,great
talent
,
and
remarkable
conduct
,
won
him
some
valuable
friends
,
one
of
whom
,
as
soon
as
he
was
ordained
,
presented
him
with
a
rich
living
in
the
North
.
For
nine
months
he
enjoyed
the
most
unalloyed
happiness
.
His
pretty
vicarage
presented
a
happy
,
comfortable
home
for
his
parents
,
and
the
comforts
they
now
enjoyed
,
earned
by
the
worth
of
their
son
,
amply
repaid
them
for
former
privations
.
—
One
cold
snowy
night
he
was
summoned
to
a
poor
parishioner
,
living
about
ten
miles
distant
.
The
road
was
rugged
,
and
in
some
parts
dangerous
;
but
he
was
not
a
man
to
shrink
from
his
duty
for
such
reasons
.
He
was
detained
eight
hours
,
during
which
time
the
snow
had
fallen
incessantly
,
and
it
was
pitchy
dark
.
Still
believing
he
knew
his
road
,
he
proceeded
,
and
the
next
morning
was
found
lying
apparently
dead
at
the
foot
of
a
precipice
,
and
almost
crushed
under
the
mangled
and
distorted
carcass
of
his
horse
.
"
An
exclamation
of
horror
burst
from
all
the
little
group
,
except
from
Percy
and
Herbert
;
the
face
of
the
former
was
covered
with
his
hands
,
and
his
brother
seemed
so
watching
and
feeling
for
him
,
as
to
be
unable
to
join
the
general
sympathy
.
All
,
however
,
were
so
engrossed
with
Mr.
Hamilton
's
tale
,
that
neither
was
observed
.
"
He
was
so
severely
injured
,
that
for
months
his
very
life
was
despaired
of
.
Symptoms
of
decline
followed
,
and
the
inability
to
resume
his
ministerial
duties
for
years
,
if
ever
again
,
compelled
him
to
resign
his
rich
and
beautiful
living
in
Yorkshire
;
and
he
felt
himself
once
more
a
burden
on
his
parents
,
with
scarcely
any
hope
of
supporting
them
again
.
Nor
was
this
all
;
his
figure
,
once
so
slight
and
supple
,
had
become
so
shrunk
and
maimed
,
that
at
first
he
seemed
actually
to
loathe
the
sight
of
his
fellows
.
His
voice
,
once
so
rich
and
almost
thrilling
,
became
wiry
,
and
almost
painfully
monotonous
;
and
for
some
months
the
conflict
for
submission
to
this
inscrutable
and
most
awful
trial
was
so
terrible
that
he
nearly
sunk
beneath
it
.
This
was
,
of
course
,
still
more
physical
than
mental
,
and
gradually
subsided
,
as
,
after
eighteen
months
'
residence
in
Madeira
,
where
he
was
sent
by
a
benevolent
friend
,
some
portion
of
health
returned
.
The
same
benefactor
established
his
father
in
some
humble
but
most
welcome
business
in
London
;
and
earnestly
,
on
his
return
,
did
his
parents
persuade
him
to
remain
quietly
with
them
,
and
not
undertake
the
ministry
again
;
but
this
he
could
not
do
,
and
gratefully
accepted
a
poor
and
most
miserable
parish
on
the
moor
,
not
eight
miles
from
here
.
"
"
But
when
did
you
become
acquainted
with
him
,
papa
?
"
asked
Caroline
;
"
you
have
never
mentioned
him
before
.
"
"
No
,
my
dear
;
I
never
saw
him
till
the
Sunday
he
officiated
for
Mr.
Howard
;
but
his
appearance
so
deeply
interested
me
,
I
did
not
rest
till
I
had
learned
his
whole
history
,
which
Mr.
Howard
had
already
discovered
.
He
has
been
nearly
a
year
in
Devonshire
,
but
so
kept
aloof
from
all
but
his
own
poor
parishioners
,
dreading
the
ridicule
and
sneers
of
the
more
worldly
and
wealthy
,
that
it
was
mere
accident
which
made
Mr.
Howard
acquainted
with
him
.
Our
good
minister
's
friendship
and
earnest
exhortations
have
so
far
overcome
his
too
great
sensitiveness
,
as
sometimes
to
prevail
on
him
to
visit
the
Vicarage
,
and
I
trust
in
time
equally
to
succeed
in
bringing
him
here
.
"
"
But
what
is
he
so
afraid
of
,
dear
papa
?
"
innocently
asked
Emmeline
.
"
Surely
nobody
could
be
so
cruel
as
to
ridicule
him
because
he
is
deformed
?
"
"
Unfortunately
,
my
dear
child
,
there
are
too
many
who
only
enter
church
for
the
sake
of
the
sermon
and
the
preacher
,
and
to
criticise
severely
and
uncharitably
all
that
differs
from
their
preconceived
ideas
;
to
such
persons
Mr.
Morton
must
be
an
object
of
derision
.
And
now
I
come
to
the
real
reason
of
my
asking
your
mother
if
she
remembered
him
.
"
"
Then
you
had
a
reason
,
"
answered
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
smiling
;
"
your
story
has
made
me
wonder
whether
you
had
or
not
.
"
"
I
must
tax
your
memory
once
more
,
Emmeline
,
before
my
cause
is
told
.
Do
you
recollect
,
for
a
fortnight
after
the
Sunday
we
heard
him
,
he
preached
twice
a
week
at
Torrington
,
to
oblige
a
very
particular
friend
?
"
"
Yes
,
and
that
you
feared
the
increased
number
of
the
congregation
proceeded
far
more
from
curiosity
than
kindliness
or
devotion
.
"
"
I
did
say
so
,
and
my
fears
are
confirmed
:
some
affairs
brought
Morton
to
Torrington
for
two
or
three
days
this
week
,
and
yesterday
I
called
on
him
,
and
had
some
hours
'
interesting
conversation
.
He
was
evidently
even
more
than
usually
depressed
and
self-shrinking
,
if
I
may
use
the
word
,
and
at
length
touched
,
it
seemed
,
by
my
sympathy
,
he
drew
my
attention
to
a
poem
in
Harris
's
'
Weekly
Magazine
.
'
"
"
'
It
is
not
enough
that
it
has
pleased
my
God
to
afflict
me
,
'
he
said
,
'
but
my
fellow-creatures
must
unkindly
make
me
the
subject
of
attacks
such
as
these
.
There
is
indeed
no
name
,
but
to
none
else
but
me
will
it
apply
.
'
I
could
not
reply
,
for
I
really
felt
too
deeply
for
him
.
It
was
such
a
cruel
,
wanton
insult
,
the
very
talent
of
the
writer
,
for
the
verses
though
few
in
number
were
remarkably
clever
,
adding
to
their
gall
.
"
"
I
wonder
Harris
should
have
published
them
,
"
observed
Miss
Harcourt
;
"
his
paper
is
not
in
general
of
a
personal
kind
.
"
"
It
is
never
sufficiently
guarded
;
and
it
would
require
a
person
of
higher
principles
than
I
fear
Harris
has
,
to
resist
the
temptation
of
inserting
a
satire
likely
to
sell
a
double
or
treble
number
of
his
papers
.
I
spoke
to
him
at
once
,
and
bought
up
every
one
that
remained
;
but
though
he
expressed
regret
,
it
was
not
in
a
tone
that
at
all
satisfied
me
as
to
his
feeling
it
,
and
of
course
,
as
the
paper
has
been
published
since
last
Saturday
evening
,
the
circulation
had
nearly
ceased
.
If
I
could
but
know
the
author
,
I
think
I
could
make
him
feel
the
excessive
cruelty
,
if
not
the
actual
guilt
,
of
his
wanton
deed
.
"
"
But
,
dear
papa
,
the
person
who
wrote
it
might
not
have
known
his
story
,
"
interposed
Caroline
,
to
Edward
's
and
Ellen
's
astonishment
,
that
she
had
courage
to
speak
at
all
;
for
their
uncle
's
unusual
tone
and
look
brought
back
almost
more
vividly
than
it
had
ever
done
before
their
mother
's
lessons
of
his
exceeding
and
terrible
sternness
.
"
That
does
not
excuse
the
ridicule
,
my
dear
child
;
it
only
confirms
the
lesson
I
have
so
often
tried
to
teach
you
all
,
that
any
thing
tending
by
word
or
deed
to
hurt
the
feelings
of
a
fellow-creature
,
is
absolutely
wrong
—
wrong
in
the
thing
itself
,
not
according
to
the
greater
or
less
amount
of
pain
it
may
excite
.
"
"
But
,
my
dear
husband
,
the
writer
may
not
have
been
so
taught
.
Satire
and
ridicule
are
unhappily
so
popular
,
that
these
verses
may
have
been
penned
without
any
thought
of
their
evil
tendency
,
merely
as
to
the
éclat
they
would
bring
their
author
.
We
must
not
be
too
severe
,
for
we
do
not
know
—
"
"
Mother
!
mother
!
do
not
—
do
not
speak
so
,
if
you
have
ever
loved
me
!
"
at
length
exclaimed
poor
Percy
,
so
choked
with
his
emotion
,
that
he
could
only
throw
himself
by
her
side
,
bury
his
face
in
her
lap
,
and
sob
for
a
few
minutes
like
a
child
.
But
he
recovered
himself
with
a
strong
effort
,
before
either
of
his
family
could
conquer
their
anxiety
and
alarm
,
and
,
standing
erect
,
though
pale
as
marble
,
without
in
the
least
degree
attempting
excuse
or
extenuation
,
acknowledged
the
poem
as
his
,
and
poured
out
his
whole
story
,
with
the
sole
exception
of
how
he
had
disposed
of
the
money
,
with
which
the
second
time
of
receiving
his
allowance
he
had
intended
to
discharge
his
debt
;
and
the
manner
in
which
he
told
that
part
of
his
tale
,
from
the
fear
that
it
would
seem
like
an
excuse
or
a
boast
,
was
certainly
more
calculated
to
call
for
doubt
than
belief
.
Herbert
was
about
to
speak
,
but
an
imploring
glance
from
Percy
checked
him
.
Mr.
Hamilton
was
silent
several
minutes
after
his
son
had
concluded
,
before
he
could
reply
.
Percy
was
so
evidently
distressed
—
had
suffered
so
much
from
the
consequence
of
his
own
errors
—
felt
so
intensely
the
unintentional
publication
of
his
poem
—
for
his
father
knew
his
truth
far
too
well
to
doubt
his
tale
,
and
there
was
something
so
intrinsically
noble
in
his
brave
confession
,
that
to
condemn
him
severely
he
felt
as
if
he
could
not
.
"
Of
willful
cruelty
toward
Mr.
Morton
,
your
story
has
certainly
exculpated
you
,
"
he
said
,
as
sternly
as
he
could
;
"
but
otherwise
you
must
be
yourself
aware
that
it
has
given
me
both
grief
and
pain
,
and
the
more
so
,
because
you
evidently
shrink
from
telling
me
in
what
manner
you
squandered
away
that
money
which
would
have
been
sufficient
to
have
fully
discharged
your
debt
six
weeks
ago
;
I
must
therefore
believe
there
is
still
some
deed
of
folly
unrevealed
.
I
condemn
you
to
no
punishment
—
you
are
old
enough
now
to
know
right
from
wrong
,
and
your
own
feelings
must
condemn
or
applaud
you
.
Had
you
been
firm
,
as
I
had
hoped
you
were
,
example
would
not
so
have
worked
upon
you
,
as
to
tempt
even
the
composition
of
your
satire
;
as
it
is
,
you
must
reap
the
consequences
of
your
weakness
,
in
the
painful
consciousness
that
you
have
deeply
wounded
one
,
who
it
would
seem
had
been
already
sufficiently
afflicted
,
and
that
confidence
must
for
the
time
be
broken
between
us
.
Go
,
sir
,
the
hour
of
your
attendance
on
Mr.
Howard
is
passed
.
"
Mr.
Hamilton
rose
with
the
last
words
,
and
somewhat
hastily
quitted
the
room
.
Percy
only
ventured
one
look
at
his
mother
,
she
seemed
so
grieved
—
so
sad
—
that
he
could
not
bear
it
;
and
darting
out
of
the
room
,
was
seen
in
less
than
a
minute
traversing
the
grounds
in
the
direction
of
the
vicarage
,
at
such
a
rate
that
Edward
,
fleet
as
in
general
he
was
,
could
not
overtake
him
.
Herbert
lingered
;
he
could
not
bear
that
any
part
of
Percy
's
story
should
remain
concealed
,
and
so
told
at
once
how
his
second
allowance
had
been
expended
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
eyes
glistened
.
Percy
's
incoherence
on
that
one
point
had
given
her
more
anxiety
than
any
thing
else
,
and
the
relief
the
truth
bestowed
was
inexpressible
.
Imprudent
it
was
;
but
there
was
something
so
lovable
in
such
a
disposition
,
that
she
could
not
resist
going
directly
to
her
husband
to
impart
it
.
"
You
always
bring
me
comfort
,
dearest
!
"
was
his
fond
rejoinder
;
"
anxious
as
that
boy
's
thoughtlessness
must
make
me
(
for
what
are
his
temptations
now
to
what
they
will
be
?
)
still
I
must
imbibe
your
fond
belief
,
that
with
such
an
open
,
generous
,
truthful
heart
,
he
can
not
go
far
wrong
.
But
what
are
we
to
do
about
that
unfortunate
poem
?
I
can
not
associate
with
Morton
,
knowing
the
truth
,
and
yet
permit
him
to
believe
I
am
as
ignorant
of
the
author
as
himself
.
"
"
Let
me
speak
to
Percy
before
we
decide
on
anything
,
my
dear
Arthur
.
Is
Mr.
Morton
still
at
Torrington
?
"
"
No
;
he
was
to
return
to
Heathmore
this
morning
.
"
Mrs.
Hamilton
looked
very
thoughtful
,
but
she
did
not
make
any
rejoinder
.
In
the
hour
of
recreation
Emmeline
,
declaring
it
was
much
too
hot
for
the
garden
,
sought
her
mother
's
private
sitting-room
,
with
the
intention
of
asking
where
she
could
find
her
father
.
To
her
great
delight
,
the
question
was
arrested
on
her
lips
,
for
he
was
there
.
She
seated
herself
on
his
knee
,
and
remained
there
for
some
minutes
without
speaking
—
only
looking
up
in
his
face
with
the
most
coaxing
expression
imaginable
.
"
Well
,
Emmeline
,
what
great
favor
are
you
going
to
ask
me
?
"
said
Mr.
Hamilton
,
smiling
;
"
some
weighty
boon
,
I
am
quite
sure
.
"
"
Indeed
,
papa
,
and
how
do
you
know
that
?
"
"
I
can
read
it
in
your
eyes
.
"
"
My
eyes
are
treacherous
tell-tales
then
,
and
you
shall
not
see
them
any
more
,
"
she
replied
,
laughing
,
and
shaking
her
head
till
her
long
bright
ringlets
completely
hid
her
eyes
and
blushing
cheeks
.
"
But
have
they
told
you
the
favor
I
am
going
to
ask
?
"
"
No
,
"
replied
her
father
,
joining
in
her
laugh
;
"
they
leave
that
to
your
tongue
.
"
"
I
can
read
more
,
I
think
,
"
said
Mrs.
Hamilton
;
"
I
am
very
much
mistaken
,
if
I
do
not
know
what
Emmeline
is
going
to
ask
.
"
"
Only
that
—
that
—
"
still
she
hesitated
,
as
if
afraid
to
continue
,
and
her
mother
added
—
"
That
papa
will
not
be
very
angry
with
Percy
;
Emmeline
,
is
not
that
the
boon
you
have
no
courage
to
ask
?
"
A
still
deeper
glow
mounted
to
the
child
's
fair
cheek
,
and
throwing
her
arms
round
her
father
's
neck
,
she
said
,
coaxingly
and
fondly
—
"
Mamma
has
guessed
it
,
dear
papa
!
you
must
,
indeed
,
you
must
forgive
him
—
poor
fellow
!
he
is
so
very
sorry
,
and
he
has
suffered
so
much
already
—
and
he
did
not
throw
away
his
money
foolishly
,
as
you
thought
;
he
gave
it
to
some
very
poor
people
—
and
you
are
always
pleased
when
we
are
charitable
;
pray
forget
every
thing
else
but
that
,
and
treat
him
as
you
always
do
,
dear
papa
—
will
you
not
?
"
"
I
wonder
which
is
most
certain
—
that
mamma
must
be
a
witch
,
or
Emmeline
a
most
eloquent
little
pleader
,
"
said
Mr.
Hamilton
,
caressingly
stroking
the
ringlets
she
had
disordered
,
"
and
suppose
,
after
to-day
,
I
do
grant
your
request
—
what
then
?
"
"
Oh
,
you
will
be
such
a
dear
,
darling
,
good
papa
!
"
exclaimed
Emmeline
,
almost
suffocating
him
with
kisses
,
and
then
starting
from
his
knee
,
she
danced
about
the
room
in
a
perfect
ecstasy
of
delight
;
"
and
Percy
will
be
happy
again
,
and
we
shall
all
be
so
happy
.
Mamma
,
dear
mamma
,
I
am
sure
you
will
be
glad
too
.
"
"
And
now
,
Emmeline
,
when
you
have
danced
yourself
sober
again
,
come
back
to
your
seat
,
for
as
I
have
listened
to
and
answered
you
,
you
must
listen
to
and
answer
me
.
"
In
an
instant
she
was
on
his
knee
again
,
quite
quiet
and
attentive
.
"
In
the
first
place
,
do
you
think
Percy
was
justified
making
Mr.
Morton
an
object
of
satire
at
all
,
even
if
it
should
never
have
left
his
own
portfolio
?
"
"
No
,
papa
,
and
I
am
quite
sure
,
if
he
had
not
been
rather
more
excited
—
and
—
and
heedless
than
usual
—
which
was
very
likely
he
should
be
,
you
know
,
papa
,
after
such
a
day
of
nothing
but
pleasure
—
he
would
never
have
done
such
a
thing
:
I
am
sure
he
did
not
think
of
hurting
Mr.
Morton
's
feelings
;
he
only
wanted
to
prove
that
he
was
quite
as
clever
as
his
companions
,
and
that
was
very
natural
,
you
know
,
when
he
is
so
clever
at
such
things
.
But
my
brother
Percy
willingly
ridicule
a
clergyman
!
no
,
no
,
dear
papa
,
pray
do
not
believe
it
.
"
"
Well
defended
,
my
little
girl
;
but
how
do
you
justify
his
disobeying
my
commands
,
and
incurring
a
debt
?
"
Emmeline
was
silent
.
"
He
was
very
wrong
to
do
that
,
papa
;
but
I
am
sure
,
when
he
ordered
the
engravings
,
he
did
not
intend
to
disobey
you
,
and
you
know
he
is
naturally
very
—
I
mean
a
little
impatient
.
"
"
Still
on
the
defensive
,
Emmeline
,
even
against
your
better
judgment
.
Well
,
well
,
I
must
not
make
you
condemn
your
brother
;
does
he
know
what
an
eloquent
pleader
he
has
in
his
sister
?
"
"
No
,
papa
;
and
pray
do
not
tell
him
.
"
"
And
why
not
?
"
"
Because
he
might
think
it
was
only
for
my
sake
you
forgave
him
,
and
not
for
his
own
;
and
I
know
I
should
not
like
that
,
if
I
were
in
his
place
.
"
"
He
shall
know
nothing
more
than
you
desire
,
my
dear
little
girl
,
"
replied
her
father
,
drawing
her
closer
to
him
,
with
almost
involuntary
tenderness
.
"
And
now
will
you
try
and
remember
what
I
am
going
to
say
.
You
wish
me
only
to
think
of
Percy
's
kind
act
in
giving
his
money
to
the
poor
people
;
but
I
should
have
been
better
pleased
in
this
case
,
had
he
been
more
just
,
and
not
so
generous
.
I
know
it
is
not
unfrequently
said
by
young
persons
,
when
they
think
they
are
doing
a
charitable
act
,
and
can
only
do
it
by
postponing
the
payment
of
their
debts
—
'
Oh
,
Mr.
So
and
so
has
plenty
of
business
,
he
can
afford
to
wait
for
his
money
,
but
these
poor
creatures
are
starving
.
'
Now
this
is
not
generosity
or
charity
,
but
actual
injustice
,
and
giving
away
money
which
is
literally
not
their
own
.
I
do
not
believe
Percy
thought
so
,
because
I
have
no
doubt
he
forgot
Mr.
Harris
,
at
the
time
,
entirely
;
but
still
,
as
it
was
a
mere
impulse
of
kindness
,
it
does
not
please
me
quite
so
much
as
it
does
you
.
"
"
But
it
was
charity
,
papa
,
was
it
not
?
You
have
said
that
whenever
we
are
kind
and
good
to
the
poor
,
God
is
pleased
with
us
;
and
if
Percy
did
not
intend
to
wrong
Mr.
Harris
,
and
only
thought
about
relieving
the
poor
family
,
was
it
not
a
good
feeling
?
"
"
It
was
;
but
it
might
have
been
still
worthier
.
Suppose
Percy
had
encountered
this
case
of
distress
when
on
his
way
to
order
his
engravings
,
and
to
enable
him
to
relieve
it
as
he
wished
,
he
had
given
up
the
purchasing
them
.
That
he
found
he
could
not
afford
the
two
,
and
so
gave
up
the
one
mere
individual
gratification
,
to
succor
some
unhappy
fellow-creatures
:
would
not
that
have
been
still
worthier
?
and
by
the
conquest
of
his
own
inclinations
rendered
his
charity
still
more
acceptable
to
God
?
Do
you
quite
understand
me
,
Emmy
?
"
"
I
think
I
do
,
dear
papa
;
you
mean
that
,
though
God
is
so
good
,
He
is
pleased
whenever
we
are
charitable
,
He
is
still
better
pleased
when
to
be
so
gives
us
a
little
pain
.
"
"
Very
well
explained
,
my
little
girl
;
so
you
see
in
this
instance
,
if
Percy
had
been
just
before
he
was
generous
,
and
then
to
be
generous
,
had
denied
himself
some
pleasure
,
his
conduct
would
not
have
given
us
or
himself
any
pain
,
but
have
been
quite
as
worthy
of
all
the
praise
you
could
bestow
.
And
now
I
wonder
how
mamma
could
have
discovered
so
exactly
what
favor
you
had
to
ask
?
"
"
Oh
,
mamma
always
knows
all
my
feelings
and
wishes
,
almost
before
I
know
them
myself
,
though
I
never
can
find
out
how
.
"
"
Shall
I
tell
you
,
Emmeline
?
Your
mother
has
devoted
hours
,
weeks
,
months
,
and
years
to
studying
the
characters
of
all
her
children
;
so
to
know
them
,
that
she
may
not
only
be
able
to
guide
you
in
the
path
of
good
,
but
to
share
all
your
little
joys
and
sorrows
,
to
heighten
the
one
and
guard
you
from
the
other
.
Ought
you
not
to
be
very
grateful
to
your
Father
in
Heaven
for
giving
you
such
a
mother
?
"
His
child
made
no
answer
in
words
,
but
she
slipped
from
his
knee
,
and
darting
to
her
mother
,
clasped
her
little
arms
tight
round
her
neck
,
and
hid
her
glowing
cheeks
and
tearful
eyes
in
her
bosom
.
And
from
that
hour
,
as
she
felt
her
mother
's
fond
return
of
that
passionate
embrace
,
her
love
became
religion
,
though
she
knew
it
not
.
Her
thoughts
flew
to
her
cousins
and
many
others
,
who
had
no
mother
,
and
to
others
whose
mothers
left
them
to
nurses
and
governesses
,
and
seemed
always
to
keep
them
at
a
distance
.
And
she
felt
,
How
could
she
thank
and
love
God
enough
?
Nor
was
it
the
mere
feeling
of
the
moment
,
it
became
part
of
her
being
,
for
the
right
moment
had
been
seized
to
impress
it
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
AN
UNPLEASANT
PROPOSAL
.
—
THE
MYSTERY
SOLVED
.
—
A
FATHER
'S
GRIEF
FROM
A
MOTHER
'S
WEAKNESS
.
—
A
FATHER
'S
JOY
FROM
A
MOTHER
'S
INFLUENCE
.
Meanwhile
the
young
heir
of
Oakwood
had
passed
no
very
pleasant
day
.
His
thoughts
since
Mr.
Howard
's
return
had
been
so
pre-occupied
,
that
his
studies
had
been
unusually
neglected
;
so
much
so
,
as
rather
to
excite
the
displeasure
of
his
gentle
and
forbearing
preceptor
.
The
emotion
of
the
morning
had
not
tended
to
steady
his
ideas
,
and
a
severe
reproof
and
long
imposition
was
the
consequence
.
Not
one
word
did
he
deign
to
address
Herbert
and
Edward
,
who
,
perceiving
him
leave
the
Vicarage
with
every
mark
of
irritation
,
endeavored
,
during
their
walk
home
,
to
soothe
him
.
His
step
was
even
more
rapid
than
that
in
which
he
had
left
home
,
and
he
neither
stopped
nor
spoke
till
he
had
reached
his
father
's
library
,
which
,
fortunately
for
the
indulgence
of
his
ire
in
words
,
was
untenanted
.
He
dashed
his
cap
from
his
brow
,
flung
his
books
with
violence
on
the
ground
,
and
burst
forth
—
"
Am
I
not
a
fool
—
an
idiot
,
thus
to
torment
myself
,
and
for
one
act
of
folly
,
when
hundreds
of
boys
,
at
my
age
,
are
entirely
their
own
masters
?
do
what
they
please
—
spend
what
they
please
—
neither
questioned
nor
reproved
—
and
that
poem
—
how
many
would
glory
in
its
authorship
,
and
not
care
a
whit
whom
it
might
wound
.
Why
am
I
such
a
fool
,
as
to
reproach
myself
about
it
,
and
then
be
punished
,
like
a
school-boy
,
with
an
imposition
to
occupy
me
at
home
,
because
I
did
not
choose
to
learn
in
the
hours
of
study
?
—
Not
choose
!
I
wish
Mr.
Howard
could
feel
as
I
have
done
to-day
,
nay
,
all
this
week
;
and
I
challenge
him
to
bore
his
head
with
Greek
and
Latin
!
But
why
am
I
so
cowed
as
to
feel
so
?
Why
can
not
I
have
the
same
spirit
as
others
—
instead
of
being
such
a
slave
—
such
a
—
"
"
Percy
!
"
exclaimed
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
who
,
having
sought
him
the
moment
she
heard
the
hall-door
close
,
had
heard
nearly
the
whole
of
his
violent
speech
,
and
was
almost
alarmed
at
the
unusual
passion
it
evinced
.
Her
voice
of
astonished
expostulation
checked
his
words
,
but
not
his
agitation
;
he
threw
himself
on
a
chair
,
leaning
his
arms
upon
the
table
,
buried
his
face
upon
them
,
while
his
whole
frame
shook
.
His
mother
sat
down
by
him
,
and
laying
her
hand
on
his
arm
,
said
gently
—
"
What
is
it
that
has
so
irritated
you
,
my
dear
Percy
?
What
has
made
you
return
home
in
such
a
very
different
mood
to
that
in
which
you
left
it
?
Tell
me
,
my
boy
.
"
Percy
tried
to
keep
silence
,
for
he
knew
if
he
spoke
he
should
,
as
he
expressed
it
,
be
a
child
again
,
and
his
pride
tried
hard
for
victory
.
Even
his
father
or
Herbert
at
that
moment
would
have
chafed
him
into
increased
anger
,
but
the
almost
passionate
love
and
reverence
which
he
felt
for
his
mother
triumphed
over
his
wrath
,
and
told
him
he
was
much
more
unhappy
than
angry
;
and
that
he
longed
for
her
to
comfort
him
,
as
she
always
had
done
in
his
childish
griefs
;
and
so
he
put
his
arms
round
her
,
and
laid
his
head
on
her
shoulder
and
said
,
in
a
half-choked
voice
:
—
"
I
am
very
unhappy
,
mother
;
I
feel
as
if
I
had
been
every
thing
that
was
bad
,
and
cruel
,
and
foolish
,
and
so
it
was
a
relief
to
be
in
a
passion
;
but
I
did
not
mean
you
to
hear
it
,
and
cause
you
more
grief
than
I
have
done
already
.
"
"
You
have
been
very
thoughtless
,
very
foolish
,
and
not
quite
so
firm
as
we
could
have
wished
,
my
own
dear
boy
,
but
I
will
not
have
you
accuse
yourself
of
any
graver
faults
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
as
she
lightly
pushed
back
the
clustering
hair
from
his
heated
forehead
,
and
the
gentle
touch
of
her
cool
hand
seemed
as
restorative
as
her
soothing
words
;
and
Percy
,
as
he
listened
to
her
,
as
she
continued
speaking
to
him
in
the
same
strain
for
some
little
time
,
felt
more
relieved
than
five
minutes
before
he
thought
possible
,
and
more
than
ever
determined
that
he
would
never
act
so
thoughtlessly
;
or
,
if
he
were
tempted
to
do
so
,
never
keep
it
concealed
so
long
again
.
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
anxious
desire
with
him
was
,
always
to
do
justice
to
his
better
qualities
,
at
the
same
time
that
she
blamed
and
convinced
him
of
his
faults
.
It
was
a
very
delicate
thing
,
and
very
difficult
to
succeed
in
,
perhaps
impossible
to
minds
less
peculiarly
refined
,
and
hearts
less
intensely
anxious
than
Mrs.
Hamilton
's
;
but
no
difficulty
,
no
failure
,
had
ever
deterred
her
—
and
in
Percy
she
was
already
rewarded
.
He
was
of
that
high
,
fine
spirit
,
that
any
unjust
harshness
would
have
actually
confirmed
in
error
—
any
unguarded
word
bring
argument
on
argument
,
and
so
,
for
the
mere
sake
of
opposition
,
cause
him
to
abide
in
his
opinions
,
when
the
acknowledgment
of
his
being
right
in
some
things
,
produced
the
voluntary
confession
of
his
error
in
others
.
"
And
now
about
these
unfortunate
verses
,
my
dear
boy
;
I
am
not
quite
clear
as
to
their
fate
,
how
it
happened
that
you
did
not
destroy
them
directly
you
returned
home
.
"
"
I
fully
intended
,
and
believed
I
had
done
so
,
mother
,
but
the
whirl
of
that
night
seemed
to
extend
to
the
morning
,
and
I
dressed
and
prepared
for
Mr.
Howard
in
such
a
hurry
(
I
had
overslept
myself
,
too
)
,
that
though
I
had
quite
resolved
they
should
not
pollute
my
pocket-book
any
longer
,
I
had
no
time
to
look
over
my
papers
—
thought
I
could
not
be
mistaken
in
their
outside
—
burnt
those
I
really
wished
to
keep
,
and
threw
those
which
have
caused
me
all
this
pain
into
my
portfolio
.
If
I
had
but
been
firm
enough
to
have
followed
my
father
's
advice
,
and
left
my
companions
before
supper
!
—
or
,
if
I
did
join
them
,
had
not
been
so
weak
,
so
mad
,
as
to
yield
to
the
temptation
,
but
adhered
to
my
principles
,
notwithstanding
they
might
have
been
laughed
at
,
I
might
have
been
spared
it
all
;
but
I
was
so
excited
,
so
heated
,
with
a
more
than
sufficient
quantity
of
wine
,
that
I
did
not
know
what
I
was
about
—
not
its
extent
of
wrong
,
at
least
.
"
"
And
you
have
suffered
enough
for
an
evening
's
excitement
,
my
poor
boy
;
but
I
am
sure
you
would
atone
for
it
,
if
you
could
.
"
"
Atone
for
it
,
mother
!
I
would
give
all
I
possess
to
cancel
that
odious
poem
,
and
blot
it
from
Mr.
Morton
's
memory
,
as
from
my
own
.
"
"
And
I
think
you
can
do
both
,
Percy
.
"
He
looked
at
her
in
utter
bewilderment
.
"
Do
both
,
mother
!
"
he
repeated
.
"
Yes
,
my
boy
!
it
is
a
painful
remedy
,
but
it
would
be
an
effectual
one
.
Seek
Mr.
Morton
,
and
tell
him
yourself
your
whole
story
.
"
Percy
crimsoned
to
the
very
temples
.
"
Do
not
ask
me
such
a
thing
,
mother
,
"
he
answered
very
hurriedly
;
"
I
can
not
do
it
.
"
"
You
think
so
at
this
moment
,
my
dear
boy
;
I
am
not
at
all
astonished
that
you
should
,
for
it
will
be
very
humiliating
,
and
very
painful
;
and
if
I
could
spare
you
either
the
humiliation
or
the
pain
,
yet
produce
the
same
good
effects
,
I
need
not
tell
you
how
gladly
I
would
;
but
no
one
can
remove
the
sting
of
that
poem
from
Mr.
Morton
's
sensitive
feelings
but
yourself
;
and
I
am
quite
sure
if
you
will
allow
yourself
a
little
time
for
quiet
thought
,
you
will
agree
with
me
.
"
"
But
why
should
I
inflict
such
pain
upon
myself
,
granting
I
deserve
it
?
"
answered
Percy
,
still
much
heated
;
"
when
,
though
my
poem
is
the
only
one
that
has
unfortunately
met
his
eye
,
the
others
were
quite
as
galling
,
and
my
companions
quite
as
much
to
blame
—
why
should
I
be
the
sufferer
?
"
"
Because
,
by
many
errors
,
you
have
brought
it
on
yourself
.
Your
companions
did
indeed
act
very
wrongly
,
but
are
we
quite
sure
that
the
principles
which
your
father
and
Mr.
Howard
have
so
carefully
impressed
upon
you
,
have
been
as
carefully
impressed
upon
them
?
and
in
such
a
case
are
not
you
the
more
responsible
?
They
had
evidently
no
inward
check
to
keep
them
from
such
an
amusement
;
you
had
,
for
you
have
acknowledged
that
you
kept
aloof
at
first
,
knowing
it
was
wrong
,
and
only
yielded
from
want
of
sufficient
firmness
.
Inflict
the
pain
of
an
avowal
upon
yourself
,
my
boy
,
and
its
memory
will
help
you
in
future
from
yielding
to
too
great
weakness
—
and
the
act
prove
to
us
that
,
though
for
a
moment
led
into
great
error
,
you
are
still
as
brave
and
honest
as
we
believe
you
.
"
Percy
did
not
reply
,
but
his
countenance
denoted
an
inward
struggle
,
and
his
mother
added
—
"
Suppose
,
as
is
very
likely
,
Mr.
Morton
becomes
intimate
here
,
how
can
you
,
with
your
open
,
truthful
heart
,
associate
with
him
,
with
any
comfort
or
confidence
even
though
perfectly
satisfied
that
we
would
not
betray
you
,
and
that
he
would
never
know
the
truth
?
You
may
fancy
now
that
you
could
,
but
I
know
my
Percy
better
;
but
I
must
not
talk
to
you
any
more
,
for
the
dressing-bell
rang
some
minutes
ago
.
Remember
,
my
dear
boy
,
that
I
lay
no
command
on
you
to
seek
Mr.
Morton
;
I
have
only
told
you
that
which
I
believe
would
restore
you
to
happiness
and
atone
for
your
faults
,
more
effectually
than
any
thing
else
;
but
you
are
quite
at
liberty
to
act
as
you
think
proper
.
"
She
left
the
room
as
she
spoke
,
but
Percy
remained
for
some
few
minutes
longer
in
deep
thought
,
and
when
he
prepared
for
dinner
,
and
joined
his
family
,
it
was
still
in
the
same
unbroken
silence
.
Mr.
Hamilton
took
no
notice
of
him
,
and
two
or
three
times
the
little
affectionate
Emmeline
felt
the
tears
rising
to
her
eyes
,
for
she
could
not
bear
to
see
that
brother
,
who
was
in
general
the
life
of
the
family
group
,
so
silent
and
abstracted
.
Sliding
after
him
,
as
he
quitted
the
room
after
dinner
,
she
took
his
hand
,
and
looked
coaxingly
in
his
face
,
longing
,
but
not
daring
to
tell
him
her
father
's
promise
,
for
fear
he
should
discover
her
share
in
the
transaction
.
"
Well
,
dear
Emmy
?
"
"
Are
you
going
to
take
a
walk
,
Percy
?
—
let
me
go
with
you
.
"
"
I
do
not
think
I
am
,
love
.
I
may
be
going
to
ride
.
"
"
To
ride
!
"
repeated
the
little
girl
;
"
will
it
be
worth
while
?
"
"
You
forget
,
Emmy
,
it
is
summer
now
,
I
have
full
four
hours
before
prayers
;
but
do
not
say
any
thing
about
my
intentions
,
Emmeline
,
for
I
do
not
know
them
myself
yet
.
"
He
kissed
her
forehead
and
left
her
,
and
a
few
minutes
afterward
she
was
summoned
to
join
her
mother
,
Caroline
,
and
Ellen
,
in
a
walk
.
They
sauntered
through
the
grounds
in
the
direction
of
the
northern
lodge
,
which
opened
on
the
road
leading
to
Dartmoor
;
when
,
not
a
quarter
of
an
hour
after
they
had
left
the
house
,
they
were
overtaken
by
Percy
,
riding
at
what
seemed
almost
a
hand
gallop
,
but
he
had
time
as
he
passed
his
mother
to
gracefully
doff
his
cap
,
and
her
fond
heart
throbbed
,
as
she
caught
the
expression
of
his
flushed
,
but
earnest
face
.
He
was
out
of
sight
in
another
moment
,
followed
by
Robert
,
who
was
the
lads
'
constant
attendant
.
Before
they
had
concluded
their
walk
,
they
met
Mrs.
Greville
and
Mary
,
and
returned
with
them
to
the
house
.
Emmeline
,
who
had
not
seen
Mary
for
nearly
a
fortnight
,
was
in
an
ecstasy
of
enjoyment
,
and
Ellen
always
felt
it
a
real
pleasure
quietly
to
walk
by
Mary
's
side
,
and
answer
the
many
questions
with
which
she
always
contrived
to
interest
her
.
On
entering
the
house
,
Mr.
Hamilton
,
Herbert
,
and
Edward
joined
them
,
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
was
somewhat
surprised
at
the
even
more
than
ordinary
warmth
with
which
her
son
was
greeted
by
her
friends
,
and
at
the
flush
which
stained
his
cheek
at
Mrs.
Greville
's
first
words
—
"
You
were
not
too
much
fatigued
last
Thursday
,
I
hope
,
my
dear
Herbert
?
"
she
inquired
,
and
as
she
looked
at
him
,
her
eyes
glistened
in
tears
.
"
Oh
,
not
in
the
least
,
"
he
replied
instantly
,
and
as
if
he
would
exceedingly
like
to
change
the
subject
;
but
Mrs.
Greville
,
turning
to
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
continued
—
"
Will
you
forgive
me
,
Emmeline
,
if
I
confess
that
my
visit
this
evening
was
more
to
inquire
after
your
son
,
than
even
to
see
you
.
I
was
so
anxious
to
know
that
he
had
suffered
no
inconvenience
from
his
unusual
,
and
I
am
sure
fatiguing
,
exertion
.
"
"
I
suppose
I
must
not
be
jealous
,
as
you
are
so
candid
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
smiling
;
"
but
I
feel
very
much
inclined
to
be
so
,
finding
that
you
are
more
in
my
son
's
confidence
than
I
am
myself
.
I
know
Herbert
was
from
home
on
Thursday
,
but
I
was
not
aware
of
any
particular
exertion
on
his
part
.
"
"
Did
you
not
know
then
where
he
went
?
"
exclaimed
Mary
and
her
mother
at
the
same
moment
;
and
the
former
continued
,
with
unusual
eagerness
,
"
Did
you
not
know
that
he
went
to
the
races
,
to
try
and
hear
something
of
Alfred
?
and
that
by
hunting
about
both
the
fair
and
the
race-ground
—
scenes
which
I
know
he
so
much
dislikes
—
he
actually
found
him
,
and
amused
him
so
successfully
,
that
he
kept
him
with
him
all
day
.
Papa
was
so
engaged
that
he
had
no
time
to
look
after
Alfred
,
who
,
from
being
left
entirely
to
himself
,
might
have
sought
the
worst
companions
;
I
can
not
think
what
charm
Herbert
used
,
but
Alfred
was
quite
contented
to
be
with
him
;
they
dined
together
,
and
—
"
"
He
brought
me
what
,
next
to
my
boy
himself
,
was
the
greatest
consolation
I
could
have
,
"
interposed
Mrs.
Greville
,
her
voice
so
faltering
,
that
tears
almost
escaped
,
—
"
a
few
lines
which
,
he
assures
me
,
Alfred
thought
of
writing
himself
,
telling
me
,
he
could
not
bear
to
think
he
had
left
home
without
kissing
me
,
and
that
,
though
he
was
so
happy
with
his
father
,
that
he
could
not
wish
to
return
home
,
he
still
loved
me
and
Mary
very
,
very
much
,
and
would
continue
to
love
us
,
and
come
and
see
us
,
whenever
he
could
.
Oh
,
Emmeline
,
can
you
not
imagine
the
relief
of
such
a
letter
,
of
hearing
of
him
at
all
?
and
it
was
all
through
the
kindness
,
the
goodness
of
your
boy
!
"
When
Mrs.
Greville
and
Mary
had
first
begun
to
speak
,
Herbert
tried
to
retreat
;
but
Edward
placing
himself
against
the
door
,
so
that
to
open
it
was
impossible
,
and
Caroline
and
Emmeline
,
both
at
once
catching
hold
of
him
,
to
keep
him
prisoner
,
egress
was
not
to
be
thought
of
;
so
,
in
laughing
despair
,
he
broke
from
his
sisters
,
flung
himself
on
his
usual
seat
,
his
mother
's
stool
,
and
almost
hid
himself
in
her
dress
.
"
It
must
have
been
a
relief
,
indeed
,
"
answered
Mr.
Hamilton
;
"
and
rejoiced
am
I
that
my
quiet
Herbert
thought
of
such
a
plan
.
Look
up
,
Master
Shamefaced
,
and
tell
us
the
reason
of
your
most
extraordinary
mystery
on
this
occasion
.
Why
did
you
so
carefully
conceal
your
intentions
from
your
mother
and
myself
?
"
"
Because
,
papa
,
I
feared
you
might
not
approve
of
them
;
I
hardly
dared
think
about
it
myself
,
for
it
seemed
as
if
I
were
doing
actually
wrong
in
disregarding
your
principles
,
for
only
the
chance
of
effecting
good
.
I
know
,
if
I
had
mentioned
my
wish
to
find
Alfred
,
or
hear
something
about
him
,
you
would
not
have
refused
my
going
;
but
then
mamma
must
have
known
it
,
and
she
would
have
been
anxious
and
uncomfortable
,
if
I
had
not
appeared
the
very
moment
I
had
named
;
would
you
not
?
"
he
continued
,
looking
up
in
her
face
with
that
expression
of
affection
,
which
very
few
,
even
comparative
strangers
,
had
power
to
remit
.
"
I
should
indeed
,
my
dear
boy
;
I
fear
I
should
have
condemned
your
scheme
as
a
very
wild
one
,
and
really
am
glad
you
thought
so
much
of
my
comfort
,
as
not
to
tell
me
more
than
you
did
.
So
I
must
not
even
be
jealous
,
Jessie
,
but
rather
propose
a
vote
of
thanks
to
you
and
Mary
for
solving
the
mystery
.
I
do
not
think
Herbert
ever
excited
so
much
curiosity
and
speculation
,
in
his
life
,
before
.
"
The
entrance
of
Mr.
Grahame
changed
the
current
of
the
conversation
,
greatly
to
Herbert
's
relief
,
for
he
did
not
at
all
like
being
thus
brought
forward
.
Austere
as
Grahame
was
at
home
,
he
was
always
welcomed
with
pleasure
by
the
young
Hamiltons
,
who
never
could
understand
why
Annie
and
Cecil
should
so
fear
him
.
That
something
unusual
had
annoyed
him
,
Mr.
Hamilton
perceived
at
the
first
glance
;
but
he
took
no
notice
,
for
Grahame
seemed
to
find
relief
in
talking
gayly
to
the
young
people
.
"
And
where
is
my
friend
Percy
?
"
he
inquired
,
as
he
joined
the
happy
group
at
tea
,
and
Percy
was
still
absent
.
Mr.
Hamilton
repeated
the
question
in
some
surprise
;
but
his
wife
replying
that
he
had
gone
to
ride
,
and
might
not
be
back
yet
,
the
subject
dropped
.
After
tea
,
Mrs.
Greville
and
Mary
,
attended
by
Herbert
and
Edward
,
returned
to
the
Manor
;
and
the
little
girls
went
to
finish
some
business
for
the
next
day
,
and
amuse
themselves
as
they
liked
.
Grahame
remained
alone
with
his
friends
,
who
at
length
drew
from
him
the
cause
of
his
solicitude
.
He
had
that
morning
discovered
,
that
,
notwithstanding
his
positive
commands
,
Cecil
had
gone
to
the
prohibited
places
of
amusement
.
His
wife
had
prevaricated
when
he
questioned
her
;
at
one
moment
almost
denying
her
connivance
at
the
boy
's
disobedience
,
at
another
unconsciously
acknowledging
it
,
by
insisting
that
there
was
no
harm
in
it
;
and
if
Grahame
would
persist
in
so
interfering
with
his
children
's
amusements
,
he
must
expect
to
be
disobeyed
.
If
such
were
his
home
,
where
was
he
to
look
for
truth
,
honor
,
and
affection
?
What
would
be
his
son
's
after
career
,
if
such
were
the
lessons
of
his
childhood
?
He
had
punished
him
severely
,
but
there
was
little
hope
of
its
producing
any
good
effect
,
when
his
wife
was
yet
more
to
blame
than
his
child
.
It
would
only
alienate
the
boy
's
affections
still
more
from
him
.
Yet
what
could
he
do
?
Could
he
let
such
disobedience
and
untruthfulness
—
for
Cecil
had
denied
his
having
been
at
the
races
—
pass
unnoticed
?
He
had
shut
himself
up
in
his
library
the
remainder
of
the
day
;
but
at
length
,
unable
to
bear
his
own
thoughts
,
had
walked
over
to
Oakwood
,
feeling
sure
,
if
peace
were
to
be
found
,
he
should
find
it
there
.
Their
sympathy
it
was
easy
for
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Hamilton
to
give
—
for
they
felt
it
sincerely
—
but
to
advise
was
both
delicate
and
difficult
.
To
interfere
in
a
household
is
not
the
part
even
of
the
most
intimate
friends
.
And
when
Lady
Helen
herself
encouraged
the
boy
in
his
disobedience
,
and
showed
him
an
example
of
equivocation
,
what
could
be
said
?
Grahame
could
not
bear
the
idea
of
a
public
school
for
a
boy
scarcely
eleven
,
and
whose
home-influence
was
so
injurious
,
and
Mr.
Hamilton
could
not
advise
it
.
He
tried
,
therefore
,
merely
to
raise
the
depressed
spirits
of
his
friend
,
bringing
forward
many
instances
,
when
even
the
best
training
failed
;
and
others
where
the
faults
of
childhood
were
subdued
by
circumstances
,
and
became
fair
promising
youth
.
Grahame
shook
his
head
despondingly
.
"
You
can
scarcely
be
a
fit
judge
of
my
trial
,
Hamilton
,
"
he
said
;
"
you
have
known
nothing
but
the
blessing
of
hand-in-hand
companionship
,
in
the
training
of
your
children
,
as
in
every
thing
else
.
There
must
be
unity
between
father
and
mother
,
or
there
is
little
hope
of
joy
in
their
offspring
for
either
;
were
my
wife
only
in
some
things
like
yours
—
but
I
see
I
must
not
speak
so
,
"
he
added
hurriedly
,
as
he
met
a
glance
of
reproach
from
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
and
he
turned
to
address
the
two
lads
,
who
at
that
instant
entered
from
their
walk
.
The
bell
for
prayers
rung
soon
afterward
,
and
Grahame
rose
to
say
good
night
.
"
Nay
,
stay
with
us
,
"
said
Mr.
Hamilton
,
earnestly
.
"
Why
should
the
call
for
devotion
be
the
signal
for
separation
?
join
us
,
Grahame
.
It
is
not
the
first
time
by
very
many
that
we
have
prayed
together
.
"
Grahame
yielded
without
an
instant
's
hesitation
.
Still
Percy
had
not
returned
,
and
his
mother
became
dreadfully
anxious
.
Her
husband
,
at
her
request
,
waited
a
quarter
of
an
hour
,
but
reluctantly
;
for
he
was
more
particular
that
every
member
of
his
household
should
assemble
at
the
stated
hour
of
prayer
,
than
in
any
other
point
relating
to
his
establishment
.
Scarcely
,
however
,
had
the
first
word
been
said
,
when
Percy
and
Robert
entered
,
and
the
former
,
with
a
very
rapid
,
but
noiseless
step
,
traversed
the
large
room
,
and
kneeled
in
his
accustomed
place
.
In
vain
did
Mrs.
Hamilton
try
to
keep
her
thoughts
fixed
on
the
service
.
Had
he
really
been
to
Mr.
Morton
,
and
if
he
had
,
how
had
he
been
received
?
had
his
fine
spirit
been
soothed
or
irritated
?
and
a
thousand
other
nameless
but
natural
fears
thronged
her
heart
.
But
one
look
on
her
son
as
he
rose
reassured
her
;
his
cheek
was
flushed
with
rapid
riding
,
but
his
dark
eye
sparkled
,
and
he
looked
more
bright
and
joyous
than
he
had
done
for
weeks
.
He
advanced
without
hesitation
to
Mr.
Hamilton
the
moment
the
domestics
had
quitted
the
library
and
said
,
eagerly
,
but
still
respectfully
—
"
Will
you
,
too
,
forgive
me
,
my
dear
father
?
Mr.
Morton
knows
the
whole
truth
,
and
has
not
only
pardoned
my
cruel
folly
,
but
assured
me
,
that
I
have
more
than
atoned
for
the
pain
my
hateful
verses
inflicted
;
that
he
will
laugh
at
them
himself
and
declare
he
knows
their
author
as
a
most
particular
friend
—
which
he
hopes
you
will
permit
me
to
become
—
whenever
he
has
the
opportunity
;
for
that
such
notice
of
them
will
be
the
surest
way
to
consign
them
to
oblivion
.
I
have
endured
so
much
pain
the
last
few
weeks
that
I
do
not
think
I
shall
be
so
thoughtless
and
weak
in
a
hurry
again
.
Will
you
try
me
once
more
?
"
Astonished
and
touched
,
far
more
than
he
was
ever
in
the
habit
of
allowing
himself
to
feel
,
much
less
to
display
,
Mr.
Hamilton
had
some
difficulty
in
replying
;
but
his
words
were
even
more
than
satisfactory
to
his
son
's
eager
heart
,
for
he
answered
earnestly
—
"
Pray
,
do
not
give
me
any
praise
for
my
courage
,
papa
;
I
am
quite
sure
,
if
it
had
not
been
for
mamma
's
suggestion
,
I
never
could
have
done
it
.
It
might
have
crossed
my
mind
,
but
I
fear
pride
would
not
have
permitted
me
to
listen
to
it
;
but
when
mamma
put
the
case
before
me
as
she
did
,
I
could
not
prevent
my
conscience
from
feeling
the
truth
of
all
she
said
,
and
if
I
had
not
followed
her
advice
,
I
should
have
been
more
miserable
still
.
Dearest
mother
,
"
he
continued
,
as
he
turned
with
even
more
than
his
usual
affection
to
receive
her
nightly
embrace
,
"
you
have
made
me
so
happy
!
how
can
I
thank
you
?
"
If
she
made
him
happy
,
he
certainly
had
returned
the
blessing
,
for
Mrs.
Hamilton
had
seldom
felt
more
exquisite
pleasure
than
she
did
at
that
moment
;
and
her
little
Emmeline
,
though
she
could
not
quite
understand
all
her
mother
's
feelings
,
felt
,
in
her
way
,
almost
as
glad
.
"
Well
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
will
not
your
son
's
words
confirm
mine
?
"
said
Mr.
Grahame
trying
to
speak
cheerfully
,
when
the
young
party
had
retired
,
and
he
was
again
alone
with
his
friends
.
"
Can
he
go
far
wrong
with
such
a
friend
?
"
"
Indeed
,
he
has
done
me
more
than
justice
,
and
himself
not
enough
.
When
I
left
him
,
I
had
scarcely
a
hope
that
my
very
disagreeable
advice
would
be
followed
;
besides
,
Mr.
Grahame
,
"
she
added
,
more
playfully
,
"
it
was
not
from
disagreeing
with
you
on
a
mother
's
influence
that
my
look
reproached
you
,
you
know
well
enough
what
it
meant
;
and
I
still
say
,
that
even
now
,
if
you
would
but
be
less
reserved
and
stern
,
would
but
see
Helen
's
many
better
qualities
,
as
clearly
as
you
do
her
faults
,
you
might
still
win
her
to
your
will
even
with
regard
to
your
children
.
"
"
Not
now
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
it
is
too
late
;
but
you
have
no
idea
how
your
look
transported
me
back
to
years
past
,
"
he
added
,
evidently
resolved
to
change
the
subject
,
"
when
I
actually
almost
feared
to
approach
you
.
Do
you
remember
,
Hamilton
,
when
I
told
you
,
if
Miss
Manvers
had
a
fault
,
she
was
too
cold
?
"
"
I
shall
not
easily
forget
the
incidents
of
that
night
,
"
replied
Mr.
Hamilton
,
with
a
fond
glance
toward
his
wife
.
"
Poor
Eleanor
,
when
her
conduct
that
evening
fell
under
my
lash
,
I
little
thought
her
orphan
children
would
be
living
under
my
roof
,
and
to
me
almost
like
my
own
.
"
"
And
one
her
very
image
,
"
observed
Grahame
.
"
Does
either
resemble
her
in
mind
or
disposition
?
"
"
Edward
almost
as
much
in
mind
as
in
personal
beauty
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hamilton
;
"
But
not
in
all
points
of
his
disposition
.
Ellen
does
not
resemble
her
poor
mother
in
any
thing
.
"
"
Is
she
like
her
father
?
"
"
I
did
not
know
him
sufficiently
to
judge
,
but
I
fancy
not
.
—
In
fact
,
I
hardly
yet
understand
Ellen
.
"
"
Indeed
!
"
answered
Grahame
,
smiling
;
"
is
your
penetrative
genius
here
at
fault
?
"
"
I
fear
it
is
,
"
she
answered
,
in
the
same
tone
;
"
Ellen
is
my
youngest
child
—
and
that
which
has
been
my
successful
help
five
times
,
has
become
blunted
at
the
sixth
,
and
refuses
to
aid
me
further
.
"
"
Grahame
,
do
not
heed
her
,
"
interposed
her
husband
,
laughing
;
"
she
fancies
there
is
something
extraordinary
about
Ellen
,
which
she
can
not
comprehend
;
and
I
feel
certain
that
imagination
has
been
playing
with
my
wife
's
sober
judgment
,
and
that
our
little
niece
is
a
very
ordinary
child
,
only
rather
more
sad
and
quiet
than
is
usual
at
her
age
,
which
may
be
easily
accounted
for
by
her
early
trials
and
constant
ill-health
.
So
I
solve
what
my
wife
pronounces
a
mystery
.
She
has
so
few
fancies
,
however
,
that
I
do
not
quarrel
with
this
,
for
it
has
all
the
charm
of
novelty
.
"
There
were
more
than
usual
subjects
of
thought
on
the
minds
of
all
the
young
inmates
of
Oakwood
,
before
they
went
to
sleep
that
night
.
Percy
's
,
Herbert
's
,
and
Emmeline
's
were
all
peculiarly
happy
and
peaceful
.
Caroline
's
were
not
so
agreeable
.
Praise
lavished
on
others
never
gave
her
pleasure
:
the
question
would
always
come
,
Why
did
she
not
receive
it
too
?
It
was
very
hard
that
she
so
seldom
received
it
,
and
self-love
was
always
ready
to
accuse
her
parents
of
some
degree
of
partiality
rather
than
herself
of
unworthiness
.
But
these
thoughts
only
came
when
she
was
alone
;
the
moment
she
heard
her
father
's
voice
,
or
met
her
mother
's
smile
,
they
fled
from
her
till
they
were
pertinaciously
recalled
.
Ellen
thought
mostly
of
Herbert
.
She
had
been
as
curious
as
the
rest
to
know
where
he
had
been
,
though
she
had
not
said
so
much
about
it
.
But
that
it
was
for
some
good
,
kind
deed
she
had
never
doubted
.
"
No
wonder
Mary
loves
him
so
much
,
"
she
said
internally
;
"
but
how
can
I
ever
hope
he
will
love
one
so
often
naughty
as
I
am
.
If
Edward
be
so
much
superior
,
what
must
Herbert
be
?
How
I
wish
I
were
his
sister
,
and
then
he
would
love
me
,
deserving
or
not
.
"
That
poor
Ellen
was
often
thought
,
as
she
expressed
it
,
"
naughty
"
was
true
;
and
it
was
this
mingling
of
many
apparent
faults
,
especially
disregard
to
her
aunt
's
commands
,
and
but
too
often
endeavor
to
conceal
and
equivocate
,
instead
of
an
open
confession
,
with
a
sorrow
and
repentance
too
deep
and
painful
for
her
years
,
that
so
fairly
bewildered
Mrs.
Hamilton
,
and
really
,
as
she
had
told
Mr.
Grahame
,
prevented
her
from
understanding
Ellen
.
If
she
could
but
have
known
of
that
unfortunate
promise
,
and
the
strong
hold
it
had
taken
of
the
child
's
vivid
imagination
;
that
by
dwelling
on
it
she
had
actually
made
herself
believe
that
,
by
always
shielding
Edward
from
blame
or
punishment
,
she
was
obeying
and
making
her
mother
love
her
from
Heaven
,
and
so
,
still
more
deepening
her
father
's
affection
for
her
;
and
that
this
idea
enabled
her
to
bear
the
suffering
of
that
most
painful
of
all
punishments
,
her
aunt
's
displeasure
,
Mrs.
Hamilton
would
have
left
no
means
untried
to
remove
such
a
mistaken
impression
,
and
no
doubt
would
have
succeeded
;
but
she
had
not
the
slightest
conception
of
the
real
origin
of
her
niece
's
incomprehensible
contradictions
.
She
had
believed
and
hoped
the
influences
of
her
earlier
life
would
disappear
before
the
quiet
,
wholesome
routine
of
the
present
,
and
often
and
often
she
found
herself
fearing
that
it
could
not
be
only
maternal
neglect
,
but
actual
disposition
,
at
fault
.
When
convinced
of
the
great
importance
of
truth
,
Ellen
frequently
,
instead
of
attempting
to
conceal
what
Edward
might
have
heedlessly
done
,
actually
took
it
upon
herself
,
not
being
able
to
define
that
in
such
self-sacrifice
she
was
also
forfeiting
truth
;
or
,
if
she
did
believe
so
,
it
was
also
clear
,
that
to
tell
the
real
truth
to
her
aunt
and
betray
Edward
,
was
breaking
her
solemn
promise
to
her
mother
;
and
,
either
way
,
she
was
doing
wrong
.
To
describe
or
define
the
chaos
in
the
poor
child
's
mind
,
from
these
contending
feelings
,
would
be
almost
as
impossible
to
us
as
it
was
to
herself
.
She
only
knew
that
she
was
often
naughty
when
she
most
wished
to
be
good
;
that
her
aunt
must
think
she
did
not
care
for
her
displeasure
;
when
it
made
her
so
very
unhappy
,
that
she
was
scarcely
ever
in
disgrace
without
being
ill.
That
she
never
could
feel
happy
,
for
even
when
"
good
"
there
always
seemed
a
weight
hanging
over
her
,
and
therefore
she
must
be
different
to
,
and
worse
than
any
body
else
.
Little
do
mere
superficial
observers
know
the
capabilities
for
joy
or
suffering
in
a
young
child
's
heart
,
the
exquisitely
tender
germ
which
is
committed
to
us
