 
 
 " Once for all, Mr. Charnock," said Mrs. Buncombe, 
 turning on him with flashing eyes and her Eliza- 
 bethan majesty, " if you come prepared to scofl", we 
 can have nothing to do with you." 
 
 Rosamond's eyes looked mischievous, and her brow 
 cocked, but Julius answered in earnest, " Really, I 
 assure you I have not come in a spirit of sarcasm ; 
 I am honestly desirous of hearing your arguments." 
 
 " Shall I stay in your stead ? " added Miss Moy. 
 " They'll be much more amusing here ! " 
 
 " Come, Gussie, you're on your good behaviour," 
 said Mrs. Buncombe. ** Bob kept you to learn the 
 right way of making a sensation." 
 
 As they entered the drawing-room two more guests 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 329 
 
 arrived, namely, Joanna Bowater, and Herbert, who 
 walked in with a kind of grim submission, till he saw 
 Lady Tyrrell, when he lighted up, and, on a little 
 gracious gesture with her hand, he sat down on the 
 sofa beside her ; and was there solaced by an occa- 
 sional remark in an undertone ; for indeed the boy 
 was always in a trance wherever she was, and she had 
 a fair amount of by-play wherewith to entertain her- 
 self and him during the discussion. 
 
 " You are just in time, Jenny," said Rosamond ; 
 " the great question is going to be started." 
 
 " And it is .? " 
 
 "The Equality of the Sexes," pronounced Mrs. 
 Buncombe. 
 
 " Ex cathedra f '' said Julius, as the graceful Muse 
 seated herself in a large red arm-chair. " This scene 
 is not an easy one in which to dispute it." 
 
 " You see, Bessie," said Mrs. Tallboys, " that men 
 are so much afraid of the discussion that they try 
 to elude it with empty compliment, under which is 
 couched a covert sneer." 
 
 "Perhaps," returned Julius, ."we might complain 
 that we can't open our lips without compliments and 
 sneers being detected when we were innocent of 
 both." 
 
 " Were you .-* " demanded Mrs. Tallboys. 
 
 " Honestly, I was looking round and thinking the 
 specimens before us would tell in your favour." 
 
 "What a gallant Parson ! " cried Miss Moy. 
 
330 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 But a perfect clamour broke out from others. 
 
 "Julius, that's too bad ! when you know " 
 
 " Mr. Charnock, you are quite mistaken. Bob is 
 much cleverer than I, in his own line " 
 
 "Quite true, Rector," affirmed Herbert; "Joan has 
 more brains than all the rest of us — for a woman, I 
 mean." 
 
 " For a woman ! " repeated Mrs. Tallboys. " Let a 
 human being do or be what she will, it is disposed of 
 in a moment by that one verdict, * Very well for a 
 
 woman ' ! " 
 
 " How is it with the decision of posterity ^ " said 
 Jenny. " Can you show any work of woman of equal 
 honour and permanence with that of men ? " 
 
 " Because her training has been sedulously inferior." 
 
 "Not always," said Jenny; "not in Italy in the 
 cinque cento, nor in England under Ehzabeth." 
 
 " Yes, and there were names I " 
 
 " Names, yes, but that is all. The lady's name is 
 remembered for the curiosity of her having equalled 
 the ordinary poet or artist of her time, but her per- 
 formances either are lost or only known to curious 
 scholars. They have not the quality which makes 
 things permanent." 
 
 " What do you say to Sappho ^ " 
 
 " There is nothing of her but a name, and frag- 
 ments that curious scholars read." 
 
 " Worse luck to her if she invented Sapphics," 
 added Herbert. 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 33 1 
 
 " One of womankind's torments for mankind, eh ? " 
 said his neighbour. 
 
 " And there are plenty more such," asserted Mrs. 
 Buncombe boldly (for these were asides). " It is only 
 that one can't recollect — and the men have suppressed 
 them." 
 
 " I think men praised them," said Jenny, " and that 
 we remember the praise, not the works. For instance, 
 Roswitha, or Olympia Morata, or Vittoria Colonna. 
 Vittoria's sonnets are extant, but we only value them 
 as being hers, more for what she was than for their 
 intrinsic merit." 
 
 " And," added Eleonora, " men did not suppress 
 Hannah More, or Joanna Baillie. You know Scott 
 thought Miss BaiUie's dramas would rank with 
 Shakespeare's." 
 
 Mrs. Tallboys was better read in logic and mathe- 
 matics than in history, and did not follow Jenny, but 
 she turned her adversary's argument to her own ad- 
 vantage, by exclaiming, " Are the gentlemen present 
 familiar with these bright lights '^. " 
 
 " I confess my ignorance of some of them," said Julius. 
 
 " But my youngest brother knows all that," said 
 Rosamond, at a brave venture. 
 
 " Macaulay's schoolboy," murmured Lady Tyrrell 
 softly. 
 
 " Let us return to the main point," said Mrs. 
 Tallboys, a little annoyed. " It is of the present and 
 future that I would speak, not of the past." 
 
332 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Does not the past give the only data on which to 
 form a conclusion ? " said Julius. 
 
 " Certainly not. The proposition is not what a 
 woman or two in her down-trodden state may have ex- 
 ceptionally effected, but her natural equality, and in 
 fact superiority, in all but the physical strength which 
 has imposed an unjust bondage on the higher nature." 
 
 " I hardly know where to meet you if you reject all 
 arguments from proved facts," said Julius. 
 
 "And the Bible. Why don't you say the Bible.?" 
 exclaimed his wife in an undertone ; but Mrs. Tallboys 
 took it up and said, " The precepts of Scripture are 
 founded on a state of society passed away. You may 
 find arguments for slavery there." 
 
 " I doubt that," said Julius. " There are practical 
 directions for an existing state of things, which have 
 been distorted into sanction for its continuance. The 
 actual precepts are broad principles, which are for all 
 times, and apply to the hired servant as well as to the 
 slave. So again with the relations of man and wife ; 
 I can nowhere find a command so adapted to the 
 seclusion and depression of the Eastern woman as to 
 be inapplicable to the Christian matron. And the 
 typical virtuous woman, the valiant woman, is one of 
 the noblest figures anywhere depicted." 
 
 " I know," said Mrs. Tallboys, who had evidently 
 been waiting impatiently again to declaim, " that 
 men, even ministers of religion, from Paul if you like 
 downwards, have been willing enough to exalt woman 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 333 
 
 SO long as they claim to sit above her. The higher 
 the oppressed, so much higher the self-exaltation of 
 the oppressor. Paul and Peter exalt their virtuous 
 woman, but only as their own appendage, adorning 
 themselves ; and while society with religious ministers 
 at the head of it call on woman to submit, and degrade 
 the sex, we shall continue to hear of such disgraces 
 to England as I see in your police reports — brutal 
 mechanics beating their wives." 
 
 " I fear while physical force is on the side of the 
 brute," said Julius, "no abstract recognition of equality 
 would save her." 
 
 " Society would take up her cause, and protect her." 
 
 "So it is willing to do now, if she asks for 
 protection." 
 
 " Yes," broke in Rosamond, " but nothing would 
 induce a woman worth sixpence to take the law 
 against her husband." 
 
 "There I think Lady Rosamond has at once 
 demonstrated the higher nature of the woman," said 
 Mrs. Tallboys. " What man would be capable of 
 such generosity ? " 
 
 " No one denies," said Juhus, " that generous 
 forbearance, patience, fortitude, and self-renunciation, 
 belong almost naturally to the true wife and mother, 
 and are her great glory; but would she not be 
 stripped of them by self-assertion as the peer in 
 power .? " 
 
 "Turning our flank again with a compHment," said 
 
334 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 Mrs. Duncombe. " These fine qualities are very con- 
 venient to yourselves, and so you praise them up." 
 
 "Not so!" returned Julius, "because they are 
 really the higher virtues." 
 
 " Patience ! " at once exclaimed the American and 
 English emancipators with some scorn. 
 
 " Yes," said Julius, in a low tone of thorough 
 earnest. " The patience of strength and love is the 
 culmination of virtue." 
 
 Jenny knew what was in his mind, but Mrs. Tallboys, 
 with a curious tone, half pique, half triumph, said, 
 " You acknowledge this which you call the higher 
 nature in woman — that is to say, all the passive 
 qualities — and you are willing to allow her a finer 
 spiritual essence, and yet you do not agree to her 
 equal rights. This is the injustice of the prejudice 
 which has depressed her all these centuries." 
 
 " Stay," broke in Jenny, evidently not to the lady's 
 satisfaction, " That does not state the question. 
 Nobody denies that woman is often of a higher and 
 finer essence, as you say, than man, and has some 
 noble qualities in a higher degree than any but the 
 most perfect men ; but that is not the question. It is 
 whether she have more force and capacity than man, 
 is in fact actually able to be on an equality." 
 
 " And, I say," returned Mrs. Tallboys, " that man 
 has used brute force to cramp woman's intellect and 
 energy so long, that she has learnt to acquiesce in her 
 position, and to abstain from exerting herself, so that 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 335 
 
 it is only where she is partially emancipated, as in 
 my own country, that any idea of her powers can be 
 gained." 
 
 " I am afraid," said Julius, " that more may be lost 
 to the world than is gained ! No ; I am not speaking 
 from the tyrant point of view. I am thinking whether 
 free friction with the world may not lessen that sweet- 
 ness and tender innocence and purity that make a 
 man's home an ideal and a sanctuary — his best earthly 
 influence." 
 
 " This is only sentiment. Innocence is worthless if 
 it cannot stand alone and protect itself ! " said Mrs. 
 Tallboys. 
 
 " I do not mean innocence unable to stand alone. 
 It should be strong and trustworthy, but should have 
 the bloom on it still, not rubbed off by contact or 
 knowledge of evil. Desire of shielding that bloom 
 from the slightest breath of contamination is no 
 small motive for self-restraint, and therefore a great 
 preservative to most men." 
 
 " Women purify the atmosphere wherever they go," 
 said the lady. 
 
 " Many women do," returned JuHus ; " but will 
 they retain that power universally if they succeed in 
 obtaining a position where there will be less considera- 
 tion for them, and they must be exposed to a certain 
 hardening and roughening process ? " 
 
 " If so," exclaimed Mrs. Tallboys, " if men are so 
 base, we would soon assert ourselves. We are no 
 
33^ THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 frail morning glories for you to guard and worship 
 with restraint, lest forsooth your natural breath should 
 wither us away." 
 
 As she spoke the door opened, and, with a strong 
 reek of tobacco, in came the two other gentlemen. 
 *^Well, Rector, have you given in.''" asked the 
 Captain. *' Is Lady Rosamond to mount the pulpit 
 henceforth ? " 
 
 "Ah! wouldn't I preach you a sermon," returned 
 Rosamond. 
 
 "To resume," said Mrs. Tallboys, sitting very 
 upright. " You still go on the old assumption that 
 woman was made for you. It is all the same story : 
 one man says she is for his pleasure, another for his 
 servant, and you, for — for his refinement. You would 
 all have us adjectives. Now I defy you to prove 
 that woman is not a substantive, created for herself." 
 
 " If you said ' growed,' Mrs. Tallboys, it would be 
 more consistent," said Jenny. " Her creation and her 
 purpose in the world stand upon precisely the same 
 authority." 
 
 " I wonder at you, Miss Bowater," said Mrs. 
 Tallboys. " I cannot understand a woman trying to 
 depreciate her sex." 
 
 " No," thrust in Gussie Moy ; " I want to know 
 why a woman can't go about without a dowager 
 waddling after her." (" Thank you," breathed Lady 
 Tyrrell into Herbert's ear), " nor go to a club." 
 
 "There was such a club proposed in London," said 
 
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN. 337 
 
 Captain Duncombe, " and do you know, Gussie, the 
 name of it ? " 
 
 "No!" 
 
 " The Middlesex Club ! " 
 
 " There ! it is just as Mrs. Tallboys said ; you will 
 do nothing but laugh at us, or else talk sentiment 
 about our refining you. Now, I want to be free to 
 amuse myself." 
 
 " I don't think those trifling considerations will be 
 great impediments in .your way," said Lady Tyrrell 
 in her blandest tone. " Is that actually the carriage .'* 
 Thank you, Mrs. Tallboys. This is good-bye, I believe. 
 I am sorry there has not been more time for a fuller 
 exposition to-night." 
 
 " There would have been, but I never was so inter- 
 rupted," said Mrs. Tallboys in an undertone, with a 
 displeased look at Jenny at the other end of the room. 
 
 Declamation was evidently more the Muse's forte 
 than argument, but her aside was an aside, and that 
 of the jockey friend was not. " So you waited for us 
 to give your part of the lecture. Miss Moy ? " 
 
 " Of course. What's the use of talking to a set of 
 women and parsons, who are just the same } " 
 
 Poor Herbert's indignant flush infinitely amused 
 the party who were cloaking in the hall. " Poor 
 Gussie ; her tongue runs fast," said Mrs. Duncombe. 
 
 "Emancipated!" said Jenny. "Good-bye, Mrs. 
 Duncombe. Please let us be educated up to our 
 privileges before we get them." 
 
 VOL. I, Z 
 
353 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 "■ A Parthian shot, Jenny," said Julius, as they gave 
 her a homeward Hft in the carriage. "' You proved 
 yourself the fittest memberess for the future parlia- 
 ment to-night." 
 
 " To be elected by the women and parsons," said 
 Jenny, with a little chuckle of fun. " Poor Herbert ! " 
 
 " I only wish that girl was a man that I might 
 horsewhip her," was the clerical sentiment growled 
 out from Herbert's corner of the carriage. " Degrada- 
 tion of her sex ! She's a standing one ! " 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 VIVIENNE. 
 
 ** Of all the old women that ever I saw, 
 Sweet bad luck to my mother-in-law." 
 
 Irish Song. 
 
 The Parliamentary Session had reached the stage 
 that is ended by no power save that of grouse, and 
 the streets were full of vans fantastically decorated 
 with baths, chairs, bedsteads, and nursery gear. 
 
 Cecil could see two before different house-doors as 
 she sat behind her muslin curtains, looking as fresh 
 and healthful as ever, and scarcely more matronly, 
 except that her air of self-assertion had become more 
 easy and less aggressive now that she was undisputed 
 mistress of the house In London. 
 
 There was no concern on her part that she was not 
 the mother of either of the two latest scions of the 
 house of Charnock. Certainly she did not like to be 
 outdone by Rosamond ; but then it was only a girl, 
 and she could afford to wait for the son and heir ; 
 indeed, she did not yet desire him at the cost of all 
 the distinguished and intellectual society, the concerts, 
 
 z 2 
 
340 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 soirees, and lectures that his non-arrival left her free 
 to enjoy. The other son and heir interested her 
 nearly, for he was her half-brother. There had been 
 something almost ludicrous in the apologies to her. 
 His mother seemed to feel like a traitor to her, and 
 Mr. Charnock could hardly reconcile his darling's depo- 
 sition with his pride in the new-comer. Both she and 
 Raymond had honestly rejoiced in their happiness and 
 the continuance of the direct line of Dunstone, and had 
 completed the rejoicing of the parents by thorough 
 sympathy, when the party with this unlooked-for ad- 
 dition had returned home in the spring. ]\Ir. Char- 
 nock had insisted on endowing his daughter as largely 
 as he justly could, to compensate for this change in 
 her expectations, and was in doubt between Swan- 
 more, an estate on the Backsworth side of Willans- 
 borough, and Sirenwood itself, to purchase and settle 
 on her. Raymond would greatly have preferred 
 Sirenwood, both from its adjoining the Compton 
 property and as it would be buying out the 
 Vivians ; but there were doubts about the involve- 
 ments, and nothing could be done till Eleonora's 
 majority. Mr. Charnock preferred Swanmore as an 
 investment, and Raymond could, of course, not press 
 his wishes. 
 
 A short visit had been made at Dunstone to join 
 in the festivities in honour of the little heir, but Cecil 
 had not been at Compton since Christmas, though 
 Raymond had several times gone home for a Sunday 
 
VIVIENNE. 341 
 
 when she had other companionship. CharHe had 
 been with them preparing his outfit for India, whither 
 he had been gone about a month ; and Frank, though 
 Hving in lodgings, was the more frequently at his sister- 
 in-law's service, because wherever she was the Vivian 
 sisters might be looked for. 
 
 No sooner had Raymond taken the house in 
 
 Square than Lady Tyrrell had engaged the opposite 
 one, so that one household could enjoy evening views 
 of the other's interior, and Cecil had chiefly gone 
 into society under her friend's auspices. Her presen- 
 tation at Court had indeed been by the marchioness ; 
 she had been staying with an old friend of Mrs. 
 Poynsett's, quite prepared to be intimate with Ray- 
 mond Poynsett's wife, if only Cecil would have taken 
 to her. But that lady's acceptance of anyone recom- 
 mended in this manner was not to be thought of, and 
 besides, the family were lively, merry people, and 
 Cecil was one of those who dislike and distrust 
 laughter, lest it should be at themselves. So she 
 remained on coldly civil terms with that pleasant 
 party, and though to a certain degree following her 
 husband's lead as to her engagements, all her 
 ways were moulded by her friend's influence. Nor 
 was the effect otherwise than becoming. Nothing 
 could be in better taste than all in Mrs. Charnock 
 Poynsett's establishment, and London and Lady 
 Tyrrell together had greatly improved her manners. 
 All her entertainments went off well, and she filled 
 
342 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 her place in the world with grace and skill, just as she 
 had always figured herself doing. 
 
 Yet there was a sense of disappointment and dis- 
 satisfaction, which increased upon her as the time 
 drew nearer for returning to be again only a guest in 
 her married home. It was a tangible grievance on 
 which her mind could fix itself. Surely it was hard 
 on her that her husband should require it of her, 
 and yet she perceived that he could not avoid it, 
 since his mother was mistress. She knew too that 
 he was unfailingly kind, attentive, and indulgent, 
 except on that one occasion when he had sharply 
 reproved her for her behaviour in the Tallboys matter; 
 and strange to say, a much stronger feeling towards 
 him had been setting in ever since that one time when 
 she had seen him thoroughly angry. She longed and 
 craved to stir that even, gentle courtesy, to frowns or 
 smiles ; and yet there was a perversity in her nature 
 that seemed to render it impossible to her to attempt 
 to win a smile from him, far more so to lay aside any 
 device or desire of her own to gratify him. All she 
 did know was, that to be all that her ambition had 
 sought, a Charnock by marriage as well as birth, and 
 with a kind, considerate husband, was not enough 
 to hinder a heart-sickness she had never known or 
 supposed possible. 
 
 Presently, through the flowers in her balcony, Cecil 
 saw the opening and closing of the opposite house- 
 door, and a white parasol unfurled, and she had only 
 
VIVIENNE. 343 
 
 time to finish and address her letter to Mrs. Buncombe 
 before Lady Tyrrell was announced. 
 
 " Here I am after a hard morning's work, winding 
 up accounts, &c." 
 
 " You go to-morrow } " 
 
 " Yes, trusting that you will soon follow ; though 
 you might be a cockney born, your bloom is town- 
 proof." 
 
 "We follow as soon as the division on the 
 Education Question is over, and that will not be 
 for ten days. You are come to look at my stores 
 for the bazaar ; but first, what are you going to do 
 this afternoon .? " 
 
 " What are your plans ?'' 
 
 " I must leave cards at half-a-dozen people's at the 
 other end of the park. Will you come with me .-' 
 Where is Lenore ^ " 
 
 "She is gone to take leave of the Strange ways' 
 party ; Lady Susan insisted on having her for this 
 last day. Poor Frank ! I confess impartially that it 
 does not look well for him." 
 
 '* Poor Frank ! " repeated Cecil, " he does look very 
 forlorn when he hears where she is." 
 
 " When, after all, if the silly boy could only see it, 
 it is the most fortunate thing that could happen to 
 him, and the only chance of keeping his head above 
 water. I have made Lady Susan promise me two of 
 her daughters for the bazaar. They thoroughly know 
 how to make themselves useful. Oh, how pretty ! " 
 
344 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 For Cecil was producing from the shelves of 
 various pieces of furniture a large stock of fancy 
 articles — Swiss carvings, Spa toys, Genevese orna- 
 ments, and Japanese curiosities, which, as Lady Tyrrell 
 said, " rivalled her own accumulation, and would 
 serve to carry off the housewives and pen-wipers on 
 which all the old maids of Wilsbro' were employed." 
 
 " We must put out our programmes," Cecil added ; 
 "people will not work in earnest till the day is fixed 
 and they know the sellers." 
 
 '' Yes ; the lady patronesses are most important," 
 said Lady Tyrrell, writing them down ; " Mrs. 
 Raymond Charnock Poynsett ;• Lady Rosamond, eh?" 
 
 *' Oh no, Julius won't hear of it." 
 
 " And opposition is sweet : so we lose her romantic 
 name, and the stall of the three brides. Mrs. Miles 
 Charnock is too much out of the world to be worth 
 asking. Then myself — Mrs. Buncombe, Mrs. Fuller, 
 as a matter of necessity, Mrs. Moy." 
 
 " Oh ! " 
 
 *' Needful, my dear, to propitiate that set. Also 
 that mayoress, Mrs. Truelove, isn't she.'* Six. We'll 
 rill up with country people." 
 
 Six more distinguished names were soon supplied 
 of ladies who would give their patronage, provided 
 neither toil nor care was required of them ; and still 
 consulting, the two friends took their seats in the 
 carriage. The time of the bazaar was to be fixed by 
 the opening of the town-hall, which was to take place 
 
VIVIENNE. 345 
 
 on the 1 2th of September — a Thursday, the week 
 before the races ; and the most propitious days 
 appeared to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before 
 the Great Backsworth Cup Day, since the world 
 would then be in an excited, pleasure-seeking state, 
 favourable to their designs. 
 
 " I shall have a party in the house," said Lady 
 Tyrrell : " shall you be able ? " 
 
 " I can't tell ; you know it does not depend on me, 
 and I certainly shall not ask it as a favour. Camilla, 
 did I tell you that I tried to make my father under- 
 stand the state of things, and speak to Raymond .'' 
 But he would only say, that while I am so young and 
 inexperienced, it is a great advantage for me to live 
 with Mrs. Poynsett, and that I must be the greatest 
 comfort to her. Papa is an intense believer in Mrs. 
 Poynsett, and when he once has taken up a notion 
 nothing will convince him." 
 
 " You can't even make capital of this purchase of 
 a house of your own .'' " 
 
 *' I don't like to do that." 
 
 " My dear, I see your delicacy and forbearance, 
 and I would not urge you, if 1 did not see how 
 deeply your happiness is concerned. Of course I 
 don't mean merely the authority over the ivirthschaft, 
 though somehow the cares of it are an ingredient in 
 female contentment; but forgive me, Cecil, I am certain 
 that you will never take your right place — where you 
 care for it more — till you have a home of your own." 
 
34^ THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Ah ! " The responsive sound burst from the very 
 depths of Cecil's heart, penetrated as they had never 
 been before; but pride and reserve at once sprang 
 up, and she answered coldly, " I have no reason to 
 complain." 
 
 " Right, my dear Cecil, I like you the better ; " 
 and she pressed her hand. 
 
 " It is quite true," said Cecil, withdrawing hers. 
 
 " Quite, absolutely true. He would die rather 
 than give you any reason for the slightest murmur ; 
 but Cecil, dearest, that very heedfulness shows there 
 is something he cannot give you." 
 
 " I don't know why you should say so," answered 
 a proud but choked voice. 
 
 "I say so," replied the clear tones, firmly, though 
 with a touch of pity, " because I see it. Cecil, poor 
 child, they married you very young ! " 
 
 " I missed nothing," exclaimed Cecil ; but she felt 
 that she could only say so in the past, and her eyes 
 burnt with unshed tears. 
 
 " No, my dear, you were still a girl, and your 
 deeper woman's heart had not grown to perceive 
 that it was not met." 
 
 " He chose me," she faintly said. 
 
 " His mother needed a daughter. It was proper 
 for him to marry, and you were the most eligible 
 party. I will answer for it that he warned you how 
 little he could give." 
 
 " He did," cried Cecil. " He did tell me that he 
 
VIVIENNE. 347 
 
 could not begin in freshness and warmth, Hke a 
 young man ; but I thought it only meant that we 
 were too sensible to care about nonsense, and liked 
 him for it. He always must have been staid and re- 
 served — he could never have been different, Camilla. 
 Don't smile in that way ! Tell me what you mean." 
 
 " My dear Cecil, I knew Raymond Poynsett a 
 good many years before you did." 
 
 " And — well ? Then he had a first love ? " said Cecil, 
 in a voice schooled into quiet. " Was he different then ? 
 Was he as desperate as poor Frank is now ? " 
 
 " Frank is a very mild copy of him at that age. 
 He overbore everyone, wrung consent from all, 
 and did everything but overcome his mother's calm 
 hostility and self-assertion." 
 
 " Did that stop it ? She died of course," said 
 Cecil. '• She could not have left off loving him." 
 
 " She did not die, but her family were wearied 
 out by the continual objections to their overtures, 
 and the supercilious way of treating them. They 
 thought it a struggle of influence, and that he was 
 too entirely dominated for a daughter-in-law to be 
 happy with her. So they broke it off." 
 , " And she " Cecil looked up with searching eyes. 
 
 " She had acutely felt the offence, the weakness, 
 the dutifulness, whatever you may choose to call it, 
 and in the rebound she married." 
 
 " Who is she .? " gasped Cecil. 
 
 " It is not fair to tell you," was the gentle answer. 
 
348 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 with a shade of rebuke. " You need not look for her. 
 She is not in the county." 
 
 " I hope I shall never see her I " 
 '^You need not dread doing so if you can only 
 have fair play, and establish the power that belongs 
 rightly to you. She would have no chance with you, 
 even if he had forgiven her." 
 " Has not he .? " 
 " Never ! " 
 
 ''And he used up all his heart.''" said Cecil in a 
 low, musing tone. 
 
 '" All but what his mother absorbed. She was a 
 comparatively young and brilliant woman, and she 
 knew her power. It is a great ascendency, and 
 only a man's honest blindness could suppose that 
 any woman would be content under it." 
 
 Cecil's tongue refused to utter what oppressed 
 her heart — those evenings beside the sofa, those 
 eager home expeditions for Sunday, the uniform 
 maintenance of his mother's supremacy. 
 
 " And you think absence from her would lessen her 
 influence .'' " ;, 
 
 " I am sure of it. There mJght be a struggle, but 
 if I know Mr. Charnock Poynsett rightly, he is too 
 upright not to be conscious of what is due to you, 
 and be grieved not to be able to give you more — that 
 is, when his mother is not holding him in her grasp. 
 Nor can there be any valid objection, since Mrs. 
 Miles Charnock is always at her service." 
 
VIVIENNE. 349 
 
 "She will return to Africa. I don't know why she and 
 Rosamond have been always so much more acceptable." 
 
 " They are not her rivals ; besides, they have not 
 your strength. She is a woman who tries to break 
 whatever she cannot bend, and the instant her son 
 began to slip from her grasp the contest necessarily 
 began. You had much better have it over once and 
 for ever, and have him on your side. Insist on a 
 house of your own, and when you have made your 
 husband happy in it, then, then — Ah ! Good 
 morning — Sir George ! " 
 
 She had meant to say, " Then you win his heart," 
 but the words would not come, and a loathing hatred 
 of the cold-hearted child who had a property in 
 Raymond so mastered her that she welcomed the 
 interruption, and did not return to the subject. 
 
 She knew when she had said enough, and feared to 
 betray herself; nor could Cecil bear to resume the 
 talk, stunned and sore as she was at the revelation, 
 though with no suspicion that the speaker had been 
 the object of her husband's affection. She thought it 
 must have been the other sister, now in India, and 
 that this gave the key to many allusions she had heard 
 and which she marvelled at herself for not having 
 understood. The equivocation had entirely deceived 
 her, and she little thought she had been taking 
 counsel with the rival who was secretly triumphing 
 in Raymond's involuntary constancy, and sowing 
 seeds of vengeance against an ancient enemy. 
 
350 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 She could not settle to anything when she came 
 home. Life had taken a new aspect. Hitherto she 
 had viewed herself as born to all attention and 
 deference, and had taken it as a right, and now she 
 found herself the victim of a mariage de conve7iance to 
 a man of exhausted affections, who meant her only to 
 be the attendant of his domineering mother. The love 
 that was dawning in her heart did but add poignancy 
 to the bitterness of the revelation, and fervour to her 
 resolve to win the mastery over the heart which was 
 her law^ful possession. 
 
 She was restless till his return. She was going to 
 an evening party, and though usually passive as to 
 dress, she was so changeable and difficult to satisfy 
 that Grindstone grew cross, and showed it by stern, 
 rigid obedience. And Cecil well knew that Grind- 
 stone, who was in authority in the present house, 
 hated the return to be merely the visitor of Alston 
 and Jenkins. 
 
 In the drawing-room Cecil fluttered from book to 
 window, window to piano again, throwing down her 
 occupation at every sound and taking up another ; 
 and when at last Raymond came in, his presence at 
 first made her musings seem mere fancies. 
 
 Indeed it would have been hard to define what 
 was wanting in his manner. He lamented his un- 
 avoidable delay, and entertained her with all the 
 political and parliamentary gossip he had brought 
 home, and which she always much enjoyed as a 
 
VIVIENNE. 351 
 
 tribute to her wisdom, so much that it had been 
 an entire, though insensible cure for the Rights of 
 Woman. Moreover he was going with her to this 
 " drum," though he would greatly have preferred the 
 debate, and was to be summoned in case of a division. 
 She knew enough of the world to be aware that such 
 an attentive and courteous husband was not the 
 rule. But what was courtesy to one who longed for 
 unity ? 
 
 "Is Frank to be there this evening ? " he asked. 
 
 " Yes, I believe so." 
 
 " T thought he was to have gone with us." 
 
 " He told me not to depend on him. He had 
 made an engagement to ride into the country with 
 Sir Harry Vivian." And she added, though the 
 proud spirit so hated what seemed to her like 
 making an advance that it sounded like a com- 
 plaint, " So you can't avoid going with me ? " 
 
 " I should any way have gone with you, but I may 
 have to leave you to Frank to see you away," he said. 
 " And I had rather have Frank here than with that set." 
 
 " Breaking up one of our few tete-a-tete evenings, 
 and they are becoming few enough ! " 
 
 This murmur gratified him, and he said, " We shall 
 be more alone together now. The Rectory is almost 
 ready, and Julius means to move in another week, and I 
 suppose Miles will carry Anne off before the year is 
 over." 
 
 " Yes, we are the only ones with no home." 
 
352 THE THREE BRIDES. 
 
 " Rather, we hold fast to the old home." 
 
 " Not my old home." 
 
 *' Does not mine become yours ? " 
 
 " Not while ." She paused and started afresh. 
 
 " Raymond, could we not live at Swanslea, if it is 
 bought for us ? " 
 
 " Swanslea ! Five miles off ! Impossible." 
 
 Cecil was silent. 
 
 " My dear Cecil/' he said, after a few moments' 
 consideration, " I can understand that you felt un- 
 fortunately crowded last year, but all that is over, and 
 you must see that we are necessary to my mother, and 
 that all my duties require me to live at home." 
 
 ''■ You could attend to the property from Swanslea." 
 
 " The property indeed ! I meant my mother ! "•. 
 
 " She has Anne." 
 
 **Anne will soon be in Africa — even if she were 
 more of a companion. I am sorry it is a trial to you; 
 for my proper place is clearly with my mother, the 
 more in her helpless state, and with my brothers gone 
 out into the world. Now that the numbers are 
 smaller, you will find it much easier to take the 
 part that I most earnestly wish should be yours." 
 
 " I cannot get on with her." 
 
 '• Do not say so ! Do not think so ! To have Rosa- 
 mond there with her Irish ease, and her reserve kept 
 you in the background before ; I saw it, but I could 
 not help it; and now there will be no hindrance- to your 
 drawinsr tos:ether. There is nothing I so desire."