majors,
and
Alick
suspects
my
designs
,
I
believe
,
for
he
won’t
tell
me
anything
about
them
.
”
“
My
dear
!
”
said
Fanny
,
bewildered
,
“
how
you
talk
;
you
know
we
are
living
a
very
quiet
life
here
.
”
“
Oh
,
yes
,
so
Alick
has
told
me
,
”
she
said
,
with
a
pretty
compunction
in
her
tone
;
“
you
must
be
patient
with
me
,
”
and
she
kissed
Fanny’s
fingers
again
and
spoke
in
a
gentler
way
.
“
I
am
used
to
be
a
great
chatter-box
,
and
nobody
protested
but
Alick
.
”
“
I
wish
you
would
tell
me
about
his
return
,
my
dear
;
he
seemed
so
unfit
to
travel
when
your
poor
father
came
to
the
hills
and
took
him
away
by
dak
.
It
seemed
so
impossible
he
could
bear
the
journey
;
he
could
not
stand
or
help
himself
at
all
,
and
had
constant
returns
of
fever
;
but
they
said
the
long
sea
voyage
was
the
only
chance
,
and
that
in
India
he
could
not
get
vigour
enough
to
begin
to
recover
.
I
was
very
unhappy
about
him
,
”
said
Fanny
,
innocently
,
whilst
Rachel
felt
very
vigilant
,
wondering
if
Fanny
were
the
cause
of
the
change
his
sister
spoke
of
.
“
Yes
,
the
voyage
did
him
good
,
but
the
tidings
of
papa’s
death
came
two
months
before
him
,
and
Uncle
George’s
eyes
were
in
such
a
state
that
he
had
to
be
kept
in
the
dark
,
so
that
no
one
could
go
and
meet
the
poor
dear
boy
at
Southampton
but
Mr.
Lifford
,
and
the
shock
of
the
news
he
heard
brought
the
fever
back
,
and
it
went
on
intermitting
for
weeks
and
weeks
.
We
had
him
at
Littleworthy
at
first
,
thinking
he
could
be
better
nursed
and
more
cheerful
there
,
but
there
was
no
keeping
the
house
quiet
enough
.
”
“
Croquet
!
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Everything
!
”
returned
Bessie
.
“
Four
courtships
in
more
or
less
progress
,
besides
a
few
flirtations
,
and
a
house
where
all
the
neighbours
were
running
in
and
out
in
a
sociable
way
.
Our
loss
was
not
as
recent
there
as
it
was
to
him
,
and
they
were
only
nieces
,
so
we
could
not
have
interfered
with
them
;
besides
,
my
aunt
was
afraid
he
would
be
dull
,
and
wanted
to
make
the
most
of
her
conquering
hero
,
and
everybody
came
and
complimented
him
,
and
catechised
him
whether
he
believed
in
the
Indian
mutilations
,
when
,
poor
fellow
,
he
had
seen
horrors
enough
never
to
bear
to
think
of
them
,
except
when
the
fever
brought
them
all
over
again
.
I
am
sure
there
was
excuse
enough
for
his
being
a
little
irritable
.
”
“
My
dear
,
”
exclaimed
Fanny
,
quite
hurt
,
“
he
was
patience
itself
while
he
was
with
us
.
”
“
That’s
the
difference
between
illness
and
recovery
,
dear
Lady
Temple
!
I
don’t
blame
him
.
Any
one
might
be
irritable
with
fresh
undetected
splinters
of
bone
always
working
themselves
out
,
all
down
one
side
;
and
doubts
which
were
worse
,
the
fingers
on
,
or
the
fingers
off
,
and
no
escape
from
folly
or
politeness
,
for
he
could
not
even
use
a
crutch
.
Oh
,
no
,
I
don’t
blame
him
;
I
quite
excuse
the
general
dislike
he
took
to
everything
at
poor
dear
Littleworthy
.
He
viewed
it
all
like
that
child
in
Mrs.
Browning’s
poem
,
‘seeing
through
tears
the
jugglers
leap
,
’
and
we
have
partaken
of
the
juggler
aspect
to
him
ever
since
!
”
“
I
don’t
think
he
could
ever
be
very
irritable
,
”
said
Fanny
,
taking
the
accusation
much
to
heart
.
“
Sister
and
recovery
!
”
lightly
said
Bessie
;
“
they
encounter
what
no
one
else
does
!
He
only
pined
for
Bishopsworthy
,
and
when
we
let
him
move
there
,
after
the
first
month
,
he
and
my
uncle
were
happy
.
I
stayed
there
for
a
little
while
,
but
I
was
only
in
the
way
,
the
dear
good
folks
were
always
putting
themselves
out
on
my
account
;
and
as
to
Alick
,
you
can’t
think
how
the
absence
of
his
poor
‘souffre-douleur
,
’
invigorated
him
.
Every
day
I
found
him
able
to
put
more
point
into
his
cutting
compliments
,
and
reading
to
my
uncle
with
more
energy
;
till
at
last
by
the
time
the
—
th
came
home
,
he
had
not
so
much
as
a
stiff
leg
to
retire
upon
.
Luckily
,
he
and
my
uncle
both
cared
too
much
for
my
poor
father’s
wishes
for
him
to
do
so
without
,
though
if
any
unlucky
chance
should
take
Mr.
Lifford
away
from
my
uncle
,
he
threatens
coming
to
supply
the
vacancy
,
unless
I
should
,
and
that
is
past
hope
.
”
“
Your
home
is
with
your
uncle
,
”
affirmed
Rachel
.
“
Yes
,
”
she
said
,
mournfully
,
“
dear
Littleworthy
was
too
happy
to
last
.
It
broke
itself
up
by
its
own
charms
—
all
married
and
gone
,
and
the
last
rose
of
summer
in
my
poor
person
must
float
away
.
Jane
wants
her
mother
and
not
me
,
and
my
uncle
will
submit
to
me
as
cheerfully
as
to
other
necessary
evils
.
It
is
not
myself
that
I
fear
for
;
I
shall
be
very
happy
with
the
dear
uncle
,
but
it
will
be
a
dreadful
overthrow
to
his
habits
.
”
“
I
do
not
see
why
it
need
be
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
What
!
two
old
bachelors
with
a
young
lady
turned
in
on
them
!
And
the
housekeeper
—
think
of
her
feelings
!
”
“
I
do
not
think
you
need
be
uneasy
,
my
dear
,
”
said
Fanny
.
“
Your
brother
is
convinced
that
it
will
be
the
greatest
pleasure
and
comfort
to
Mr.
Clare
to
have
you
;
and
though
there
may
be
difficulties
at
first
,
I
am
sure
anybody
must
be
the
happier
for
having
you
,
”
and
she
caressed
the
upturned
face
,
which
responded
warmly
,
but
with
a
sigh
.
“
Alick
is
no
judge
!
He
is
the
child
of
the
house
,
and
my
uncle
and
Mr.
Lifford
don’t
feel
complete
without
him
.
My
uncle
is
as
fond
of
me
as
can
be
,
and
he
and
I
could
get
on
beautifully
,
but
then
Mr.
Lifford
is
impracticable
.
”
“
Impracticable
?
”
said
Rachel
,
taking
up
the
long
word
.
“
He
objects
to
your
exerting
yourself
in
the
parish
.
I
know
what
that
is
.
”
“
Pray
,
Rachel
,
”
said
Fanny
,
imploringly
,
“
pray
don’t
any
anything
against
him
!
I
am
very
sorry
he
has
annoyed
you
,
but
I
do
like
him
.
”
“
Oh
,
does
he
play
croquet
!
”
cried
Bessie
.
“
I
gather
,
”
said
Rachel
,
in
her
impressive
tone
,
a
little
disappointed
,
“
that
by
impracticable
you
mean
one
who
will
not
play
croquet
.
”
“
You
have
hit
it
!
”
laughed
Bessie
.
“
Who
will
neither
play
at
croquet
,
nor
let
one
work
except
in
his
way
.
Well
,
there
are
hopes
for
you
.
I
cure
the
curates
of
every
cure
I
come
near
,
except
,
of
course
,
the
cure
that
touches
me
most
nearly
.
The
shoemaker’s
wife
goes
the
worst
shod
!
I’ll
tame
yours
.
”
“
My
dear
,
I
can’t
have
poor
Mr.
Touchett
made
game
of
.
”
“
I
won’t
make
game
of
him
,
dear
Lady
Temple
,
only
make
him
play
a
game
.
”
“
But
you
said
Alick
did
not
approve
,
”
said
Fanny
,
with
the
dimmest
possible
ideas
of
what
croquet
was
,
and
believing
it
a
wicked
flirtation
trap
that
figured
in
“
Punch
.
”
“
Oh
,
that’s
fudge
on
Master
Alick’s
part
!
Just
the
remains
of
his
old
miseries
,
poor
fellow
.
What
he
wants
is
love
!
Now
he’ll
meet
his
fate
some
of
these
days
;
and
as
he
can’t
meet
three
Englishwomen
without
a
mallet
in
hand
,
love
and
croquet
will
come
together
.
”
“
Alick
is
very
good
,
”
went
on
Lady
Temple
,
not
answering
,
but
arguing
with
herself
whether
this
opposition
could
be
right
.
“
Colonel
Hammond
gave
me
such
an
account
of
him
,
so
valuable
and
excellent
among
the
men
,
and
doing
all
that
is
possible
for
their
welfare
,
interesting
himself
about
their
library
,
and
the
regimental
school
and
all
.
The
colonel
said
he
wished
only
that
he
was
a
little
more
easy
and
popular
among
the
young
officers
;
but
so
many
of
his
own
standing
were
gone
by
the
time
he
joined
again
,
that
he
lives
almost
too
much
to
himself
,
reads
a
good
deal
,
and
is
most
exemplary
,
but
does
not
quite
make
his
influence
as
available
as
it
might
be
.
”
“
That’s
just
it
,
”
cried
Bessie
,
eagerly
;
“
the
boy
is
a
lazy
boy
,
and
wants
shaking
up
,
or
he’ll
get
savage
and
no
good
.
Can’t
you
see
,
by
the
way
he
uses
his
poor
little
sister
,
what
an
awful
don
Captain
Keith
must
be
to
a
schoolboy
of
an
ensign
?
He
must
be
taught
toleration
and
hunted
into
amiability
,
or
he’ll
be
the
most
terrible
Turk
by
the
time
he
is
a
colonel
;
and
you
are
the
only
person
that
can
do
it
,
dear
Lady
Temple
.
”
Rachel
did
not
much
like
this
,
but
it
was
so
prettily
and
playfully
said
that
the
pleasing
impression
was
quite
predominant
;
and
when
Rachel
took
leave
,
it
was
with
a
sense
of
vexation
that
a
person
whom
she
had
begun
to
esteem
should
be
hard
upon
this
bright
engaging
sister
.
Yet
it
might
be
well
if
Fanny
took
note
of
the
admission
that
he
could
be
irritable
as
well
as
stern
,
and
sometimes
mistaken
in
his
judgments
.
What
would
the
Colonel
say
to
all
this
?
The
Colonel
—
here
he
was
coming
back
again
into
her
imagination
.
Another
symptom
!
The
brother
left
the
field
entirely
to
his
sister
for
the
present
;
he
was
a
good
deal
occupied
after
his
leave
,
and
other
officers
being
away
,
he
was
detained
at
Avoncester
,
and
meantime
Bessie
Keith
took
all
hearts
by
storm
with
her
gay
good
humour
and
eager
sympathy
.
By
the
end
of
the
first
morning
she
had
been
to
the
stable
with
a
swarm
of
boys
,
patted
,
and
learnt
the
names
of
all
the
ponies
;
she
was
on
the
warmest
terms
with
the
young
spaniel
,
that
,
to
the
Curtises’
vexation
,
one
of
the
officers
had
given
Conrade
,
and
which
was
always
getting
into
the
way
;
she
had
won
Alison
by
telling
her
of
Mr.
Clare’s
recollections
of
Ermine’s
remarkable
beauty
and
intelligence
,
and
charmed
Ermine
herself
by
his
kind
messages
and
her
own
sunshiny
brightness
;
she
had
delighted
Mrs.
Curtis
and
Grace
by
appreciating
their
views
and
their
flowers
;
she
had
discussed
hymnals
and
chants
with
Mr.
Touchett
,
and
promised
her
services
;
she
had
given
a
brilliant
object
lesson
at
Mrs.
Kelland’s
,
and
received
one
herself
in
lace-making
;
and
had
proved
herself
,
to
Rachel’s
satisfaction
,
equally
practical
and
well-read
.
All
the
outer
world
was
asking
,
“
Have
you
seen
the
young
lady
with
Lady
Temple
?
”
Nothing
came
amiss
to
her
,
from
the
antiquity
of
man
to
Stephana’s
first
words
;
and
whether
she
taught
Grace
new
stitches
,
played
cricket
with
Conrade
,
made
boats
for
Cyril
,
prattled
with
Lady
Temple
,
or
studied
with
Rachel
,
all
was
done
with
grace
,
zest
,
and
sympathy
peculiarly
her
own
.
Two
practisings
at
the
school
removed
the
leaden
drawl
,
and
lessened
the
twang
of
the
choir
;
and
Mr.
Touchett
looked
quite
exalted
,
while
even
Rachel
owned
that
she
had
hardly
believed
her
ears
.
Rachel
and
she
constituted
themselves
particular
friends
,
and
Grace
kept
almost
aloof
in
the
fear
of
disturbing
them
.
She
had
many
friends
,
and
this
was
the
first
,
except
Ermine
Williams
,
to
whom
Rachel
had
taken
,
since
a
favourite
companion
of
her
youth
had
disappointed
her
by
a
foolish
marriage
.
Bessie’s
confidences
had
a
vigour
in
them
that
even
Rachel’s
half-way
meetings
could
not
check
,
and
then
the
sharp
,
clever
things
she
would
say
,
in
accordance
with
Rachel’s
views
,
were
more
sympathetic
than
anything
she
had
met
with
.
It
was
another
new
charm
to
life
.
One
great
pleasure
they
enjoyed
together
was
bathing
.
The
Homestead
possessed
a
little
cove
of
its
own
under
the
rocks
,
where
there
was
a
bathing-house
,
and
full
perfection
of
arrangement
for
young
ladies’
aquatic
enjoyment
,
in
safety
and
absolute
privacy
.
Rachel’s
vigorous
strength
and
health
had
been
greatly
promoted
by
her
familiarity
with
salt
water
,
and
Bessie
was
in
ecstasies
at
the
naiad
performances
they
shared
together
on
the
smooth
bit
of
sandy
shore
,
where
they
dabbled
and
floated
fearlessly
.
One
morning
,
when
they
had
been
down
very
early
to
be
beforehand
with
the
tide
,
which
put
a
stop
to
their
enjoyment
long
before
the
breakfast
hour
,
Bessie
asked
if
they
could
not
profit
by
their
leisure
to
climb
round
the
edge
of
the
cliff’s
instead
of
returning
by
the
direct
path
,
and
Rachel
agreed
,
with
the
greater
pleasure
,
that
it
was
an
enterprise
she
had
seldom
performed
.
Very
beautiful
,
though
adventurous
,
was
the
walk
—
now
on
the
brow
of
the
steep
cliff
,
looking
down
on
the
water
or
on
little
bays
of
shingle
,
now
through
bits
of
thicket
that
held
out
brambles
to
entangle
the
long
tresses
streaming
on
their
shoulders
;
always
in
the
brisk
morning
air
,
that
filled
them
with
strength
and
spirit
,
laughing
,
joking
,
calling
to
one
another
and
to
Conrade’s
little
dog
,
that
,
like
every
other
creature
,
had
attached
itself
to
Bessie
,
and
had
followed
her
from
Myrtlewood
that
morning
,
to
the
vexation
of
Rachel
,
who
had
no
love
for
dogs
in
their
early
youth
.
They
were
beyond
the
grounds
of
the
Homestead
,
but
had
to
go
a
little
further
to
get
into
the
path
,
when
they
paused
above
a
sort
of
dip
or
amphitheatre
of
rock
around
a
little
bay
,
whilst
Rachel
began
telling
of
the
smugglers’
traditions
that
haunted
the
place
—
how
much
brandy
and
silk
had
there
been
landed
in
the
time
of
the
great
French
war
,
and
how
once
,
when
hard
pressed
,
a
party
of
smugglers
,
taking
a
short
cut
in
the
moonlight
midnight
across
the
Homestead
gardens
,
had
encountered
an
escaped
Guinea-pig
,
and
no
doubt
taking
it
for
the
very
rat
without
a
tail
,
in
whose
person
Macbeth’s
witch
was
to
do
,
and
to
do
,
and
to
do
,
had
been
nearly
scared
out
of
their
wits
.
Her
story
was
cut
short
by
a
cry
of
distress
from
the
dog
,
and
looking
down
,
they
perceived
that
the
poor
fellow
had
been
creeping
about
the
rocks
,
and
had
descended
to
the
little
cove
,
whence
he
was
incapable
of
climbing
up
again
.
They
called
encouragingly
,
and
pretended
to
move
away
,
but
he
only
moaned
more
despairingly
,
and
leapt
in
vain
.
“
He
has
hurt
his
foot
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
;
“
I
must
go
down
after
him
.
Yes
,
Don
,
yes
,
poor
fellow
,
I’m
coming
.
”
“
My
dear
Curtia
,
don’t
leap
into
the
gulf
!
”
“
Oh
,
it’s
no
great
height
,
and
the
tide
will
soon
fill
up
this
place
.
”
“
Don’t
!
don’t
!
You’ll
never
be
able
to
get
up
again
.
”
But
Rachel
was
already
scrambling
down
,
and
,
in
effect
,
she
was
sure-footed
and
used
to
her
own
crags
,
nor
was
the
distance
much
above
thirty
foot
,
so
that
she
was
soon
safe
on
the
shingle
,
to
the
extreme
relief
of
poor
Don
,
shown
by
grateful
whines
;
but
he
was
still
evidently
in
pain
,
and
Rachel
thought
his
leg
was
broken
.
And
how
to
get
up
the
rock
,
with
a
spaniel
that
when
she
tried
to
lift
it
became
apparently
twice
the
size
she
had
always
believed
it
to
be
,
and
where
both
hands
as
well
as
feet
were
required
,
with
the
sea
fast
advancing
too
?
“
My
dear
Rachel
,
you
will
only
break
your
neck
,
too
,
it
is
quite
vain
to
try
!
”
“
If
you
could
just
come
to
that
first
rock
,
perhaps
I
could
push
him
up
to
you
!
”
Bessie
came
to
it
,
but
screamed
.
“
Oh
,
I’m
not
steady
;
I
couldn’t
do
it
!
Besides
,
it
would
hurt
him
so
,
and
I
know
you
would
fall
.
Poor
fellow
,
it
is
very
sad
;
but
indeed
,
Rachel
,
your
life
is
more
precious
than
a
dog’s
!
”
“
I
can’t
leave
him
to
drown
,
”
said
Rachel
,
making
a
desperate
scramble
,
and
almost
overbalancing
herself
.
“
Here
,
if
you
could
only
get
him
by
the
scrough
of
his
neck
,
it
would
not
hurt
him
so
much
;
poor
Don
,
yes
,
poor
fellow
!
”
as
he
whined
,
but
still
showed
his
confidence
in
the
touching
manner
of
a
sensible
dog
,
knowing
he
is
hurt
for
his
good
.
Bessie
made
another
attempt
,
but
,
unused
to
rocks
,
she
was
uneasy
about
her
footing
,
and
merely
frightened
herself
.
“
Indeed
,
”
she
said
,
“
I
had
better
run
and
call
some
one
;
I
won’t
be
long
,
and
you
are
really
quite
safe
.
”
“
Yes
,
quite
safe
.
If
you
were
down
here
and
I
above
I
am
sure
he
could
do
it
easily
.
”
“
Ah
!
but
I’m
no
cragswoman
;
I’ll
be
back
instantly
.
”
“
That
way
,
that’s
the
shortest
,
call
to
Zack
or
his
father
,
”
tried
Rachel
,
as
the
light
figure
quickly
disappeared
,
leaving
her
a
little
annoyed
at
her
predicament
.
She
was
not
at
all
alarmed
for
herself
,
there
was
no
real
danger
of
drowning
,
she
could
at
any
moment
get
up
the
rock
herself
if
she
chose
to
leave
the
dog
to
its
fate
;
but
that
she
could
not
bear
to
think
of
,
and
she
even
thought
the
stimulus
of
necessity
might
prove
the
mother
of
invention
,
if
succour
should
not
come
before
that
lapping
flux
and
reflux
of
water
should
have
crept
up
the
shingly
beach
,
on
which
she
stood
;
but
she
was
anxious
,
and
felt
more
and
more
drawn
to
the
poor
dog
,
so
suffering
,
yet
so
patient
and
confiding
.
Nor
did
she
like
the
awkwardness
of
being
helped
in
what
ought
to
be
no
difficulty
at
all
to
a
native
,
and
would
not
have
been
had
her
companion
,
been
Grace
or
even
Conrade
.
Her
hope
was
that
her
ally
Zack
would
come
,
as
she
had
directed
Bessie
towards
the
cottage
;
but
,
behold
,
after
a
wearily
long
interval
,
it
was
no
blue
jacket
that
appeared
,
but
a
round
black
sea-hide
hat
,
and
a
sort
of
easy
clerical-looking
dress
,
that
Bessie
was
fluttering
before
!
Few
words
were
required
,
the
stranger’s
height
and
length
of
arms
did
all
that
was
needful
,
and
Don
was
placed
in
safety
with
less
pain
and
outcry
than
could
have
been
hoped
,
Rachel
ascending
before
the
polite
stranger
had
time
to
offer
his
assistance
.
The
dog’s
hurt
was
,
he
agreed
with
Rachel
,
a
broken
leg
,
and
his
offer
of
carrying
it
home
could
not
be
refused
,
especially
as
he
touched
it
with
remarkable
tenderness
and
dexterity
,
adding
that
with
a
splint
or
two
,
he
thought
he
had
surgery
enough
to
set
the
limb
.
They
were
much
nearer
the
Homestead
than
to
Myrtle-wood
,
and
as
it
had
been
already
agreed
that
Bessie
should
breakfast
there
,
the
three
bent
their
steps
up
the
hill
as
fast
as
might
be
,
in
consideration
of
Mrs.
Curtis’s
anxieties
.
Bessie
in
a
state
of
great
exultation
and
amusement
at
the
romantic
adventure
,
Rachel
somewhat
put
out
at
the
untoward
mishap
that
obliged
her
to
be
beholden
to
one
of
the
casual
visitors
,
against
whom
her
mother
had
such
a
prejudice
.
Still
,
the
gentleman
himself
was
far
from
objectionable
,
in
appearance
or
manner
;
his
air
was
that
of
an
educated
man
,
his
dress
that
of
a
clergyman
at
large
,
his
face
keen
.
Rachel
remembered
to
have
met
him
once
or
twice
in
the
town
within
the
last
few
days
,
and
wondered
if
he
could
be
a
person
who
had
called
in
at
the
lace
school
and
asked
so
many
questions
that
Mrs.
Kelland
had
decided
that
he
could
be
after
no
good
;
he
must
be
one
of
the
Parliament
folks
that
they
sent
down
to
take
the
bread
out
of
children’s
mouths
by
not
letting
them
work
as
many
hours
as
was
good
for
them
.
Not
quite
believing
in
a
Government
commission
on
lace-making
grievances
,
Rachel
was
still
prepared
to
greet
a
kindred
spirit
of
philanthropy
,
and
as
she
reflected
more
,
thought
that
perhaps
it
was
well
that
an
introduction
had
been
procured
on
any
terms
.
So
she
thawed
a
little
,
and
did
not
leave
all
the
civility
to
Miss
Keith
,
but
graciously
responded
to
the
stranger’s
admiration
of
the
views
,
the
exquisite
framings
of
the
summer
sea
and
sky
made
by
tree
,
rock
,
and
rising
ground
,
and
the
walks
so
well
laid
out
on
the
little
headland
,
now
on
smooth
turf
,
now
bordering
slopes
wild
with
fern
and
mountain
ash
,
now
amid
luxuriant
exotic
shrubs
that
attested
the
mildness
of
Avonmouth
winters
.
When
they
came
near
the
front
of
the
house
,
Rachel
took
man
and
dog
in
through
the
open
window
of
her
own
sitting-room
,
and
hastened
to
provide
him
with
bandages
and
splints
,
leaving
Bessie
to
reassure
Mrs.
Curtis
that
no
human
limbs
were
broken
,
and
that
no
one
was
even
wet
to
the
skin
;
nay
,
Bessie
had
even
the
tact
to
spare
Mrs.
Curtis
the
romantic
colouring
that
delighted
herself
.
Grace
had
followed
Rachel
to
assist
at
the
operation
,
and
was
equally
delighted
with
its
neatness
and
tenderness
,
as
well
as
equally
convinced
of
the
necessity
of
asking
the
performer
first
to
wash
his
hands
and
then
to
eat
his
breakfast
,
both
which
kind
proposals
he
accepted
with
diffident
gratitude
,
first
casting
a
glance
around
the
apartment
,
which
,
though
he
said
nothing
,
conveyed
that
he
was
profoundly
struck
with
the
tokens
of
occupation
that
it
contained
.
The
breakfast
was
,
in
the
first
place
,
a
very
hungry
one
;
indeed
,
Bessie
had
been
too
ravenous
to
wait
till
the
surgery
was
over
,
and
was
already
arrived
at
her
second
egg
when
the
others
appeared
,
and
the
story
had
again
to
be
told
to
the
mother
,
and
her
warm
thanks
given
.
Mrs.
Curtis
did
not
like
strangers
when
they
were
only
names
,
but
let
her
be
brought
in
contact
,
and
her
good
nature
made
her
friendly
at
once
,
above
all
in
her
own
house
.
The
stranger
was
so
grave
and
quiet
too
,
not
at
all
presuming
,
and
making
light
of
his
services
,
but
only
afraid
he
had
been
trespassing
on
the
Homestead
grounds
.
These
incursions
of
the
season
visitors
were
so
great
a
grievance
at
the
Homestead
that
Mrs.
Curtis
highly
approved
his
forbearance
,
whilst
she
was
pleased
with
his
tribute
to
her
scenery
,
which
he
evidently
admired
with
an
artistic
eye
.
Love
of
sketching
had
brought
him
to
Avonmouth
,
and
before
he
took
leave
,
Mrs.
Curtis
had
accorded
him
that
permission
to
draw
in
her
little
peninsula
for
which
many
a
young
lady
below
was
sighing
and
murmuring
.
He
thanked
her
with
a
melancholy
look
,
confessing
that
in
his
circumstances
his
pencil
was
his
toy
and
his
solace
.
“
Once
again
,
that
landscape
painter
!
”
exclaimed
Bessie
,
with
uplifted
hands
,
as
soon
as
both
he
and
Mrs.
Curtis
were
out
of
earshot
,
“
an
adventure
at
last
.
”
“
Not
at
all
,
”
said
Rachel
,
gravely
;
“
there
was
neither
alarm
nor
danger
.
”
“
Precisely
;
the
romance
minus
the
disagreeables
.
Only
the
sea
monster
wanting
.
Young
Alcides
,
and
rock
—
you
stood
there
for
sacrifice
,
I
was
the
weeping
Dardanian
dames
.
”
Even
Grace
could
not
help
laughing
at
the
mischief
of
the
one
,
and
the
earnest
seriousness
of
the
other
.
“
Now
,
Bessie
,
I
entreat
that
you
will
not
make
a
ridiculous
story
of
a
most
simple
affair
,
”
implored
Rachel
.
“
I
promise
not
to
make
one
,
but
don’t
blame
me
if
it
makes
itself
.
”
“
It
cannot
,
unless
some
of
us
tell
the
story
.
”
“
What
,
do
you
expect
the
young
Alcides
to
hold
his
tongue
?
That
is
more
than
can
be
hoped
of
mortal
landscape
painter
.
”
“
I
wish
you
would
not
call
him
so
.
I
am
sure
he
is
a
clergyman
.
”
“
Landscape
painter
,
I
would
lay
you
anything
you
please
.
”
“
Nay
,
”
said
Grace
,
“
according
to
you
,
that
is
just
what
he
ought
not
to
be
.
”
“
I
do
not
understand
what
diverts
you
so
much
,
”
said
Rachel
,
growing
lofty
in
her
displeasure
.
“
What
matters
it
what
the
man
may
be
?
”
“
That
is
exactly
what
we
want
to
see
,
”
returned
Bessie
.
Poor
Rachel
,
a
grave
and
earnest
person
like
her
,
had
little
chance
with
one
so
full
of
playful
wit
and
fun
as
Bessie
Keith
,
to
whom
her
very
dignity
and
susceptibility
of
annoyance
made
her
the
better
game
.
To
have
involved
the
grave
Rachel
in
such
a
parody
of
an
adventure
was
perfectly
irresistible
to
her
,
and
to
expect
absolute
indifference
to
it
would
,
as
Grace
felt
,
have
been
requiring
mere
stupidity
.
Indeed
,
there
was
forbearance
in
not
pushing
Rachel
further
at
the
moment
;
but
proceeding
to
tell
the
tale
at
Myrtlewood
,
whither
Grace
accompanied
Bessie
,
as
a
guard
against
possible
madcap
versions
capable
of
misconstruction
.
“
Yes
,
”
said
Rachel
to
herself
,
“
I
see
now
what
Captain
Keith
regrets
.
His
sister
,
with
all
her
fine
powers
and
abilities
,
has
had
her
tone
lowered
to
the
hateful
conventional
style
of
wit
that
would
put
me
to
the
blush
for
the
smallest
mishap
.
I
hope
he
will
not
come
over
till
it
is
forgotten
,
for
the
very
sight
of
his
disapproval
would
incite
her
further
.
I
am
glad
the
Colonel
is
not
here
.
Here
,
of
course
,
he
is
in
my
imagination
.
Why
should
I
be
referring
everything
to
him
;
I
,
who
used
to
be
so
independent
?
Suppose
this
nonsense
gave
him
umbrage
?
Let
it
.
I
might
then
have
light
thrown
on
his
feelings
and
my
own
.
At
any
rate
,
I
will
not
be
conscious
.
If
this
stranger
be
really
worth
notice
,
as
I
think
he
is
,
I
will
trample
on
her
ridicule
,
and
show
how
little
I
esteem
it
.
”
CHAPTER
IX
.
THE
NEW
SPORT
“
‘Sire
,
’
I
replied
,
‘joys
prove
cloudlets
,
Men
are
the
merest
Ixions.’
Here
the
King
whistled
aloud
,
‘Let’s
,
Heigho
,
go
look
at
our
lions
!
’
Such
are
the
sorrowful
chances
If
you
talk
fine
to
King
Francis
.
”
—
R
.
BROWNING
.
The
day
after
Rachel’s
adventure
with
Don
a
card
came
into
the
drawing-room
,
and
therewith
a
message
that
the
gentleman
had
availed
himself
of
Mrs.
Curtis’s
kind
permission
,
and
was
sketching
the
Spinster’s
Needles
,
two
sharp
points
of
red
rock
that
stood
out
in
the
sea
at
the
end
of
the
peninsula
,
and
were
specially
appropriated
by
Rachel
and
Grace
.
The
card
was
written
,
not
engraved
,
the
name
“
Rd
.
R
.
H
.
C
.
L
.
Mauleverer
;
”
and
a
discussion
ensued
whether
the
first
letters
stood
for
Richard
or
for
Reverend
,
and
if
he
could
be
unconscionable
enough
to
have
five
initials
.
The
sisters
had
some
business
to
transact
at
Villars’s
,
the
Avonmouth
deposit
of
literature
and
stationery
,
which
was
in
the
hands
of
a
somewhat
aspiring
genius
,
who
edited
the
weekly
paper
,
and
respected
Miss
Rachel
Curtis
in
proportion
to
the
number
of
periodicals
she
took
in
,
and
the
abstruseness
of
the
publications
she
inquired
after
.
The
paper
in
its
Saturday’s
dampness
lay
fresh
on
the
counter
,
and
glancing
at
the
new
arrivals
,
Grace
had
the
desired
opportunity
of
pointing
to
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
name
,
and
asking
when
he
had
come
.
About
a
week
since
,
said
the
obliging
Mr.
Villars
,
he
appeared
to
be
a
gentleman
of
highly
literary
and
artistic
tastes
,
a
philanthropist
;
indeed
,
Mr.
Villars
understood
him
to
be
a
clerical
gentlemen
who
had
opinions
—
“
Oh
,
Rachel
,
I
am
very
sorry
,
”
said
Grace
.
“
Sorry
,
what
for
?
”
“
Why
,
you
and
mamma
seemed
quite
inclined
to
like
him
.
”
“
Well
,
and
what
have
we
heard
?
”
“
Not
much
that
is
rational
,
certainly
,
”
said
Grace
,
smiling
;
“
but
we
know
what
was
meant
.
”
“
Granting
that
we
do
,
what
is
proved
against
him
?
No
,
I
will
not
say
proved
,
but
alleged
.
He
is
one
of
the
many
who
have
thought
for
themselves
upon
the
perplexing
problems
of
faith
and
practice
,
and
has
been
sincere
,
uncompromising
,
self-sacrificing
,
in
avowing
that
his
mind
is
still
in
that
state
of
solution
in
which
all
earnest
and
original
minds
must
be
ere
the
crystallizing
process
sets
in
.
Observe
,
Grace
,
I
am
not
saying
for
an
instant
that
he
is
in
the
right
.
All
I
do
say
is
,
that
when
depth
of
thought
and
candour
have
brought
misfortune
upon
a
man
,
it
is
ungenerous
,
therefore
,
to
treat
him
as
if
he
had
the
leprosy
.
”
“
Indeed
,
Rachel
,
I
think
you
have
made
more
out
of
his
opinions
than
I
did
.
”
“
I
was
only
arguing
on
your
construction
of
his
opinions
.
”
“
Take
care
—
!
”
For
they
were
at
this
moment
reaching
a
gate
of
Myrtlewood
,
and
the
sound
of
hoofs
came
close
behind
them
.
They
were
those
of
the
very
handsome
chestnut
,
ridden
by
Alexander
Keith
,
who
jumped
off
his
horse
with
more
alacrity
than
usual
as
they
were
opening
the
gate
for
him
,
and
holding
out
his
hand
,
eagerly
said
—
“
Then
I
conclude
there
is
nothing
the
matter
?
”
“
Nothing
at
all
,
”
said
Grace
.
“
What
did
you
hear
?
”
“
Only
a
little
drowning
,
and
a
compound
fracture
or
two
,
”
said
he
,
relapsing
into
his
languid
ease
as
he
gave
his
bridle
to
a
groom
,
and
walked
with
them
towards
the
house
.
“
There
,
how
very
annoying
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
“
though
,
of
course
,
the
smallest
adventure
does
travel
.
”
“
I
may
venture
to
hope
that
neither
are
you
drowned
,
nor
my
sister’s
leg
broken
,
nor
a
celebrated
professor
and
essayist
‘in
a
high
fever
wi’
pulling
any
of
you
out
of
the
sea.’
”
“
There
,
Grace
,
”
exclaimed
Rachel
;
“
I
told
you
he
was
something
distinguished
.
”
“
My
dear
Rachel
,
if
his
celebrity
be
in
proportion
to
the
rest
of
the
story
.
”
“
Then
there
really
was
a
rescue
!
”
exclaimed
Captain
Keith
,
now
with
much
more
genuine
anxiety
;
and
Rachel
recollecting
her
desire
that
the
right
version
should
have
the
precedence
,
quickly
answered
,
“
There
was
no
danger
,
only
Don
slipped
down
into
that
curved
cove
where
we
walked
one
day
with
the
boys
.
I
went
down
after
him
,
but
he
had
broken
his
leg
.
I
could
not
get
up
with
him
in
my
arms
,
and
Bessie
called
some
one
to
help
me
.
”
“
And
why
could
not
Bessie
help
you
herself
?
”
“
Oh
!
strangers
can
never
climb
on
our
slippery
rocks
as
we
can
.
”
“
Moreover
,
it
would
have
spoilt
the
predicament
,
”
muttered
the
brother
to
himself
;
then
turning
round
with
a
smile
,
“
And
is
the
child
behaving
herself
?
”
Grace
and
Rachel
answered
in
a
eager
duet
how
she
was
charming
every
one
,
so
helpful
,
so
kind
,
so
everything
.
“
Ah
!
”
he
said
with
real
satisfaction
,
apparent
in
the
eyes
that
were
so
pleasant
when
open
wide
enough
to
be
visible
;
“
I
knew
she
always
did
better
when
I
was
not
there
.
”
They
were
by
this
time
entering
the
hall
,
which
,
in
the
confident
fashion
of
the
sea-side
,
stood
open
;
and
at
the
moment
Fanny
came
tripping
downstairs
with
her
dress
looped
up
,
and
a
shady
hat
on
her
head
,
looking
fearfully
girlish
,
thought
her
cousins
,
though
her
attire
was
still
rigidly
black
.
“
Oh
,
I
am
so
glad
to
see
you
;
Don
is
so
much
better
,
Rachel
,
and
Conrade
wants
to
thank
you
.
He
went
up
yesterday
,
and
was
so
sorry
you
were
out
.
Might
it
not
have
been
dreadful
,
Alick
?
I
have
been
so
wanting
to
tell
you
how
very
delightful
that
dear
sister
of
yours
is
.
All
the
boys
are
distracted
about
her
.
Come
out
please
.
She
has
been
teaching
the
boys
such
a
delightful
game
;
so
much
nicer
than
cricket
,
for
I
can
play
with
them
.
”
Alick
and
Rachel
could
not
but
exchange
a
glance
,
and
at
the
same
moment
,
emerging
through
the
screen
of
shrubs
on
the
lawn
,
Bessie
Keith
,
Conrade
,
Francis
,
and
Leoline
,
were
seen
each
with
a
mallet
in
hand
and
a
gay
ball
in
readiness
to
be
impelled
through
the
hoops
that
beset
the
lawn
.
“
And
you
really
are
learning
croquet
!
”
exclaimed
innocent
Grace
;
“
well
,
it
makes
a
beautiful
ground
.
”
“
Croquet
!
”
exclaimed
poor
Lady
Temple
,
with
startled
eyes
;
“
you
don’t
really
mean
that
it
is
croquet
!
O
Bessie
,
Bessie
!
”
“
Ah
!
I
didn’t
mean
you
to
have
come
so
soon
,
”
said
the
much
amused
Bessie
,
as
she
gave
her
hand
in
greeting
.
“
I
meant
the
prejudice
to
be
first
conquered
.
See
,
dear
Lady
Temple
,
I’m
not
ashamed
;
this
whitey
brown
moustache
is
going
to
kiss
me
nevertheless
and
notwithstanding
.
”
And
so
it
certainly
did
,
and
smiled
into
the
bargain
,
while
the
boys
came
clamouring
up
,
and
after
thanks
for
Don’s
preservation
,
began
loudly
to
beg
mamma
would
come
,
they
could
not
make
up
their
sides
without
her
,
but
mamma
was
distressed
and
unhappy
.
“
Not
now
,
my
dears
—
I
must
—
I
must
.
Indeed
I
did
not
know
.
”
“
Now
,
Alick
,
I
trust
to
your
generosity
,
”
said
Bessie
,
finding
that
they
must
be
pacified
.
“
Coming
,
Con
—
Come
,
Grace
,
come
and
convince
Lady
Temple
that
the
pastime
is
not
too
wicked
for
you
.
”
“
Indeed
,
Alick
,
”
Lady
Temple
was
saying
.
“
I
am
very
sorry
,
I
won’t
allow
it
one
moment
if
you
think
it
is
objectionable
.
”
“
But
I
don’t
,
”
said
Alick
,
smiling
.
“
Far
from
it
.
It
is
a
capital
game
for
you
and
your
boys
.
”
“
I
thought
—
I
thought
you
disapproved
and
could
not
bear
it
,
”
said
Lady
Temple
,
wondering
and
wistful
.
“
Can’t
bear
is
not
disapprove
.
Indeed
,
”
seeing
that
gentle
earnest
alone
could
console
her
,
“
there
is
no
harm
in
the
game
itself
.
It
is
a
wholly
personal
distaste
,
arising
from
my
having
been
bored
with
it
when
I
was
ill
and
out
of
spirits
.
”
“
But
is
not
there
something
about
it
in
‘Punch
?
’
”
she
still
asked
,
so
anxiously
,
that
it
was
impossible
not
to
smile
;
but
there
was
not
a
particle
of
that
subdued
mockery
that
was
often
so
perplexing
in
him
,
as
he
replied
,
“
Certainly
there
is
about
its
abuse
as
an
engine
for
flirtation
,
which
,
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
was
what
sickened
me
with
the
sight
at
Littleworthy
;
but
that
is
not
the
line
Con
and
Francie
will
take
just
yet
.
Why
,
my
uncle
is
specially
addicted
to
listening
to
croquet
,
and
knows
by
the
step
and
sound
how
each
player
is
getting
on
,
till
he
is
quite
an
oracle
in
disputed
hits
.
”
“
So
Bessie
told
me
,
”
said
Fanny
,
still
feeling
that
she
had
been
taken
in
and
the
brother
unkindly
used
;
“
but
I
can’t
think
how
she
could
,
when
you
don’t
like
it
.
”
“
Nobody
is
bound
to
respect
foolish
prejudices
,
”
said
Alick
,
still
quite
in
earnest
.
“
It
would
have
been
very
absurd
not
to
introduce
it
.
”
“
Come
,
Alick
,
”
said
Bessie
,
advancing
,
“
have
you
absolved
her
,
and
may
we
begin
?
Would
it
not
be
a
generous
act
of
amnesty
if
all
the
present
company
united
in
a
match
?
”
“
Too
many
,
”
said
Alick
,
“
odd
numbers
.
I
shall
go
down
and
call
on
Miss
Williams
.
May
I
come
back
,
Lady
Temple
,
and
have
a
holiday
from
the
mess
?
”
“
I
shall
be
very
glad
;
only
I
am
afraid
there
is
no
dinner
.
”
“
So
much
the
better
.
Only
let
me
see
you
begin
,
or
I
shall
never
dare
to
express
an
opinion
for
the
future
.
”
“
Mamma
,
do
pray
,
pray
begin
;
the
afternoon
is
wasting
like
nothing
!
”
cried
Conrade
of
the
much-tried
patience
.
“
And
Aunt
Rachel
,
”
he
added
,
in
his
magnanimity
,
“
you
shall
be
my
partner
,
and
I’ll
teach
you
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
Conrade
,
but
I
can’t
;
I
promised
to
be
at
home
at
four
,
”
said
Rachel
,
who
had
all
this
time
been
watching
with
curious
interest
which
influence
would
prevail
—
whether
Alick
would
play
for
Fanny’s
sake
,
or
Fanny
abstain
for
Alick’s
sake
.
She
was
best
satisfied
as
it
was
,
but
she
had
still
to
parry
Bessie
Keith’s
persuasive
determination
.
Why
would
she
go
home
?
it
certainly
was
to
inspect
the
sketches
of
the
landscape-painter
.
“
You
heard
,
Alick
,
of
the
interesting
individual
who
acted
the
part
of
Rachel’s
preserver
,
”
she
added
.
The
very
force
of
Rachel’s
resolution
not
to
be
put
out
of
countenance
served
to
cover
her
with
the
most
uncomfortable
blushes
,
all
the
more
at
the
thought
of
her
own
unlucky
exclamation
.
“
I
came
here
,
”
said
Alick
,
coolly
,
“
to
assist
in
recovering
the
beloved
remains
from
a
watery
grave
;
”
and
then
,
as
Bessie
insisted
on
hearing
the
Avoncester
version
,
he
gave
it
;
while
Grace
added
the
intelligence
that
the
hero
was
a
clergyman
,
sinking
the
opinions
,
as
too
vague
to
be
mentioned
,
even
had
not
the
company
been
too
flighty
for
a
subject
she
thought
serious
and
painful
.
“
And
he
is
at
this
moment
sketching
the
Spinster’s
Needles
!
”
said
Bessie
.
“
Well
,
I
am
consoled
.
With
all
your
resolve
to
flatten
down
an
adventure
,
fate
is
too
strong
for
you
.
Something
will
come
of
it
.
Is
not
the
very
resolve
that
it
shall
not
be
an
adventure
a
token
?
”
“
If
any
one
should
wish
to
forget
it
,
it
is
you
,
I
think
,
Bessie
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
Your
admirable
sagacity
seems
to
have
been
at
fault
.
I
thought
you
prided
yourself
on
your
climbing
.
”
“
Up
a
slippery
perpendicular
—
”
“
I
know
the
place
,
”
he
gravely
answered
.
“
Well
,
”
exclaimed
Bessie
,
recovering
herself
,
“
I
am
not
a
mermaid
nor
even
a
dear
gazelle
,
and
,
in
my
humble
opinion
,
there
was
far
more
grace
in
preventing
heroism
from
being
‘unwept
,
unnoticed
,
and
unsung
,
’
than
in
perilling
my
own
neck
,
craning
down
and
strangling
the
miserable
beast
,
by
pulling
him
up
by
the
scrough
of
his
neck
!
What
an
introduction
would
have
been
lost
!
”
“
If
you
are
going
to
play
,
Bessie
,
”
said
her
brother
,
“
it
would
be
kind
to
take
pity
upon
those
boys
.
”
“
One
achievement
is
mine
,
”
she
said
,
dancing
away
backwards
,
her
bright
eyes
beaming
with
saucy
merriment
,
“
the
great
Alexander
has
bidden
me
to
croquet
.
”
“
I
am
afraid
,
”
said
her
brother
,
turning
to
Rachel
as
she
departed
,
“
that
it
was
all
her
fault
.
Pray
be
patient
with
her
,
she
has
had
many
disadvantages
.
”
His
incomprehensible
irony
had
so
often
perplexed
Rachel
,
that
she
did
not
know
whether
his
serious
apologetic
tone
were
making
game
of
her
annoyance
,
and
she
answered
not
very
graciously
,
“
Oh
,
never
mind
,
it
did
not
signify
.
”
And
at
the
same
time
came
another
urgent
entreaty
from
the
boys
that
the
two
“
aunts
”
would
join
the
game
,
Conrade
evidently
considering
that
partnership
with
him
would
seal
the
forgiveness
Aunt
Rachel
had
won
by
the
rescue
of
Don
.
Grace
readily
yielded
,
but
Rachel
pleaded
her
engagement
,
and
when
the
incorrigible
Bessie
declared
that
they
perfectly
understood
that
nothing
could
compete
with
the
sketch
of
the
Spinster’s
Needles
,
she
answered
,
“
I
promised
to
write
a
letter
for
my
mother
on
business
before
post
time
.
The
Burnaby
bargain
,
”
she
explained
,
to
add
further
conviction
.
“
A
business-like
transaction
indeed
!
”
exclaimed
Bessie
,
much
diverted
with
the
name
.
“
Only
a
bit
of
land
in
trust
for
apprenticing
poor
children
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
It
was
left
by
a
Curtis
many
generations
ago
,
in
trust
to
the
rector
of
the
parish
and
the
lord
of
the
manor
;
and
poor
Mr.
Linton
is
so
entirely
effete
,
that
it
is
virtually
in
our
hands
.
It
is
one
of
the
vexations
of
my
life
that
more
good
cannot
be
done
with
it
,
for
the
fees
are
too
small
for
superior
tradespeople
,
and
we
can
only
bind
them
to
the
misery
of
lacemaking
.
The
system
belongs
to
a
worn-out
state
of
things
.
”
The
word
system
in
Rachel’s
mouth
was
quite
sufficient
to
send
Bessie
to
her
croquet
,
and
the
poor
boys
were
at
length
rewarded
for
their
unusual
patience
.
Their
mother
had
been
enduring
almost
as
much
as
they
did
in
her
dislike
to
see
them
tantalised
,
and
she
now
threw
herself
into
the
game
with
a
relish
that
proved
that
as
yet
,
at
least
,
Conrade’s
approbation
was
more
to
her
than
Captain
Keith’s
.
It
was
very
pretty
to
see
her
so
pleased
with
her
instructions
,
so
eager
about
her
own
game
,
and
yet
so
delighted
with
every
hit
of
her
boys
;
while
Bessie
was
an
admirable
general
,
playing
everybody’s
game
as
well
as
her
own
,
and
with
such
life
and
spirit
,
such
readiness
and
good
nature
,
that
a
far
duller
sport
would
have
been
delicious
under
her
management
.
“
Poor
Alick
,
”
said
she
,
meeting
him
when
he
again
strolled
into
the
garden
,
while
the
boys
were
collecting
the
mallets
and
balls
;
“
he
did
think
he
had
one
lawn
in
the
world
undefiled
by
those
horrible
hoops
!
”
then
as
she
met
his
smile
of
amusement
and
pardon
,
“
but
it
was
so
exactly
what
they
wanted
here
.
It
is
so
good
for
Lady
Temple
and
her
boys
to
have
something
they
can
do
together
.
”
The
pleased
affectionate
smile
was
gone
.
“
I
object
to
nothing
but
its
being
for
her
good
,
”
he
said
gravely
.
“
But
now
,
does
not
it
make
her
very
happy
,
and
suit
her
excellently
?
”
“
May
be
so
,
but
that
is
not
the
reason
you
introduced
it
.
”
“
You
have
a
shocking
habit
of
driving
one
up
into
corners
,
Alick
,
but
it
shall
be
purely
,
purely
for
my
own
selfish
delight
,
”
and
she
clasped
her
hands
in
so
droll
an
affectation
of
remorse
,
that
the
muscles
round
his
eyes
quivered
with
diversion
,
though
the
hair
on
his
lip
veiled
what
the
corners
of
his
mouth
were
about
;
“
if
only
,
”
she
proceeded
,
“
you
won’t
let
it
banish
you
.
You
must
come
over
to
take
care
of
this
wicked
little
sister
,
or
who
knows
what
may
be
the
consequences
.
”
“
I
kept
away
partly
because
I
was
busy
,
and
partly
because
I
believe
you
are
such
a
little
ape
as
always
to
behave
worse
when
you
have
the
semblance
of
a
keeper
;
”
he
said
,
with
his
arm
fondly
on
her
shoulder
as
they
walked
.
“
And
in
the
mean
time
fell
out
the
adventure
of
the
distinguished
essayist
.
”
“
I
am
afraid
,
”
he
returned
,
“
that
was
a
gratuitous
piece
of
mischief
,
particularly
annoying
to
so
serious
and
thoughtful
a
person
as
Miss
Rachel
Curtis
.
”
“
Jealousy
?
”
exclaimed
Bessie
in
an
ecstatic
tone
.
“
You
see
what
you
lost
by
not
trusting
me
,
to
behave
myself
under
the
provocation
of
your
presence
.
”
“
What
!
the
pleasure
of
boxing
your
ears
for
a
coward
?
”
“
Of
seizing
the
happy
opening
!
I
am
very
much
afraid
for
you
now
,
Alick
,
”
she
proceeded
with
mock
gravity
.
“
What
hope
can
a
poor
Captain
of
Highlanders
,
even
if
he
does
happen
to
be
a
wounded
hero
or
two
,
have
against
a
distinguished
essayist
and
landscape
painter
;
if
it
were
a
common
case
indeed
,
but
where
Wisdom
herself
is
concerned
—
”
“
Military
frivolity
cannot
hope
,
”
returned
Alick
,
with
a
shake
of
his
head
,
and
a
calm
matter-of-fact
acquiescent
tone
.
“
Ah
,
poor
Alick
,
”
pursued
his
sister
,
“
you
always
were
a
discreet
youth
;
but
to
be
connected
with
such
a
union
of
learning
,
social
science
,
and
homeaopathy
,
soared
beyond
my
utmost
ambition
.
I
suppose
the
wedding
tour
—
supposing
the
happy
event
to
take
place
—
will
be
through
a
series
of
model
schools
and
hospitals
,
ending
in
Hanwell
.
”
“
No
,
”
said
Alick
,
equally
coolly
,
“
to
the
Dutch
reformatory
,
and
the
Swiss
cretin
asylum
.
”
She
was
exceedingly
tickled
at
his
readiness
,
and
proceeded
in
a
pretended
sentimental
tone
,
“
I
am
glad
you
have
revealed
the
secrets
of
your
breast
.
I
saw
there
was
a
powerful
attraction
and
that
you
were
no
longer
your
own
,
but
my
views
were
humbler
.
I
thought
the
profound
respect
with
which
you
breathed
the
name
of
Avonmouth
,
was
due
to
the
revival
of
the
old
predilection
for
our
sweet
little
—
”
“
Hush
,
Bessie
,
”
said
her
brother
,
roused
for
the
first
time
into
sternness
,
“
this
is
more
than
nonsense
.
One
word
more
of
this
,
and
you
will
cut
me
off
from
my
greatest
rest
and
pleasure
.
”
“
From
the
lawn
where
croquet
waits
his
approbation
,
”
was
on
Bessie’s
tongue
,
but
she
did
not
say
it
.
There
were
moments
when
she
stood
in
fear
of
her
brother
.
He
paused
,
and
as
if
perceiving
that
his
vehemence
was
in
itself
suspicious
,
added
,
“
Remember
,
I
never
met
her
from
seven
years
old
till
after
her
marriage
.
She
has
been
the
kindest
of
friends
in
right
of
our
fathers’
old
friendship
.
You
know
how
her
mother
nursed
me
,
and
the
sister
she
was
to
me
.
And
Bessie
,
if
your
selfishness
—
I
wish
I
could
call
it
thoughtlessness
—
involves
her
innocent
simplicity
in
any
scrape
,
derogatory
to
what
is
becoming
her
situation
,
I
shall
find
it
very
hard
to
forgive
you
,
and
harder
still
to
forgive
myself
for
letting
you
come
here
.
”
Bessie
pouted
for
a
moment
,
but
her
sweetness
and
good
humour
were
never
away
.
“
There
,
you
have
given
your
wicked
little
sister
a
screed
,
”
she
said
,
looking
insinuatingly
up
at
him
.
“
Just
as
if
I
did
not
think
her
a
darling
,
and
would
not
for
the
world
do
anything
to
spoil
her
.
Have
not
I
been
leading
the
most
exemplary
life
,
talking
systems
and
visiting
cottages
with
Rachel
and
playing
with
the
boys
,
and
singing
with
the
clergyman
;
and
here
am
I
pounced
on
,
as
if
I
were
come
to
be
the
serpent
in
this
anti-croquet
paradise
.
”
“
Only
a
warning
,
Bessie
.
”
“
You’ll
be
better
now
you
have
had
it
out
.
I’ve
seen
you
suppressing
it
all
this
time
,
for
fear
of
frightening
me
away
.
”
Every
one
knows
how
the
afternoon
croquet
match
on
the
Myrtlewood
Lawn
became
an
institution
,
though
with
some
variation
in
the
observers
thereof
,
owing
to
the
exigencies
of
calls
,
rides
,
and
Ermine
Williams’s
drive
,
which
Lady
Temple
took
care
should
happen
at
least
twice
a
week
.
The
most
constant
votaries
of
the
mallet
and
hoop
were
,
of
course
,
the
two
elder
boys
,
the
next
pair
being
distant
worshippers
only
now
and
then
admitted
by
special
favour
,
but
the
ardour
of
their
mother
even
exceeded
that
of
Bessie
Keith
,
and
it
was
always
a
disappointment
to
her
if
she
were
prevented
from
playing
.
Grace
and
Alison
Williams
frequently
took
their
share
with
enjoyment
,
though
not
with
the
same
devotion
,
and
visitors
,
civil
and
military
,
also
often
did
their
part
,
but
the
most
fervent
of
all
these
was
Mr.
Touchett
.
Ever
since
that
call
of
his
,
when
,
after
long
impatience
of
his
shy
jerks
of
conversation
and
incapacity
of
taking
leave
,
Miss
Keith
had
exclaimed
,
“
Did
you
ever
play
at
croquet
?
do
come
,
and
we
will
teach
you
,
”
he
had
been
its
most
assiduous
student
.
The
first
instructions
led
to
an
appointment
for
more
,
one
contest
to
another
,
and
the
curate
was
becoming
almost
as
regular
a
croquet
player
as
Conrade
himself
,
not
conversing
much
but
sure
to
be
in
his
place
;
and
showing
a
dexterity
and
precision
that
always
made
Lady
Temple
pleased
to
have
him
on
her
side
,
and
exclaim
with
delight
at
his
hits
as
a
public
benefit
to
the
cause
,
or
thank
him
with
real
gratitude
when
he
croqued
her
or
one
of
her
sons
out
of
a
difficulty
.
Indeed
that
little
lawn
at
Myrtlewood
was
a
battle-field
,
of
which
Alison
used
to
carry
her
sister
amusing
and
characteristic
sketches
.
The
two
leading
players
were
Miss
Keith
and
Mr.
Touchett
,
who
alone
had
any
idea
of
tactics
;
but
what
she
did
by
intuition
,
sleight
of
hand
or
experience
,
he
effected
by
calculation
and
generalship
,
and
even
when
Conrade
claimed
the
command
of
his
own
side
,
the
suggestions
of
the
curate
really
guided
the
party
.
Conrade
was
a
sort
of
Murat
on
the
croquet
field
,
bold
,
dashing
,
often
making
wonderful
hits
,
but
uncertain
,
and
only
gradually
learning
to
act
in
combination
.
Alison
was
a
sure-handed
,
skilful
hitter
,
but
did
not
aspire
to
leadership
.
Mamma
tried
to
do
whatever
her
boys
commanded
,
and
often
did
it
by
a
sort
of
dainty
dexterity
,
when
her
exultation
,
was
a
very
pretty
sight
,
nor
was
Grace’s
lady-like
skill
contemptible
,
but
having
Francis
as
an
ally
was
like
giving
a
castle
;
and
he
was
always
placed
on
the
other
side
from
Conrade
,
as
it
was
quite
certain
that
he
would
do
the
very
reverse
of
whatever
his
brother
advised
.
Now
and
then
invitations
were
given
for
Rose
Williams
to
join
the
game
,
but
her
aunts
never
accepted
them
.
Ermine
had
long
ago
made
up
her
mind
against
intimacies
between
her
niece
and
any
pupils
of
Alison’s
,
sure
that
though
starts
of
pleasure
might
result
,
they
would
be
at
the
cost
of
ruffling
,
and
,
perhaps
,
perturbing
the
child’s
even
stream
of
happiness
—
even
girl-friendships
might
have
been
of
doubtful
effect
where
circumstances
were
so
unequal
;
but
Lady
Temple’s
household
of
boys
appeared
to
Ermine
by
no
means
a
desirable
sphere
for
her
child
to
be
either
teased
or
courted
in
.
Violetta
,
Colinette
,
and
Augustus
were
safer
comrades
,
and
Rose
continued
to
find
them
sufficient
,
varied
with
the
rare
delight
of
now
and
then
sharing
her
aunt’s
drive
,
and
brightened
by
many
a
kind
message
in
Colonel
Keith’s
letters
to
her
aunt
,
nay
,
occasionally
a
small
letter
to
herself
,
or
an
enclosure
of
some
pretty
photograph
for
her
much-loved
scrap
book
,
or
some
article
for
Colinette’s
use
,
sometimes
even
a
new
book
!
She
was
never
forgotten
in
his
letters
,
and
Ermine
smiled
her
strange
pensive
smile
of
amusement
at
his
wooing
of
the
unconscious
Rose
.
CHAPTER
X
.
THE
PHILANTHROPIST
.
“
Scorn
not
the
smallness
of
daily
endeavour
,
Let
the
great
meaning
ennoble
it
ever
,
Droop
not
o’er
efforts
expended
in
vain
,
Work
,
as
believing
,
that
labour
is
gain
.
”
Queen
Isabel
,
etc.
by
S.
M
.
The
sturdy
recusant
against
Myrtlewood
croquet
continued
to
be
Rachel
Curtis
,
and
yet
it
was
not
a
testimony
against
the
game
so
much
as
real
want
of
time
for
it
.
She
was
always
full
of
occupation
,
even
while
her
active
mind
craved
for
more
definite
and
extended
labour
;
and
when
she
came
upon
the
field
of
strategy
,
it
was
always
either
with
some
business
before
her
,
or
else
so
late
that
the
champions
were
only
assisting
their
several
lags
to
bring
the
battle
to
an
end
.
If
there
had
been
a
will
there
would
have
been
a
way
,
but
,
as
she
said
,
she
saw
enough
to
perceive
that
proficiency
could
only
be
attained
at
the
cost
of
much
time
and
study
,
and
she
did
not
choose
to
be
inferior
and
mediocre
.
Also
,
she
found
occupations
open
to
her
elsewhere
that
had
long
been
closed
or
rendered
unpleasant
.
Mr.
Touchett
had
become
wonderfully
pacific
and
obliging
of
late
,
as
if
the
lawn
tactics
absorbed
his
propensities
for
offence
and
defence
,
he
really
seemed
obliged
for
one
or
two
bits
of
parish
work
that
she
attended
to
;
finding
that
between
him
and
his
staff
of
young
ladies
they
were
getting
omitted
.
Somehow
,
too
,
an
unaccountable
blight
was
passing
over
the
activity
of
those
curatolatresses
,
as
Rachel
had
been
wont
to
call
them
;
they
were
less
frequently
to
be
met
with
popping
out
of
the
schools
and
cottages
,
and
Rachel
,
who
knew
well
all
the
real
poor
,
though
refusing
the
bonds
of
a
district
,
was
continually
detecting
omissions
which
she
more
often
supplied
than
reported
.
There
was
even
a
smaller
sprinkling
at
the
weekly
services
,
and
the
odd
thing
was
that
the
curate
never
seemed
to
remark
or
be
distressed
by
the
change
,
or
if
any
one
spoke
of
the
thin
congregation
he
would
say
,
winter
was
the
Avonmouth
season
,
which
was
true
enough
,
but
the
defaulters
were
mostly
his
own
peculiar
followers
,
the
female
youth
of
the
professional
and
mercantile
population
.
Rachel
did
not
trouble
herself
about
the
cause
of
all
this
,
indeed
