couldnot
be
infringed
.
He
was
gone
to
lecture
at
Bristol
,
but
if
the
gentleman
would
call
at
any
hour
he
would
fix
to
morrow
or
next
day
,
Mr.
Mauleverer
would
be
proud
to
wait
on
him
.
When
he
came
at
the
appointed
time
,
all
was
in
the
normal
state
of
the
institution
.
The
two
little
girls
in
white
pinafores
sat
upon
their
bench
with
their
books
before
them
,
and
their
matron
presiding
over
them
;
Mr.
Mauleverer
stood
near
,
benignantly
attentive
to
the
children
and
obligingly
so
to
the
visitor
,
volunteering
information
and
answering
all
questions
.
Colonel
Keith
tried
to
talk
to
the
children
,
but
when
he
asked
one
of
them
whether
she
liked
drawing
better
than
lace-making
her
lips
quivered
,
and
Mrs.
Rawlins
replied
for
her
,
that
she
was
never
happy
except
with
a
pencil
in
her
hand
.
“
Show
the
gentleman
,
my
dear
,
”
and
out
came
a
book
of
studios
of
cubes
,
globes
,
posts
,
etc.
,
while
Mr.
Mauleverer
talked
artistically
of
drawing
from
models
.
Next
,
he
observed
on
a
certain
suspicious
blackness
of
little
Mary’s
eye
,
and
asked
her
what
she
had
done
to
herself
.
But
the
child
hung
her
head
,
and
Mrs.
Rawlins
answered
for
her
,
“
Ah
!
Mary
is
ashamed
to
tell
:
but
the
gentleman
will
think
nothing
of
it
,
my
dear
.
He
knows
that
children
will
be
children
,
and
I
cannot
bear
to
check
them
,
the
dears
.
”
More
briefly
Mr.
Mauleverer
explained
that
Mary
had
fallen
while
playing
on
the
stairs
;
and
with
this
superficial
inspection
he
must
needs
content
himself
,
though
on
making
inquiry
at
the
principal
shops
,
he
convinced
himself
that
neither
Mr.
Mauleverer
nor
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
were
as
well
known
at
St.
Norbert’s
as
at
Avonmouth
.
He
told
Rachel
of
his
expedition
,
and
his
interest
in
her
work
gratified
her
,
though
she
would
have
preferred
being
his
cicerone
.
She
assured
him
that
he
must
have
been
very
much
pleased
,
especially
with
the
matron
.
“
She
is
a
handsome
woman
,
and
reminds
me
strongly
of
a
face
I
saw
in
India
.
”
“
There
are
some
classes
of
beauty
and
character
that
have
a
remarkable
sameness
of
feature
,
”
began
Rachel
.
“
Don’t
push
that
theory
,
for
your
matron’s
likeness
was
a
very
handsome
Sepoy
havildar
whom
we
took
at
Lucknow
,
a
capital
soldier
before
the
mutiny
,
and
then
an
ineffable
ruffian
.
”
“
The
mutiny
was
an
infectious
frenzy
;
so
that
you
establish
nothing
against
that
cast
of
countenance
.
”
Never
,
indeed
,
was
there
more
occasion
for
perseverance
in
Rachel’s
championship
.
Hitherto
Mrs.
Kelland
had
been
nailed
to
her
pillow
by
the
exigencies
of
Lady
Keith’s
outfit
,
and
she
and
her
minions
had
toiled
unremittingly
,
without
a
thought
beyond
their
bobbins
,
but
as
soon
as
the
postponed
orders
were
in
train
,
and
the
cash
for
the
wedding
veil
and
flounces
had
been
transmitted
,
the
good
woman
treated
herself
and
her
daughters
to
a
holiday
at
St.
Norbert’s
,
without
intimating
her
intention
to
her
patronesses
;
and
the
consequence
was
a
formal
complaint
of
her
ungrateful
and
violent
language
to
Mrs.
Rawlins
on
being
refused
admission
to
the
asylum
without
authority
from
Mr.
Mauleverer
or
Miss
Curtis
.
Rachel
,
much
displeased
,
went
down
charged
with
reproof
and
representation
,
but
failed
to
produce
the
desired
effect
upon
the
aunt
.
“
It
was
not
right
,
”
Mrs.
Kelland
reiterated
,
“
that
the
poor
lone
orphan
should
not
see
her
that
was
as
good
as
a
mother
,
when
she
had
no
one
else
to
look
to
.
They
that
kept
her
from
her
didn’t
do
it
for
no
good
end
.
”
“
But
,
Mrs.
Kelland
,
rules
are
rules
.
”
“
Don’t
tell
me
of
no
rules
,
Miss
Rachel
,
as
would
cut
a
poor
child
off
from
her
friends
as
her
mother
gave
her
to
on
her
death-bed
.
‘Sally
,
’
says
she
,
‘I
know
you
will
do
a
mother’s
part
by
that
poor
little
maid
;
’
and
so
I
did
till
I
was
over
persuaded
to
let
her
go
to
that
there
place
.
”
“
Indeed
you
have
nothing
to
regret
there
,
Mrs.
Kelland
;
you
know
,
that
with
the
kindest
intentions
,
you
could
not
make
the
child
happy
.
”
“
And
why
was
that
,
ma’am
,
but
because
her
mother
was
a
poor
creature
from
town
,
that
had
never
broke
her
to
her
work
.
I
never
had
the
trouble
with
a
girl
of
my
own
I
had
with
her
.
‘It’s
all
for
your
good
,
Lovedy
,
’
I
says
to
her
,
and
poor
child
,
maybe
she
wishes
herself
back
again
.
”
“
I
assure
you
,
I
always
find
the
children
well
and
happy
,
and
it
is
very
unfair
on
the
matron
to
be
angry
with
her
for
being
bound
by
rules
,
to
which
she
must
submit
,
or
she
would
transgress
the
regulations
under
which
we
have
laid
her
!
It
is
not
her
choice
to
exclude
you
,
but
her
duty
.
”
“
Please
,
ma’am
,
was
it
her
duty
to
be
coming
out
of
the
house
in
a
‘genta
coloured
silk
dress
,
and
a
drab
bonnet
with
a
pink
feather
in
it
?
”
said
Mrs.
Kelland
,
with
a
certain
,
air
of
simplicity
,
that
provoked
Rachel
to
answer
sharply
—
“
You
don’t
know
what
you
are
talking
about
,
Mrs.
Kelland
.
”
“
Well
,
ma’am
,
it
was
a
very
decent
woman
as
told
me
,
an
old
lady
of
the
name
of
Drinkwater
,
as
keeps
a
baker’s
shop
on
the
other
side
of
the
way
,
and
she
never
sees
bread
enough
go
in
for
a
cat
to
make
use
of
,
let
alone
three
poor
hungry
children
.
She
says
all
is
not
right
there
,
ma’am
.
”
“
Oh
,
that
must
be
mere
gossip
and
spite
at
not
having
the
custom
.
It
quite
accounts
for
what
she
may
say
,
and
indeed
you
brought
it
all
on
yourself
by
not
having
asked
me
for
a
note
.
You
must
restrain
yourself
.
What
you
may
say
to
me
is
of
no
importance
,
but
you
must
not
go
and
attack
those
who
are
doing
the
very
best
for
your
niece
.
”
Rachel
made
a
dignified
exit
,
but
before
she
had
gone
many
steps
,
she
was
assailed
by
tearful
Mrs.
Morris
:
“
Oh
,
Miss
Rachel
,
if
it
would
not
be
displeasing
to
you
,
would
you
give
me
an
order
for
my
child
to
come
home
.
Ours
is
a
poor
place
,
but
I
would
rather
make
any
shift
for
us
to
live
than
that
she
should
be
sent
away
to
some
place
beyond
sea
.
”
“
Some
place
beyond
sea
!
”
“
Yes
,
ma’am
.
I
beg
your
pardon
,
ma’am
,
but
they
do
say
that
Mr.
Maw-and-liver
is
a
kidnapper
,
ma’am
,
and
that
he
gets
them
poor
children
to
send
out
to
Botany
Bay
to
be
wives
to
the
convicts
as
are
transported
,
Miss
Rachel
,
if
you’ll
excuse
it
.
They
say
there’s
a
whole
shipload
of
them
at
Plymouth
,
and
I’d
rather
my
poor
Mary
came
to
the
Union
at
home
than
to
the
like
of
that
,
Miss
Rachel
.
”
This
alarm
,
being
less
reasonable
,
was
even
more
difficult
to
talk
down
than
Mrs.
Kelland’s
,
and
Rachel
felt
as
if
there
wore
a
general
conspiracy
to
drive
her
distracted
,
when
on
going
home
she
found
the
drawing-room
occupied
by
a
pair
of
plump
,
paddy-looking
old
friends
,
who
had
evidently
talked
her
mother
into
a
state
of
nervous
alarm
.
On
her
entrance
,
Mrs.
Curtis
begged
the
gentleman
to
tell
dear
Rachel
what
he
had
been
saying
,
but
this
he
contrived
to
avoid
,
and
only
on
his
departure
was
Rachel
made
aware
that
he
and
his
wife
had
come
,
fraught
with
tidings
that
she
was
fostering
a
Jesuit
in
disguise
,
that
Mrs.
Rawlins
was
a
lady
abbess
of
a
new
order
,
Rachel
herself
in
danger
of
being
entrapped
,
and
the
whole
family
likely
to
be
entangled
in
the
mysterious
meshes
,
which
,
as
good
Mrs.
Curtis
more
than
once
repeated
,
would
be
“
such
a
dreadful
thing
for
poor
Fanny
and
the
boys
.
”
Her
daughters
,
by
soothing
and
argument
,
allayed
the
alarm
,
though
the
impression
was
not
easily
done
away
with
,
and
they
feared
that
it
might
yet
cost
her
a
night’s
rest
.
These
attacks
—
absurd
as
they
were
—
induced
Rachel
to
take
measures
for
their
confutation
,
by
writing
to
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
that
she
thought
it
would
be
well
to
allow
the
pupils
to
pay
a
short
visit
to
their
homes
,
so
as
to
satisfy
their
friends
.
She
did
not
receive
an
immediate
answer
,
and
was
beginning
to
feel
vexed
and
anxious
,
though
not
doubtful
,
when
Mr.
Mauleverer
arrived
,
bringing
two
beautiful
little
woodcuts
,
as
illustrations
for
the
“
Journal
of
Female
Industry
.
”
They
were
entitled
“
The
free
maids
that
weave
their
thread
with
bones
,
”
and
one
called
“
the
Ideal
,
”
represented
a
latticed
cottage
window
,
with
roses
,
honeysuckles
,
cat
,
beehives
,
and
all
conventional
rural
delights
,
around
a
pretty
maiden
singing
at
her
lace-pillow
;
while
the
other
yclept
the
“
Real
,
”
showed
a
den
of
thin
,
wizened
,
half-starved
girls
,
cramped
over
their
cushions
in
a
lace-school
.
The
design
was
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
,
the
execution
the
children’s
;
and
neatly
mounted
on
cards
,
the
performance
did
them
great
credit
,
and
there
was
great
justice
in
Mr.
Manleverer’s
view
that
while
they
were
making
such
progress
,
it
would
be
a
great
pity
to
interrupt
the
preparation
of
the
first
number
by
sending
the
children
home
even
for
a
few
hours
.
Rachel
consented
the
more
readily
to
the
postponement
of
the
holiday
,
as
she
had
now
something
to
show
in
evidence
of
the
reality
of
their
doings
,
and
she
laid
hands
upon
the
cuts
,
in
spite
of
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
unwillingness
that
such
mere
essays
should
be
displayed
as
specimens
of
the
art
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
When
the
twenty
pounds
which
she
advanced
should
have
been
laid
out
in
blocks
,
ink
,
and
paper
,
there
was
little
doubt
that
the
illustrations
of
the
journal
would
be
a
triumphant
instance
of
female
energy
well
directed
.
Meantime
she
repaired
to
Ermine
Williams
to
persuade
her
to
write
an
article
upon
the
two
pictures
,
a
paper
in
the
lively
style
in
which
Rachel
herself
could
not
excel
,
pointing
out
the
selfishness
of
wilfully
sentimental
illusions
.
She
found
Ermine
alone
,
but
her
usual
fate
pursued
her
in
the
shape
of
,
first
,
Lady
Temple
,
then
both
Colonel
and
Captain
Keith
,
and
little
Rose
,
who
all
came
in
before
she
had
had
time
to
do
more
than
explain
her
intentions
.
Rose
had
had
another
fright
,
and
again
the
Colonel
had
been
vainly
trying
to
distinguish
the
bugbear
of
her
fancy
,
and
she
was
clinging
all
the
more
closely
to
him
because
he
was
the
only
person
of
her
aquaintance
who
did
not
treat
her
alarms
as
absolutely
imaginary
.
Rachel
held
her
ground
,
well
pleased
to
have
so
many
spectators
of
this
triumphant
specimen
of
the
skill
of
her
asylum
,
and
Lady
Temple
gave
much
admiration
,
declaring
that
no
one
ought
to
wear
lace
again
without
being
sure
that
no
one
was
tortured
in
making
it
,
and
that
when
she
ordered
her
new
black
lace
shawl
of
Mrs.
Kelland
,
it
should
be
on
condition
that
the
poor
girls
were
not
kept
so
very
hard
at
work
.
“
You
will
think
me
looking
for
another
Sepoy
likeness
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
“
but
I
am
sure
I
have
met
this
young
lady
or
her
twin
sister
somewhere
in
my
travels
.
”
“
It
is
a
satire
on
conventional
pictures
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Now
,
I
remember
,
”
he
continued
.
“
It
was
when
I
was
laid
up
with
my
wound
at
a
Dutch
boer’s
till
I
could
get
to
Cape
Town
.
My
sole
reading
was
one
number
of
the
‘Illustrated
News
,
’
and
I
made
too
good
acquaintance
with
that
lady’s
head
,
to
forget
her
easily
.
”
“
Of
course
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
it
is
a
reminiscence
of
the
painting
there
represented
.
”
“
What
was
the
date
?
”
asked
Alick
Keith
.
The
Colonel
was
able
to
give
it
with
some
precision
.
“
You
are
all
against
me
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
I
see
you
are
perfectly
determined
that
there
shall
be
something
wrong
about
every
performance
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
”
“
No
,
don’t
say
so
,
”
began
Fanny
,
with
gentle
argument
,
but
Alick
Keith
put
in
with
a
smile
,
“
It
is
a
satisfaction
to
Miss
Curtis
.
”
“
Athanasius
against
the
world
,
”
she
answered
.
“
Athanasius
should
take
care
that
his
own
foot
is
firm
,
his
position
incontrovertible
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
Well
!
”
“
Then
,
”
said
Ermine
,
“
will
you
allow
these
little
pictures
to
be
examined
into
?
”
“
I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
.
”
“
Look
here
,
”
and
the
Colonel
lifted
on
the
table
a
scrap-book
that
Rose
had
been
quietly
opening
on
his
knee
,
and
which
contained
an
etching
of
a
child
playing
with
a
dog
,
much
resembling
the
style
of
the
drawing
.
“
Who
did
that
,
my
dear
?
”
he
asked
.
“
Mamma
had
it
,
”
was
Rose’s
reply
;
“
it
was
always
in
my
old
nursery
scrap-hook
.
”
“
Every
one
knows
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
that
a
woodcut
is
often
like
an
etching
,
and
an
etching
like
a
woodcut
.
I
do
not
know
what
you
are
driving
at
.
”
“
The
little
dogs
and
all
,
”
muttered
Alick
,
as
Rachel
glanced
rather
indignantly
at
Rose
and
her
book
so
attentively
examined
by
the
Colonel
.
“
I
know
,
”
repeated
Rachel
,
“
that
there
is
a
strong
prejudice
against
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
and
that
it
is
entertained
by
many
whom
I
should
have
hoped
to
see
above
such
weakness
but
when
I
brought
these
tangible
productions
of
his
system
,
as
evidence
of
his
success
,
I
did
not
expect
to
see
them
received
with
a
covert
distrust
,
which
I
own
I
do
not
understand
.
I
perceive
now
why
good
works
find
so
much
difficulty
in
prospering
.
”
“
I
believe
,
”
said
Alick
Keith
,
“
that
I
am
to
have
the
honour
of
dining
at
the
Homestead
on
Monday
?
”
“
Yes
.
The
Greys
spend
the
day
with
us
,
and
it
is
Emily’s
due
to
have
a
good
sight
of
you
.
”
“
Then
will
you
let
me
in
the
meantime
take
my
own
measures
with
regard
to
these
designs
.
I
will
not
hurt
or
injure
them
in
any
way
;
they
shall
be
deposited
here
in
Miss
William’s
hands
,
and
I
promise
you
that
if
I
have
been
able
to
satisfy
myself
as
to
the
means
of
their
production
,
Simon
Skinflint
shall
become
a
subscriber
to
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
Is
it
a
bargain
?
”
“
I
never
made
such
a
bargain
,
”
said
Rachel
,
puzzled
.
“
Is
that
a
reason
for
not
doing
so
?
”
“
I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
to
do
.
Not
to
molest
that
poor
Mrs.
Rawlins
.
I
will
not
have
that
done
.
”
“
Certainly
not
.
All
I
ask
of
you
is
that
these
works
of
art
should
remain
here
with
Miss
Williams
,
as
a
safe
neutral
,
and
that
you
should
meet
me
here
on
Monday
,
when
I
will
undertake
to
convince
myself
.
”
“
Not
me
?
”
cried
Rachel
.
“
Who
would
make
it
part
of
his
terms
to
convince
a
lady
?
”
“
You
mean
to
say
,
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
considerably
nettled
,
“
that
as
a
woman
,
I
am
incapable
of
being
rationally
convinced
!
”
“
The
proverb
does
not
only
apply
to
women
,
”
said
Ermine
,
coming
to
her
rescue
;
but
Rachel
,
stung
by
the
arch
smile
and
slight
bow
of
Captain
Keith
,
continued
—
“
Let
the
proof
be
convincing
,
and
I
will
meet
it
as
candidly
as
it
is
the
duty
of
all
reasonable
beings
to
do
.
Only
let
me
first
know
what
you
mean
to
prove
.
”
“
The
terms
are
these
then
,
are
they
not
,
Miss
Williams
?
I
am
to
come
on
Monday
,
February
the
5th
,
prepared
to
test
whether
these
designs
are
what
they
profess
to
be
,
and
Miss
Curtis
undertakes
to
be
convinced
by
that
proof
,
provided
it
be
one
that
should
carry
conviction
to
a
clear
,
unbiassed
mind
.
I
undertake
,
on
the
other
hand
,
that
if
the
said
proof
should
be
effectual
,
a
mythical
personage
called
Simon
Skinflint
shall
become
a
supporter
of
the
Female
Union
for
Englishwomen’s
Employment
.
”
Ho
spoke
with
his
own
peculiar
slowness
and
gravity
,
and
Rachel
,
uncertain
whether
he
were
making
game
of
her
or
not
,
looked
perplexed
,
half
on
the
defence
,
half
gratified
.
The
others
were
greatly
amused
,
and
a
great
deal
surprised
at
Alick’s
unwonted
willingness
to
take
trouble
in
the
matter
.
After
a
few
moment’s
deliberation
,
Rachel
said
,
“
Well
,
I
consent
,
provided
that
my
candour
be
met
by
equal
candour
on
the
other
side
,
and
you
will
promise
that
if
this
ordeal
succeeds
,
you
will
lay
aside
all
prejudice
against
Mauleverer
.
”
A
little
demur
as
to
the
reasonableness
of
this
stipulation
followed
,
but
the
terms
finally
were
established
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Grey
,
old
family
friends
,
had
long
been
engaged
to
spend
the
ensuing
Monday
at
the
Homestead
.
The
elder
daughter
,
an
old
intimate
of
Grace’s
,
had
married
an
Indian
civil
servant
,
whom
Colonel
Keith
was
invited
to
meet
at
luncheon
,
and
Captain
Keith
at
dinner
,
and
Alick
was
further
to
sleep
at
Gowanbrae
.
Lady
Temple
,
who
was
to
have
been
of
the
party
,
was
called
away
,
much
to
her
own
regret
,
by
an
appointment
with
the
dentist
of
St.
Norbert’s
,
who
was
very
popular
,
and
proportionately
despotic
,
being
only
visible
at
his
own
times
,
after
long
appointment
.
She
would
therefore
be
obliged
to
miss
Alick’s
ordeal
,
though
as
she
said
,
when
Rachel
—
finding
it
vain
to
try
to
outstay
so
many
—
had
taken
her
leave
,
“
I
should
much
like
to
see
how
it
will
turn
out
.
I
do
believe
that
there
is
some
difference
in
the
colour
of
the
ink
in
the
middle
and
at
the
edge
,
and
if
those
people
are
deceiving
Rachel
,
who
knows
what
they
may
be
doing
to
the
poor
children
?
”
It
was
exactly
what
every
one
was
thinking
,
but
it
seemed
to
have
fresh
force
when
it
struck
the
milder
and
slower
imagination
,
and
Lady
Temple
,
seeing
that
her
observation
told
upon
those
around
her
,
became
more
impressed
with
its
weight
.
“
It
really
is
dreadful
to
have
sent
those
little
girls
there
without
any
one
knowing
what
anybody
does
to
them
,
”
she
repeated
.
“
It
makes
even
Alick
come
out
in
a
new
character
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
turning
round
on
him
.
“
Why
,
”
returned
Alick
,
“
my
sister
had
so
much
to
do
with
letting
the
young
lady
in
for
the
scrape
,
that
it
is
just
as
well
to
try
to
get
her
out
of
it
.
In
fact
,
I
think
we
have
all
sat
with
our
hands
before
us
in
a
shamefully
cool
manner
,
till
we
are
all
accountable
for
the
humbuggery
.
”
“
When
it
comes
to
your
reproaching
us
with
coolness
,
Captain
Keith
,
the
matter
becomes
serious
,
”
returned
Colin
.
“
It
does
become
serious
,
”
was
the
answer
;
“
it
is
hard
that
a
person
without
any
natural
adviser
should
have
been
allowed
to
run
headlong
,
by
force
of
her
own
best
qualities
,
into
the
hands
of
a
sharper
.
I
do
not
see
how
a
man
of
any
proper
feeling
,
can
stand
by
without
doing
something
to
prevent
the
predicament
from
becoming
any
worse
.
”
“
If
you
can
,
”
said
Colonel
Keith
.
“
I
verily
believe
,
”
said
Alick
,
turning
round
upon
him
,
“
that
the
worse
it
is
for
her
,
the
more
you
enjoy
it
!
”
“
Quite
true
,
”
said
Ermine
in
her
mischievous
way
;
“
it
is
a
true
case
of
man’s
detestation
of
clever
women
!
Look
here
,
Alick
,
we
will
not
have
him
here
at
the
great
ordeal
of
the
woodcuts
.
You
and
I
are
much
more
candid
and
unprejudiced
people
,
and
shall
manage
her
much
better
.
”
“
I
have
no
desire
to
be
present
,
”
returned
the
Colonel
;
“
I
have
no
satisfaction
in
seeing
my
friend
Alick
baffled
.
I
shall
see
how
they
both
appear
at
luncheon
afterwards
.
”
“
How
will
that
be
?
”
asked
Fanny
,
anxiously
.
“
The
lady
will
be
sententious
and
glorious
,
and
will
recommend
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
more
than
ever
,
and
Alick
will
cover
the
downfall
of
his
crest
by
double-edged
assents
to
all
her
propositions
.
”
“
You
will
not
have
that
pleasure
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
I
only
go
to
dinner
there
.
”
“
At
any
rate
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
“
supposing
your
test
takes
effect
by
some
extraordinary
chance
,
don’t
take
any
further
steps
without
letting
me
know
.
”
The
inference
was
drawn
that
he
expected
great
results
,
but
he
continued
to
laugh
at
Alick’s
expectations
of
producing
any
effect
on
the
Clever
Woman
,
and
the
debate
of
the
woodcuts
was
adjourned
to
the
Monday
.
In
good
time
,
Rachel
made
her
appearance
in
Miss
Williams’s
little
sitting-room
.
“
I
am
ready
to
submit
to
any
test
that
Captain
Keith
may
require
to
confute
himself
,
”
she
said
to
Ermine
;
“
and
I
do
so
the
more
readily
that
with
all
his
mocking
language
,
there
is
a
genuine
candour
and
honesty
beneath
that
would
be
quite
worth
convincing
.
I
believe
that
if
once
persuaded
of
the
injustice
of
his
suspicions
he
would
in
the
reaction
become
a
fervent
supporter
of
Mr.
Mauleverer
and
of
the
institution
;
and
though
I
should
prefer
carrying
on
our
work
entirely
through
women
,
yet
this
interest
would
be
so
good
a
thing
for
him
,
that
I
should
by
no
means
reject
his
assistance
.
”
Rachel
had
,
however
,
long
to
wait
.
As
she
said
,
Captain
Keith
was
one
of
those
inborn
loiterers
who
,
made
punctual
by
military
duty
,
revenge
themselves
by
double
tardiness
in
the
common
affairs
of
life
.
Impatience
had
nearly
made
her
revoke
her
good
opinion
of
him
,
and
augur
that
,
knowing
himself
vanquished
,
he
had
left
the
field
to
her
,
when
at
last
a
sound
of
wheels
was
heard
,
a
dog-cart
stopped
at
the
door
,
and
Captain
Keith
entered
with
an
enormous
blue
and
gold
volume
under
his
arm
.
“
I
am
sorry
to
be
so
late
,
”
he
said
,
“
but
I
have
only
now
succeeded
in
procuring
my
ally
.
”
“
An
ally
?
”
“
Yes
,
in
this
book
.
I
had
to
make
interest
at
the
Avoncester
Library
,
before
I
could
take
it
away
with
me
.
”
As
he
spoke
he
placed
the
book
desk-fashion
on
a
chair
,
and
turned
it
so
that
Ermine
might
see
it
;
and
she
perceived
that
it
was
a
bound-up
volume
of
the
“
Illustrated
London
News
.
”
Two
marks
were
in
it
,
and
he
silently
parted
the
leaves
at
the
first
.
It
revealed
the
lace-making
beauty
in
all
her
rural
charms
.
“
I
see
,
”
said
Rachel
;
“
it
is
the
same
figure
,
but
not
the
same
shaped
picture
.
”
Without
another
word
,
Alick
Keith
opened
the
pages
at
the
lace-school
;
and
here
again
the
figures
were
identical
,
though
the
margin
had
been
differently
finished
off
.
“
I
perceive
a
great
resemblance
,
”
again
said
Rachel
,
“
but
none
that
is
not
fully
explained
by
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
accurate
resemblance
and
desire
to
satirize
foolish
sentiment
.
”
Alick
Keith
took
up
the
woodcut
.
“
I
should
say
,
”
he
observed
,
holding
it
up
to
the
light
,
“
that
it
was
unusual
to
mount
a
proof
engraving
so
elaborately
on
a
card
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
see
what
your
distrust
is
driving
at
;
you
suspect
the
designs
of
being
pasted
on
.
”
“
There
is
such
a
test
as
water
,
”
suggested
Alick
.
“
I
should
be
ashamed
to
return
the
proof
to
its
master
,
bearing
traces
of
unjust
suspicion
.
”
“
If
the
suspicion
you
impute
to
me
be
unjust
,
the
water
will
produce
no
effect
at
all
.
”
“
And
you
engage
to
retract
all
your
distrust
and
contempt
,
if
you
are
convinced
that
this
engraving
is
genuine
?
”
“
I
do
,
”
he
answered
steadily
.
With
irritated
magnanimity
Rachel
dipped
her
finger
into
the
vase
of
flowers
on
the
table
,
and
let
a
heavy
drop
of
water
fall
upon
the
cottage
scene
.
The
centre
remained
unaltered
,
and
she
looked
round
in
exultation
,
saying
,
“
There
,
now
I
suppose
I
may
wipe
it
off
.
”
Neither
spoke
,
and
she
applied
her
pocket
handkerchief
.
What
came
peeling
away
under
her
pressure
?
It
was
the
soft
paper
,
and
as
she
was
passing
the
edge
of
the
figure
of
the
girl
,
she
found
a
large
smear
following
her
finger
.
The
peculiar
brown
of
Indian
ink
was
seen
upon
her
handkerchief
,
and
when
she
took
it
up
a
narrow
hem
of
white
had
become
apparent
between
the
girl’s
head
and
its
surroundings
.
Neither
spectator
spoke
,
they
scarcely
looked
at
her
,
when
she
took
another
drop
from
the
vase
,
and
using
it
more
boldly
found
the
pasted
figure
curling
up
and
rending
under
her
hand
,
lines
of
newspaper
type
becoming
apparent
,
and
the
dark
cloud
spreading
around
.
“
What
does
it
mean
?
”
was
her
first
exclamation
;
then
suddenly
turning
on
Ermine
,
“
Well
,
do
you
triumph
?
”
“
I
am
very
,
very
sorry
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
I
do
not
know
that
it
is
come
to
that
yet
,
”
said
Rachel
,
trying
to
collect
herself
.
“
I
may
have
been
pressing
too
hard
for
results
.
”
Then
looking
at
the
mangled
picture
again
as
they
wisely
left
her
to
herself
,
“
But
it
is
a
deception
!
A
deception
!
Oh
!
he
need
not
have
done
it
!
Or
,
”
with
a
lightened
look
and
tone
of
relief
,
“
suppose
he
did
it
to
see
whether
I
should
find
it
out
?
”
“
He
is
hardly
on
terms
with
you
for
that
,
”
said
Ermine
;
while
Alick
could
not
refrain
from
saying
,
“
Then
he
would
be
a
more
insolent
scoundrel
than
he
has
shown
himself
yet
.
”
“
I
know
he
is
not
quite
a
gentleman
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
and
nothing
else
gives
the
instinct
of
the
becoming
.
You
have
conquered
,
Captain
Keith
,
if
it
be
any
pleasure
to
you
to
have
given
my
trust
and
hope
a
cruel
shock
.
”
“
With
little
satisfaction
to
myself
,
”
he
began
to
say
;
but
she
continued
,
“
A
shock
,
a
shock
I
say
,
no
more
;
I
do
not
know
what
conclusion
I
ought
to
draw
.
I
do
not
expect
you
to
believe
in
this
person
till
he
has
cleared
up
the
deceit
.
If
it
be
only
a
joke
in
bad
taste
,
he
deserves
the
distrust
that
is
the
penalty
for
it
.
If
you
have
been
opening
my
eyes
to
a
deception
,
perhaps
I
shall
thank
you
for
it
some
day
.
I
must
think
it
over
.
”
She
rose
,
gathered
her
papers
together
,
and
took
her
leave
gravely
,
while
Alick
,
much
to
Ermine’s
satisfaction
,
showed
no
elation
in
his
victory
.
All
he
said
was
,
“
There
is
a
great
deal
of
dignity
in
the
strict
justice
of
a
mind
slow
to
condemn
,
or
to
withdraw
the
trust
once
given
.
”
“
There
is
,
”
said
Ermine
,
much
pleased
with
his
whole
part
in
the
affair
;
“
there
has
been
full
and
real
candour
,
not
flying
into
the
other
extreme
.
I
am
afraid
she
has
a
great
deal
to
suffer
.
”
“
It
was
very
wrong
to
have
stood
so
still
when
the
rascal
began
his
machinations
,
”
repeated
Alick
,
“
Bessie
absolutely
helping
it
on
!
But
for
her
,
the
fellow
would
have
had
no
chance
even
of
acquaintance
with
her
.
”
“
Your
sister
hardly
deserves
blame
for
that
.
”
“
Not
exactly
blame
;
but
the
responsibility
remains
,
”
he
replied
gravely
,
and
indeed
he
was
altogether
much
graver
than
his
wont
,
entirely
free
from
irony
,
and
evidently
too
sorry
for
Rachel
,
and
feeling
himself
,
through
his
sister
,
too
guilty
of
her
entanglement
,
to
have
any
of
that
amused
satisfaction
that
even
Colin
evidently
felt
in
her
discomfiture
.
In
fact
Ermine
did
not
fully
enter
into
Colin’s
present
tactics
;
she
saw
that
he
was
more
than
usually
excited
and
interested
about
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
,
but
he
had
not
explained
his
views
to
her
,
and
she
could
only
attribute
his
desire
,
to
defer
the
investigation
,
to
a
wish
that
Mr.
Mitchell
should
have
time
to
return
from
London
,
whither
he
had
gone
to
conclude
his
arrangements
with
Mr.
Touchett
,
leaving
the
duty
in
commission
between
three
delicate
winter
visitors
.
Rachel
walked
home
in
a
kind
of
dreamy
bewilderment
.
The
first
stone
in
her
castle
had
been
loosened
,
and
her
heart
was
beginning
to
fail
her
,
though
the
tenacity
of
her
will
produced
a
certain
incapacity
of
believing
that
she
had
been
absolutely
deceived
.
Her
whole
fabric
was
so
compact
,
and
had
been
so
much
solidified
by
her
own
intensity
of
purpose
,
that
any
hollowness
of
foundation
was
utterly
beyond
present
credence
.
She
was
ready
to
be
affronted
with
Mauleverer
for
perilling
all
for
a
bad
joke
,
but
wildly
impossible
as
this
explanation
would
have
seemed
to
others
,
she
preferred
taking
refuge
in
it
to
accepting
the
full
brunt
of
the
blow
upon
her
cherished
hopes
.
She
had
just
re-entered
the
house
on
her
return
,
when
Grace
met
her
,
saying
,
“
Oh
,
Rachel
dear
,
Mrs.
Rossitur
is
here
.
”
“
I
think
old
servants
have
a
peculiar
propensity
for
turning
up
when
the
house
is
in
a
state
of
turmoil
,
”
returned
Rachel
.
“
I
have
been
walking
round
the
garden
with
her
,
and
doing
my
best
to
suffice
for
her
entertainment
,
”
said
Grace
,
good-naturedly
,
“
but
she
really
wants
to
see
you
on
business
.
She
has
a
bill
for
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
which
she
wants
you
to
pay
.
”
“
A
bill
for
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
?
”
“
Yes
;
she
makes
many
apologies
for
troubling
you
,
but
Tom
is
to
be
apprenticed
to
a
grocer
,
and
they
want
this
fifteen
pounds
to
make
up
the
fee
.
”
“
But
I
tell
you
,
Grace
,
there
can’t
have
been
fifteen
pounds’
worth
of
things
had
in
this
month
,
and
they
were
paid
on
the
1st
.
”
“
She
says
they
have
never
been
paid
at
all
since
the
1st
of
December
.
”
“
I
assure
you
,
Grace
,
it
is
in
the
books
.
I
made
a
point
of
having
all
the
accounts
brought
to
me
on
the
1st
of
every
month
,
and
giving
out
the
money
.
I
gave
out
£
3.
10s
.
for
the
Rossiturs
last
Friday
,
the
1st
of
February
,
when
Mr.
Mauleverer
was
over
here
.
He
said
coals
were
dearer
,
and
they
had
to
keep
more
fires
.
”
“
There
must
be
some
mistake
,
”
said
Grace
.
“
I’ll
show
you
the
books
.
Mr.
Mauleverer
keeps
one
himself
,
and
leaves
one
with
me
.
Oh
,
botheration
,
there’s
the
Grey
carriage
!
Well
,
you
go
and
receive
them
,
and
I’ll
try
to
pacify
Mrs.
Rossitur
,
and
then
come
down
.
”
Neatly
kept
were
these
account
books
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
,
,
and
sure
enough
for
every
month
were
entered
the
sums
for
coals
,
wood
,
and
potatoes
,
tallying
exactly
with
Mrs.
Rossitur’s
account
,
and
each
month
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
signature
attested
the
receipt
of
the
sum
paid
over
to
him
by
Rachel
for
household
expenses
.
Rachel
carried
them
down
to
Mrs.
Rossitur
,
but
this
evidence
utterly
failed
to
convince
that
worthy
personage
that
she
had
ever
received
a
farthing
after
the
1st
of
December
.
She
was
profuse
in
her
apologies
for
troubling
Miss
Rachel
,
and
had
only
been
led
to
do
so
by
the
exigencies
of
her
son’s
apprentice
fee
,
and
she
reposed
full
confidence
in
Rachel’s
eager
assurance
that
she
should
not
be
a
loser
,
and
that
in
another
day
the
matter
should
be
investigated
.
“
And
,
Miss
Rachel
,
”
added
the
old
servant
,
“
you’ll
excuse
me
,
but
they
do
say
very
odd
things
of
the
matron
at
that
place
,
and
I
doubt
you
are
deceived
in
her
.
Our
lads
went
to
the
the-a-ter
the
other
night
,
and
I
checked
them
well
for
it
;
but
mother
,
says
they
,
we
had
more
call
to
be
there
than
the
governess
up
to
Miss
Rachel’s
schule
in
Nichol
Street
,
dressed
out
in
pink
feathers
.
”
“
Well
,
Mrs.
Rossitur
,
I
will
make
every
inquiry
,
and
I
do
not
think
you
will
find
anything
wrong
.
There
must
be
some
one
about
very
like
Mrs.
Rawlins
.
I
have
heard
of
those
pink
feathers
before
,
but
I
know
who
the
matron
is
,
and
all
about
her
!
Good-bye
.
I’ll
see
you
again
before
you
go
,
I
suppose
it
won’t
be
till
the
seven
o’clock
train
.
”
Mrs.
Rossitur
remained
expressing
her
opinion
to
the
butler
that
dear
Miss
Rachel
was
too
innocent
,
and
then
proceeded
to
lose
all
past
cares
in
a
happy
return
to
“
melting
day
,
”
in
the
regions
of
her
past
glories
as
cook
and
housekeeper
.
Rachel
repaired
to
her
room
to
cool
her
glowing
cheeks
,
and
repeat
to
herself
,
“
A
mistake
,
an
error
.
It
must
be
a
blunder
!
That
boy
that
went
to
the
theatre
may
have
cheated
them
!
Mrs.
Rawlins
may
have
deceived
Mr.
Mauleverer
.
Anything
must
be
true
rather
than
—
No
,
no
!
such
a
tissue
of
deception
is
impossible
in
a
man
of
such
sentiments
!
Persecuted
as
he
has
been
,
shall
appearances
make
me
—
me
,
his
only
friend
—
turn
against
him
?
Oh
,
me
!
here
come
the
whole
posse
purring
upstairs
to
take
off
their
things
!
I
shall
be
invaded
in
a
moment
.
”
And
in
came
Grace
and
the
two
younger
ladies
,
and
Rachel
was
no
more
her
own
from
that
moment
.
CHAPTER
XVIII
.
THE
FORLORN
HOPE
.
“
She
whipped
two
female
‘prentices
to
death
,
And
hid
them
in
the
coal-hole
.
For
her
mind
Shaped
strictest
plans
of
discipline
,
sage
schemes
,
Such
as
Lycurgus
taught
.
”
—
Canning
and
Frere
.
The
favourite
dentist
of
the
neighbourhood
dwelt
in
a
grand
mansion
at
St.
Norbert’s
,
and
thither
were
conducted
Conrade
and
Francis
,
as
victims
to
the
symmetry
of
their
mouths
.
Their
mother
accompanied
them
to
supply
the
element
of
tenderness
,
Alison
that
of
firmness
;
and
,
in
fact
,
Lady
Temple
was
in
a
state
of
much
greater
trepidation
than
either
of
her
sons
,
who
had
been
promised
five
shillings
each
as
the
reward
of
fortitude
,
and
did
nothing
but
discuss
what
they
should
buy
with
it
.
They
escaped
with
a
reprieve
to
Conrade
,
and
the
loss
of
one
tooth
of
Francis’s
,
and
when
the
rewards
had
been
laid
out
,
and
presents
chosen
for
all
the
stay-at-home
children
,
including
Rose
,
Lady
Temple
became
able
to
think
about
other
matters
.
The
whole
party
were
in
a
little
den
at
the
pastrycook’s
;
the
boys
consuming
mutton
pies
,
and
the
ladies
ox-tail
soup
,
while
waiting
to
be
taken
up
by
the
waggonette
which
had
of
late
been
added
to
the
Myrtlewood
establishment
,
when
the
little
lady
thus
spoke
—
“
If
you
don’t
object
,
Miss
Williams
,
we
will
go
to
Rachel’s
asylum
on
our
way
home
.
”
Miss
Williams
asked
if
she
had
made
the
appointment
.
“
No
,
”
said
Lady
Temple
,
“
but
you
see
I
can’t
be
satisfied
about
those
woodcuts
;
and
that
poor
woman
,
Mrs.
Kelland
,
came
to
me
yesterday
about
my
lace
shawl
,
and
she
is
sadly
distressed
about
the
little
girl
.
She
was
not
allowed
to
see
her
,
you
know
,
and
she
heard
such
odd
things
about
the
place
that
I
told
her
that
I
did
not
wonder
she
was
in
trouble
,
and
that
I
would
try
to
bring
the
child
home
,
or
at
any
rate
see
and
talk
to
her
.
”
“
I
hope
we
may
be
able
to
see
her
,
but
you
know
Colonel
Keith
could
not
get
in
without
making
an
appointment
.
”
“
I
pay
for
her
,
”
said
Lady
Temple
,
“
and
I
cannot
bear
its
going
on
in
this
way
without
some
one
seeing
about
it
.
The
Colonel
was
quite
sure
those
woodcuts
were
mere
fabrications
to
deceive
Rachel
;
and
there
must
be
something
very
wrong
about
those
people
.
”
“
Did
she
know
that
you
were
going
?
”
“
No
;
I
did
not
see
her
before
we
went
.
I
do
not
think
she
will
mind
it
much
;
and
I
promised
.
”
Lady
Temple
faltered
a
little
,
but
gathered
courage
the
next
moment
.
“
And
indeed
,
after
what
Mrs.
Kelland
said
,
I
could
not
sleep
while
I
thought
I
had
been
the
means
of
putting
any
poor
child
into
such
hands
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Alison
,
“
it
is
very
shocking
to
leave
them
there
without
inquiry
,
and
it
is
an
excellent
thing
to
make
the
attempt
.
”
And
so
the
order
was
given
to
drive
to
the
asylum
,
Alison
marvelling
at
the
courage
which
prompted
this
most
unexpected
assault
upon
the
fortress
that
had
repulsed
two
such
warriors
as
Colonel
Keith
and
Mrs.
Kelland
.
But
timid
and
tender
as
she
might
be
,
it
was
not
for
nothing
that
Fanny
Temple
had
been
a
vice-queen
,
so
much
accustomed
to
be
welcomed
wherever
she
penetrated
,
that
the
notion
of
a
rebuff
never
suggested
itself
.
Coombe
rang
,
and
his
lady
made
him
let
herself
and
Miss
Williams
out
,
so
that
she
was
on
the
step
when
the
rough
charwoman
opened
the
door
,
and
made
the
usual
reply
that
Mr.
Mauleverer
was
not
within
.
Lady
Temple
answered
that
it
was
Mrs.
Rawlins
,
the
matron
,
that
she
wished
to
see
,
and
with
more
audacity
than
Alison
thought
her
capable
of
,
inserted
herself
within
the
doorway
,
so
as
to
prevent
herself
from
being
shut
out
as
the
girl
took
her
message
.
The
next
moment
the
girl
came
back
saying
,
“
This
way
,
ma’am
,
”
opened
the
door
of
a
small
dreary
,
dusty
,
cold
parlour
,
where
she
shut
them
in
,
and
disappeared
before
a
word
could
be
said
.
There
they
remained
so
long
,
that
in
spite
of
such
encouragement
as
could
be
derived
from
peeping
over
the
blinds
at
Coombe
standing
sentinel
over
his
two
young
masters
at
the
carriage
window
,
Lady
Temple
began
to
feel
some
dismay
,
though
no
repentance
,
and
with
anxious
iteration
conjured
Miss
Williams
to
guess
what
could
be
the
cause
of
delay
.
“
Making
ready
for
our
reception
,
”
was
Alison’s
answer
in
various
forms
;
and
Lady
Temple
repeated
by
turns
,
“
I
do
not
like
it
,
”
and
“
it
is
very
unsatisfactory
.
No
,
I
don’t
like
it
at
all
,
”
the
at
all
always
growing
more
emphatic
.
The
climax
was
,
“
Things
must
be
very
sad
,
or
they
would
never
take
so
much
preparation
.
I’ll
tell
you
,
Miss
Williams
,
”
she
added
in
a
low
confidential
tone
;
“
there
are
two
of
us
,
and
the
woman
cannot
be
in
two
places
at
once
.
Now
,
if
you
go
up
and
see
the
rooms
and
all
,
which
I
saw
long
ago
,
I
could
stay
and
talk
to
the
poor
children
.
”
Alison
was
the
more
surprised
at
the
simple
statecraft
of
the
General’s
widow
,
but
it
was
prompted
by
the
pitiful
heart
yearning
over
the
mysterious
wrongs
of
the
poor
little
ones
.
At
last
Mrs.
Rawlins
sailed
in
,
crape
,
streamers
,
and
all
,
with
the
lowest
of
curtsies
and
fullest
of
apologies
for
having
detained
her
Ladyship
,
but
she
had
been
sending
out
in
pursuit
of
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
he
would
be
so
disappointed
!
Lady
Temple
begged
to
see
the
children
,
and
especially
Lovedy
,
whom
she
said
she
should
like
to
take
home
for
a
holiday
.
“
Why
,
my
lady
,
you
see
Mr.
Mauleverer
is
very
particular
.
I
hardly
know
that
I
could
answer
it
to
him
to
have
one
of
his
little
darlings
out
of
his
sight
.
It
unsettles
a
child
so
to
be
going
home
,
and
Lovedy
has
a
bad
cold
,
my
lady
,
and
I
am
afraid
it
will
run
through
the
house
.
My
little
Alice
is
beginning
of
it
.
”
However
,
Lady
Temple
kept
to
her
desire
of
seeing
Lovedy
,
and
of
letting
her
companion
see
the
rest
of
the
establishment
,
and
they
were
at
last
ushered
into
the
room
already
known
to
the
visitors
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
,
where
the
two
children
sat
as
usual
in
white
pinafores
,
but
it
struck
the
ladies
that
all
looked
ill
,
and
Lovedy
was
wrapped
in
a
shawl
,
and
sat
cowering
in
a
dull
,
stupified
way
,
unlike
the
bright
responsive
manner
for
which
she
had
been
noted
even
in
her
lace-school
days
.
Mary
Morris
gazed
for
a
moment
at
Alison
with
a
wistful
appealing
glance
,
then
,
with
a
start
as
of
fright
,
put
on
a
sullen
stolid
look
,
and
kept
her
eyes
on
her
book
.
The
little
Alice
,
looking
very
heavy
and
feverish
,
leant
against
her
,
and
Mrs.
Rawlins
went
on
talking
of
the
colds
,
the
gruel
she
had
made
,
and
her
care
for
her
pupils’
ailments
,
and
Lady
Temple
listened
so
graciously
that
Alison
feared
she
was
succumbing
to
the
palaver
;
and
by
way
of
reminder
,
asked
to
see
the
dormitory
.
“
Oh
,
yes
,
ma’am
,
certainly
,
though
we
are
rather
in
confusion
,
”
and
she
tried
to
make
both
ladies
precede
her
,
but
Lady
Temple
,
for
once
assuming
the
uncomprehending
nonchalance
of
a
fine
lady
,
seated
herself
languidly
and
motioned
Alison
on
.
The
matron
was
evidently
perplexed
,
she
looked
daggers
at
the
children
,
or
Ailie
fancied
so
,
but
she
was
forced
to
follow
the
governess
.
Lady
Temple
breathed
more
freely
,
and
rose
.
“
My
poor
child
,
”
she
said
to
Lovedy
,
“
you
seem
very
poorly
.
Have
you
any
message
to
your
aunt
?
”
“
Please
,
please
!
”
began
Lovedy
,
with
a
hoarse
sob
.
“
Lovedy
,
don’t
,
don’t
be
a
bad
girl
,
or
you
know
—
”
interposed
the
little
one
,
in
a
warning
whisper
.
“
She
is
not
naughty
,
”
said
Lady
Temple
gently
,
“
only
not
well
.
”
“
Please
,
my
lady
,
look
,
”
eagerly
,
though
with
a
fugitive
action
of
terror
,
Lovedy
cried
,
unpinning
the
thin
coarse
shawl
on
her
neck
,
and
revealing
the
terrible
stripes
and
weals
of
recent
beating
,
such
as
nearly
sickened
Lady
Temple
.
“
Oh
,
Lovedy
,
”
entreated
Alice
,
“
she’ll
take
the
big
stick
.
”
“
She
could
not
do
her
work
,
”
interposed
Mary
with
furtive
eagerness
,
“
she
is
so
poorly
,
and
Missus
said
she
would
have
the
twenty
sprigs
if
she
sat
up
all
night
.
”
“
Sprigs
!
”
“
Yes
,
ma’am
,
we
makes
lace
more
than
ever
we
did
to
home
,
day
and
night
;
and
if
we
don’t
she
takes
the
stick
.
”
“
Oh
,
Mary
,
”
implored
the
child
,
“
she
said
if
you
said
one
word
.
”
“
Mary
,
”
said
Lady
Temple
,
trembling
all
over
,
“
where
are
your
bonnets
?
”
“
We
haven’t
none
,
ma’am
,
”
returned
Mary
,
“
she
pawned
them
.
But
,
oh
,
ma’am
,
please
take
us
away
.
We
are
used
dreadful
bad
,
and
no
one
knows
it
.
”
Lady
Temple
took
Lovedy
in
one
hand
,
and
Mary
in
the
other
;
then
looked
at
the
other
little
girl
,
who
stood
as
if
petrified
.
She
handed
the
pair
to
the
astonished
Coombe
,
bidding
him
put
them
into
the
carriage
,
and
let
Master
Temple
go
outside
,
and
then
faced
about
to
defend
the
rear
,
her
rustling
black
silk
and
velvet
filling
up
the
passage
,
just
as
Alison
and
the
matron
were
coming
down
stairs
.
“
Mrs.
Rawlins
,
”
she
said
,
in
her
gentle
dignity
,
“
I
think
Lovedy
is
so
poorly
that
she
ought
to
go
home
to
her
aunt
to
be
nursed
,
and
I
have
taken
little
Mary
that
she
may
not
be
left
behind
alone
.
Please
to
tell
Mr.
Mauleverer
that
I
take
it
all
upon
myself
.
The
other
little
girl
is
not
at
all
to
blame
,
and
I
hope
you
will
take
care
of
her
,
for
she
looks
very
ill.
”
So
much
for
being
a
Governor’s
widow
!
A
woman
of
thrice
Fanny’s
energy
and
capacity
would
not
have
effected
her
purpose
so
simply
,
and
made
the
virago
in
the
matron
so
entirely
quail
.
She
swept
forth
with
such
a
consciousness
of
power
and
ease
that
few
could
have
had
assurance
enough
to
gainsay
her
,
but
no
sooner
was
she
in
the
carriage
than
she
seized
Mary’s
hand
,
exclaiming
,
“
My
poor
,
poor
little
dear
!
Francis
,
dear
boy
,
the
wicked
people
have
been
beating
her
!
Oh
,
Miss
Williams
,
look
at
her
poor
neck
!
”
Alison
lifting
Lovedy
on
her
knee
,
glanced
under
the
shawl
,
and
saw
indeed
a
sad
spectacle
,
and
she
felt
such
a
sharpness
of
bone
as
proved
that
there
was
far
from
being
the
proper
amount
of
clothing
or
of
flesh
to
protect
them
.
Lady
Temple
looked
at
Mary’s
attenuated
hand
,
and
fairly
sobbed
,
“
Oh
,
you
have
been
cruelly
treated
!
”
“
Please
don’t
let
her
get
us
,
”
cried
the
frightened
Mary
.
“
Never
,
never
,
my
dear
.
We
are
taking
you
home
to
your
mother
.
”
Mary
Morris
was
the
spokeswoman
,
and
volunteered
the
exhibition
of
bruises
rather
older
,
but
no
less
severe
than
those
of
her
companion
.
All
had
been
inflicted
by
the
woman
;
Mr.
Mauleverer
had
seldom
or
never
been
seen
by
the
children
,
except
Alice
,
who
used
often
to
be
called
into
Mrs.
Rawlins’s
parlour
when
he
was
there
,
to
be
played
with
and
petted
.
A
charwoman
was
occasionally
called
in
,
but
otherwise
the
entire
work
of
the
house
was
exacted
from
the
two
girls
,
and
they
had
been
besides
kept
perpetually
to
their
lace
pillows
,
and
severely
beaten
if
they
failed
in
the
required
amount
of
work
;
the
ample
wardrobe
with
which
their
patronesses
had
provided
them
had
been
gradually
taken
from
them
,
and
their
fare
had
latterly
become
exceedingly
coarse
,
and
very
scanty
.
It
was
a
sad
story
,
and
this
last
clause
evoked
from
Francis’s
pocket
a
large
currant
bun
,
which
Mary
devoured
with
a
famished
appetite
,
but
Lovedy
held
her
portion
untasted
in
her
hand
,
and
presently
gave
it
to
Mary
,
saying
that
her
throat
was
so
bad
that
she
could
not
make
use
of
anything
.
She
had
already
been
wrapped
in
Lady
Temple’s
cloak
,
and
Francis
was
desired
to
watch
for
a
chemist’s
shop
that
something
might
be
done
for
her
relief
,
but
the
region
of
shops
was
already
left
behind
,
and
even
the
villas
were
becoming
scantier
,
so
that
nothing
was
to
be
done
but
to
drive
on
,
obtaining
from
time
to
time
further
doleful
narratives
from
Mary
,
and
perceiving
more
and
more
how
ill
and
suffering
was
the
other
poor
child
.
Moreover
,
Lady
Temple’s
mind
became
extremely
uneasy
as
to
the
manner
in
which
Rachel
might
accept
her
exploit
.
All
her
valour
departed
as
she
figured
to
herself
that
young
lady
discrediting
the
alarm
,
and
resenting
her
interference
.
She
did
not
repent
,
she
knew
she
could
not
have
helped
it
,
and
she
had
rather
have
been
tortured
by
Rachel
than
have
left
the
victims
another
hour
to
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
,
but
she
was
full
of
nervous
anxiety
,
little
as
she
yet
guessed
at
the
full
price
of
her
courage
;
and
she
uttered
more
than
once
the
fervent
wish
that
the
Colonel
had
been
there
,
for
he
would
have
known
what
to
do
.
And
Alison
each
time
replied
,
“
I
wish
it
with
all
my
heart
!
”
Wrought
up
at
last
to
the
pitch
of
nervousness
that
must
rush
on
the
crisis
at
once
,
and
take
the
bull
by
the
horns
,
this
valiant
piece
of
cowardice
declared
that
she
could
not
even
return
the
girls
to
their
homes
till
Rachel
knew
all
about
it
,
and
gave
the
word
to
drive
to
the
Homestead
,
further
cheered
by
the
recollection
that
Colonel
Keith
would
probably
be
there
,
having
been
asked
to
luncheon
,
as
he
could
not
dine
out
,
to
meet
Mr.
Grey
.
Moreover
,
Mr.
Grey
was
a
magistrate
and
would
know
what
was
to
be
done
.
Thus
the
whole
party
at
the
Homestead
were
assembled
near
the
door
,
when
,
discerning
them
too
late
to
avoid
them
,
Lady
Temple’s
equipage
drew
up
in
the
peculiarly
ungraceful
fashion
of
waggonettes
,
when
they
prepare
to
shoot
their
passengers
out
behind
.
Conrade
,
the
only
person
who
had
the
advantage
of
a
previous
view
,
stood
up
on
the
box
,
and
before
making
his
descent
,
shouted
out
,
“
Oh
,
Aunt
Rachel
,
your
F
.
U
.
thing
is
as
bad
as
the
Sepoys
.
But
we
have
saved
the
two
little
girls
that
they
were
whipping
to
death
,
and
have
got
them
in
the
carriage
.
”
While
this
announcement
was
being
delivered
,
Alison
Williams
,
the
nearest
to
the
door
,
had
emerged
.
She
lifted
out
the
little
muffled
figure
of
Lovedy
,
set
her
on
her
feet
,
and
then
looking
neither
to
the
right
nor
left
,
as
if
she
saw
and
thought
of
no
one
else
,
made
but
one
bound
towards
Colonel
Keith
,
clasped
both
hands
round
his
arm
,
turned
him
away
from
the
rest
,
and
with
her
black
brows
drawn
close
together
,
gasped
under
her
breath
,
“
O
,
Colin
,
Colin
,
it
is
Maria
Hatherton
.
”
“
What
!
the
matron
?
”
“
Yes
,
the
woman
that
has
used
these
poor
children
like
a
savage
.
O
,
Colin
,
it
is
frightful
.
”
“
You
should
sit
down
,
you
are
almost
ready
to
faint
.
”
“
Nothing
!
nothing
!
But
the
poor
girls
are
in
such
a
state
.
And
that
Maria
whom
we
taught
,
and
—
”
Alison
stopped
.
“
Did
she
know
you
?
”
“
I
can’t
tell
.
Perhaps
;
but
I
did
not
know
her
till
the
last
moment
.
”
“
I
have
long
believed
that
the
man
that
Rose
recognised
was
Mauleverer
,
but
I
thought
the
uncertainty
would
be
bad
for
Ermine
.
What
is
all
this
?
”
“
You
will
hear
.
There
!
Listen
,
I
can’t
tell
you
;
Lady
Temple
did
it
all
,
”
said
Alison
,
trying
to
draw
away
her
arm
from
him
,
and
to
assume
the
staid
governess
.
But
he
felt
her
trembling
,
and
did
not
release
her
from
his
support
as
they
fanned
back
to
the
astonished
group
,
to
which
,
while
these
few
words
were
passing
,
Francis
,
the
little
bareheaded
white-aproned
Mary
Morris
,
and
lastly
Lady
Temple
,
had
by
this
time
been
added
;
and
Fanny
,
with
quick
but
courteous
acknowledgment
of
all
,
was
singling
out
her
cousin
.
“
Oh
,
Rachel
,
dear
,
I
did
not
mean
it
to
have
been
so
sudden
or
before
them
all
,
but
indeed
I
could
not
help
it
,
”
she
said
in
her
gentle
,
imploring
voice
,
“
if
you
only
saw
that
poor
dear
child’s
neck
.
”
Rachel
had
little
choice
what
she
should
say
or
do
.
What
Fanny
was
saying
tenderly
and
privately
,
the
two
boys
were
communicating
open-mouthed
,
and
Mrs.
Curtis
came
at
once
with
her
nervous
,
“
What
is
it
,
my
dear
;
is
it
something
very
sad
?
Those
poor
children
look
very
cold
,
and
half
starved
.
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Fanny
,
“
they
have
been
starved
,
and
beaten
,
and
cruelly
used
.
I
am
very
sorry
,
Rachel
,
but
indeed
that
was
a
dreadful
woman
,
and
I
thought
Colonel
Keith
and
Mr.
Grey
would
tell
us
what
ought
to
be
done
.
”
“
Mr.
Grey
!
”
and
Mrs.
Curtis
turned
round
eagerly
,
with
the
comfort
of
having
some
one
to
support
her
,
“
will
you
tell
us
what
is
to
be
done
?
Here
has
poor
dear
Rachel
been
taken
in
by
this
wicked
scheme
,
and
these
poor
—
”
“
Mother
,
mother
,
”
muttered
Rachel
,
lashed
up
to
desperation
;
“
please
not
out
here
,
before
the
servants
and
every
one
.
”
This
appeal
and
Grace’s
opening
of
the
door
had
the
effect
of
directing
every
one
into
the
hall
,
Mr.
Grey
asking
Mrs.
Curtis
by
the
way
,
“
Eh
?
Then
this
is
Rachel’s
new
female
asylum
,
is
it
?
”
“
Yes
,
I
always
feared
there
was
something
odd
about
it
.
I
never
liked
that
man
,
and
now
—
Fanny
,
my
love
,
what
is
the
matter
?
”
In
a
few
simple
words
Fanny
answered
that
she
had
contrived
to
be
left
alone
with
the
children
,
and
had
then
found
signs
of
such
shocking
ill-treatment
of
them
,
that
she
had
thought
it
right
to
bring
them
away
at
once
.
“
And
you
will
commit
those
wretches
.
You
will
send
them
to
prison
at
once
,
Mr.
Grey
.
They
have
been
deceiving
my
poor
Rachel
ever
so
long
,
and
getting
sums
upon
sums
of
money
out
of
her
,
”
said
Mrs.
Curtis
,
becoming
quite
blood-thirsty
.
“
If
there
is
sufficient
occasion
I
will
summon
the
persons
concerned
to
the
Bench
on
Wednesday
,
”
said
Mr.
Grey
,
a
practical
,
active
squire
.
“
Not
till
Wednesday
!
”
said
Mrs.
Curtis
,
as
if
she
thought
the
course
of
justice
very
tardy
.
But
the
remembrance
of
Mr.
Curtis’s
magisterial
