putforth
what
is
of
weight
and
value
.
”
“
And
you
are
above
wanting
to
silence
them
by
palaver
about
unfeminine
publicity
?
”
“
There
is
no
need
of
publicity
.
Much
of
the
best
and
most
wide-spread
writing
emanates
from
the
most
quiet
,
unsuspected
quarters
.
”
“
That
is
the
benefit
of
an
anonymous
press
.
”
“
Yes
.
The
withholding
of
the
name
prevents
well-mannered
people
from
treating
a
woman
as
an
authoress
,
if
she
does
not
proclaim
herself
one
;
and
the
difference
is
great
between
being
known
to
write
,
and
setting
up
for
an
authoress
.
”
“
Between
fact
and
pretension
.
But
write
or
not
write
,
there
is
an
instinctive
avoidance
of
an
intellectual
woman
.
”
“
Not
always
,
for
the
simple
manner
that
goes
with
real
superiority
is
generally
very
attractive
.
The
larger
and
deeper
the
mind
,
the
more
there
would
be
of
the
genuine
humbleness
and
gentleness
that
a
shallow
nature
is
incapable
of
.
The
very
word
humility
presupposes
depth
.
”
“
I
see
what
you
mean
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Gentleness
is
not
feebleness
,
nor
lowness
lowliness
.
There
must
be
something
held
back
.
”
“
I
see
it
daily
,
”
said
Colonel
Keith
;
and
for
a
moment
he
seemed
about
to
add
something
,
but
checked
himself
,
and
took
advantage
of
an
interruption
to
change
the
conversation
.
“
Superior
natures
lowly
and
gentle
!
”
said
Rachel
to
herself
.
“
Am
I
so
to
him
,
then
,
or
is
he
deceiving
himself
?
What
is
to
be
done
?
At
my
age
!
Such
a
contravention
of
my
principles
!
A
soldier
,
an
honourable
,
a
title
in
prospect
,
Fanny’s
major
!
Intolerable
!
No
,
no
!
My
property
absorbed
by
a
Scotch
peerage
,
when
I
want
it
for
so
many
things
!
Never
.
I
am
sorry
for
him
though
.
It
is
hard
that
a
man
who
can
forgive
a
woman
for
intellect
,
should
be
thrown
back
on
poor
little
Fanny
;
and
it
is
gratifying
—
.
But
I
am
untouched
yet
,
and
I
will
take
care
of
myself
.
At
my
age
a
woman
who
loves
at
all
,
loves
with
all
the
gathered
force
of
her
nature
,
and
I
certainly
feel
no
such
passion
.
No
,
certainly
not
;
and
I
am
resolved
not
to
be
swept
along
till
I
have
made
up
my
mind
to
yield
to
the
force
of
the
torrent
.
Let
us
see
.
”
“
Grace
,
my
dear
,
”
said
Mrs.
Curtis
,
in
one
of
her
most
confidential
moments
,
“
is
not
dear
Rachel
looking
very
well
?
I
never
saw
her
dress
so
well
put
on
.
”
“
Yes
,
she
is
looking
very
handsome
,
”
said
Grace
.
“
I
am
glad
she
has
consented
to
have
her
hair
in
that
now
way
,
it
is
very
becoming
to
her
.
”
“
I
—
I
don’t
know
that
it
is
all
the
hair
,
”
said
the
mother
,
faltering
,
as
if
half
ashamed
of
herself
;
“
but
it
seemed
to
me
that
we
need
not
have
been
so
uneasy
about
dear
Fanny
.
I
think
,
don’t
you
?
that
there
may
be
another
attraction
.
To
be
sure
,
it
would
be
at
a
terrible
distance
from
us
;
but
so
good
and
kind
as
he
is
,
it
would
be
such
a
thing
for
you
and
Fanny
as
well
—
”
Grace
gave
a
great
start
.
“
Yes
,
my
dear
,
”
Mrs.
Curtis
gently
prosed
on
with
her
speculation
,
“
she
would
be
a
dreadful
loss
to
us
;
but
you
see
,
so
clever
and
odd
as
she
is
,
and
with
such
peculiar
ideas
,
I
should
be
so
thankful
to
see
her
in
the
hands
of
some
good
,
sensible
man
that
would
guide
her
.
”
“
But
do
you
really
think
it
is
so
,
mother
?
”
“
Mind
,
my
dear
,
it
is
nothing
to
build
on
,
but
I
cannot
help
being
struck
,
and
just
thinking
to
myself
.
I
know
you’ll
not
say
anything
.
”
Grace
felt
much
distressed
after
this
communication
had
opened
her
eyes
to
certain
little
touches
of
softening
and
consciousness
that
sat
oddly
enough
on
her
sister
.
From
the
first
avowal
of
Colonel
Keith’s
acquaintance
with
the
Williamses
,
she
had
concluded
him
to
be
the
nameless
lover
,
and
had
been
disappointed
that
Alison
,
so
far
from
completing
the
confidence
,
had
become
more
reserved
than
ever
,
leaving
her
to
wonder
whether
he
were
indeed
the
same
,
or
whether
his
constancy
had
survived
the
change
of
circumstances
.
There
were
no
grounds
on
which
to
found
a
caution
,
yet
Grace
felt
full
of
discomfort
and
distrust
,
a
feeling
shared
by
Alison
,
who
had
never
forgiven
herself
for
her
half
confidence
,
and
felt
that
it
would
be
wiser
to
tell
the
rest
,
but
was
withheld
by
knowing
that
her
motive
would
actuate
her
sister
to
a
contrary
course
.
That
Colin
should
detach
himself
from
her
,
love
again
,
and
marry
,
was
what
Ermine
schooled
herself
to
think
fitting
;
but
Alison
alternated
between
indignant
jealousy
for
her
sister
,
and
the
desire
to
warn
Rachel
that
she
might
at
best
win
only
the
reversion
of
his
heart
.
Ermine
was
happy
and
content
with
his
evening
visits
,
and
would
not
take
umbrage
at
the
daily
rides
,
nor
the
reports
of
drawing-room
warfare
,
and
Alison
often
wavered
between
the
desire
of
preparing
her
,
and
the
doubt
whether
it
were
not
cruel
to
inflict
the
present
pain
of
want
of
confidence
.
If
that
were
a
happy
summer
to
some
at
Avonmouth
,
it
was
a
very
trying
one
to
those
two
anxious
,
yet
apparently
uninterested
sisters
,
who
were
but
lookers-on
at
the
game
that
affected
their
other
selves
.
At
length
,
however
,
came
a
new
feature
into
the
quiet
summer
life
at
Avonmouth
.
Colin
looked
in
on
Ermine
one
morning
to
announce
,
with
shrugged
shoulders
,
and
a
face
almost
making
game
of
himself
,
that
his
brother
was
coming
!
Lord
Keith
had
been
called
to
London
on
business
,
and
would
extend
his
journey
to
come
and
see
what
his
brother
was
doing
.
“
This
comes
of
being
the
youngest
of
the
family
,
”
observed
Colin
,
meditatively
.
“
One
is
never
supposed
capable
of
taking
care
of
one’s
self
.
With
Keith
I
shall
be
the
gay
extravagant
young
officer
to
the
end
of
my
days
.
”
“
You
are
not
forgiving
to
your
brother
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
You
have
it
in
your
power
to
make
me
so
,
”
he
said
eagerly
.
“
Then
you
would
have
nothing
to
forgive
,
”
she
replied
,
smiling
.
Lady
Temple’s
first
thought
was
a
renewal
of
her
ardent
wish
that
Ermine
should
be
at
Myrtlewood
;
and
that
Mackarel
Lane
,
and
the
governesship
should
be
as
much
as
possible
kept
out
of
sight
.
Even
Alison
was
on
her
side
;
not
that
she
was
ashamed
of
either
,
but
she
wished
that
Ermine
should
see
and
judge
with
her
own
eyes
of
Colin’s
conduct
,
and
also
eagerly
hailed
all
that
showed
him
still
committed
to
her
sister
.
She
was
proportionably
vexed
that
he
did
not
think
it
expedient
to
harass
Ermine
with
further
invitations
.
“
My
brother
knows
the
whole
,
”
he
said
,
“
and
I
do
not
wish
to
attempt
to
conceal
anything
.
”
“
I
do
not
mean
to
conceal
,
”
faltered
Fanny
,
“
only
I
thought
it
might
save
a
shock
—
appearances
—
he
might
think
better
of
it
,
if
—
”
“
You
thought
only
what
was
kind
,
”
answered
the
colonel
,
“
and
I
thank
you
for
it
most
warmly
;
but
this
matter
does
not
depend
on
my
brother’s
consent
,
and
even
if
it
did
,
Ermine’s
own
true
position
is
that
which
is
most
honourable
to
her
.
”
Having
said
this
,
he
was
forced
to
console
Fanny
in
her
shame
at
her
own
kind
attempt
at
this
gentle
little
feminine
subterfuge
.
He
gratified
her
,
however
,
by
not
interfering
with
her
hospitable
instincts
of
doing
honour
to
and
entertaining
his
brother
,
for
whose
sake
her
first
approach
to
a
dinner
party
was
given
;
a
very
small
one
,
but
treated
by
her
and
her
household
as
a
far
more
natural
occurrence
than
was
any
sort
of
entertainment
at
the
Homestead
.
She
even
looked
surprised
,
in
her
quiet
way
,
at
Mrs.
Curtis’s
proffers
of
assistance
in
the
et
ceteras
,
and
gratefully
answered
for
Coombe’s
doing
the
right
thing
,
without
troubling
herself
further
.
Mrs.
Curtis
was
less
easy
in
her
mind
,
her
housewifely
soul
questioned
the
efficiency
of
her
niece’s
establishment
,
and
she
was
moreover
persuaded
that
Lord
Keith
must
be
bent
on
inspecting
his
brother’s
choice
,
while
even
Rachel
felt
as
if
the
toils
of
fate
were
being
drawn
round
her
,
and
let
Grace
embellish
her
for
the
dinner
party
,
in
an
odd
sort
of
mood
,
sometimes
rejecting
her
attempts
at
decoration
,
sometimes
vouchsafing
a
glance
at
the
glass
,
chiefly
to
judge
whether
her
looks
were
really
as
repellently
practical
and
intellectual
as
she
had
been
in
the
habit
of
supposing
.
The
wreath
of
white
roses
,
which
she
wore
for
the
first
time
,
certainly
had
a
pleasing
and
softening
effect
,
and
she
was
conscious
that
she
had
never
looked
so
well
;
then
was
vexed
at
the
solicitude
with
which
her
mother
looked
her
over
,
and
fairly
blushed
with
annoyance
at
the
good
lady’s
evident
satisfaction
.
But
,
after
all
,
Rachel
,
at
her
best
,
could
not
have
competed
with
the
grace
of
the
quiet
little
figure
that
received
them
,
the
rich
black
silk
giving
dignity
to
the
slender
form
,
and
a
sort
of
compromise
between
veil
and
cap
sheltering
the
delicate
fair
face
;
and
with
a
son
on
each
side
,
Fanny
looked
so
touchingly
proud
and
well
supported
,
and
the
boys
were
so
exultant
and
admiring
at
seeing
her
thus
dressed
,
that
it
was
a
very
pretty
sight
,
and
struck
the
first
arrived
of
her
guests
,
Mr.
Touchett
,
quite
dumb
with
admiration
.
Colonel
Hammond
,
the
two
Keiths
,
and
their
young
kinsman
,
completed
the
party
.
Lord
Keith
of
Gowanbrae
was
best
described
by
the
said
young
kinsman’s
words
“
a
long-backed
Scotchman
.
”
He
was
so
intensely
Scottish
that
he
made
his
brother
look
and
sound
the
same
,
whereas
ordinarily
neither
air
nor
accent
would
have
shown
the
colonel’s
nation
,
and
there
was
no
definable
likeness
between
them
,
except
,
perhaps
,
the
baldness
of
the
forehead
,
but
the
remains
of
Lord
Keith’s
hair
were
silvered
red
,
whereas
Colin’s
thick
beard
and
scanty
locks
were
dark
brown
,
and
with
a
far
larger
admixture
of
hoar-frost
,
though
he
was
the
younger
by
twenty
years
,
and
his
brother’s
appearance
gave
the
impression
of
a
far
greater
age
than
fifty-eight
,
there
was
the
stoop
of
rheumatism
,
and
a
worn
,
thin
look
on
the
face
,
with
its
high
cheek
bones
,
narrow
lips
,
and
cold
eyes
,
by
no
means
winning
.
On
the
other
hand
,
he
was
the
most
finished
gentleman
that
Grace
and
Rachel
had
ever
encountered
;
he
had
all
the
gallant
polish
of
manner
that
the
old
Scottish
nobility
have
inherited
from
the
French
of
the
old
regime
—
a
manner
that
,
though
Colin
possessed
all
its
essentials
,
had
been
in
some
degree
rubbed
off
in
the
frankness
of
his
military
life
,
but
which
the
old
nobleman
retained
in
its
full
perfection
.
Mrs.
Curtis
admired
it
extremely
as
a
specimen
of
the
“
old
school
,
”
for
which
she
had
never
ceased
to
mourn
;
and
Rachel
felt
as
if
it
took
her
breath
away
by
the
likeness
to
Louis
XIV
.
;
but
,
strange
to
say
,
Lady
Temple
acted
as
if
she
were
quite
in
her
element
.
It
might
be
that
the
old
man’s
courtesy
brought
back
to
her
something
of
the
tender
chivalry
of
her
soldier
husband
,
and
that
a
sort
of
filial
friendliness
had
become
natural
to
her
towards
an
elderly
man
,
for
she
responded
at
once
,
and
devoted
herself
to
pleasing
and
entertaining
him
.
Their
civilities
were
something
quite
amusing
to
watch
,
and
in
the
evening
,
with
a
complete
perception
of
his
tastes
,
she
got
up
a
rubber
for
him
.
“
Can
you
bear
it
?
You
will
not
like
to
play
?
”
murmured
the
colonel
to
her
,
as
he
rung
for
the
cards
,
recollecting
the
many
evenings
of
whist
with
her
mother
and
Sir
Stephen
.
“
Oh
!
I
don’t
mind
.
I
like
anything
like
old
times
,
and
my
aunt
does
not
like
playing
—
”
No
,
for
Mrs.
Curtis
had
grown
up
in
a
family
where
cards
were
disapproved
,
and
she
felt
it
a
sad
fall
in
Fanny
to
be
playing
with
all
the
skill
of
her
long
training
,
and
receiving
grand
compliments
from
Lord
Keith
on
joint
victories
over
the
two
colonels
.
It
was
a
distasteful
game
to
all
but
the
players
,
for
Rachel
felt
slightly
hurt
at
the
colonel’s
defection
,
and
Mr.
Touchett
,
with
somewhat
of
Mrs.
Curtis’s
feeling
that
it
was
a
backsliding
in
Lady
Temple
,
suddenly
grew
absent
in
a
conversation
that
he
was
holding
with
young
Mr.
Keith
upon
—
of
all
subjects
in
the
world
—
lending
library
books
,
and
finally
repaired
to
the
piano
,
where
Grace
was
playing
her
mother’s
favourite
music
,
in
hopes
of
distracting
her
mind
from
Fanny’s
enormity
;
and
there
he
stood
,
mechanically
thanking
Miss
Curtis
,
but
all
the
time
turning
a
melancholy
eye
upon
the
game
.
Alick
Keith
,
meanwhile
,
sat
himself
down
near
Rachel
and
her
mother
,
close
to
an
open
window
,
for
it
was
so
warm
that
even
Mrs.
Curtis
enjoyed
the
air
;
and
perhaps
because
that
watching
the
colonel
had
made
Rachel’s
discourses
somewhat
less
ready
than
usual
,
he
actually
obtained
an
interval
in
which
to
speak
!
He
was
going
the
next
day
to
Bishops
Worthy
,
there
to
attend
his
cousin’s
wedding
,
and
at
the
end
of
a
fortnight
to
bring
his
sister
for
her
visit
to
Lady
Temple
.
This
sister
was
evidently
his
great
care
,
and
it
needed
but
little
leading
to
make
him
tell
a
good
deal
about
her
.
She
had
,
it
seemed
,
been
sent
home
from
the
Cape
at
about
ten
years
old
,
when
the
regiment
went
to
India
,
and
her
brother
who
had
been
at
school
,
then
was
with
her
for
a
short
time
before
going
out
to
join
the
regiment
.
“
Why
,
”
said
Rachel
,
recovering
her
usual
manner
,
“
you
have
not
been
ten
years
in
the
army
!
”
“
I
had
my
commission
at
sixteen
,
”
he
answered
.
“
You
are
not
six-and-twenty
!
”
she
exclaimed
.
“
You
are
as
right
as
usual
,
”
was
the
reply
,
with
his
odd
little
smile
;
“
at
least
till
the
1st
of
August
.
”
“
My
dear
!
”
said
her
mother
,
more
alive
than
Rachel
to
his
amusement
at
her
daughter’s
knowing
his
age
better
than
he
did
himself
,
but
adding
,
politely
,
“
you
are
hardly
come
to
the
time
of
life
for
liking
to
hear
that
your
looks
deceived
us
.
”
“
Boys
are
tolerated
,
”
he
said
,
with
a
quick
glance
at
Rachel
;
but
at
that
moment
something
many-legged
and
tickling
flitted
into
the
light
,
and
dashed
over
her
face
.
Mrs.
Curtis
was
by
no
means
a
strong-minded
woman
in
the
matter
of
moths
and
crane-flies
,
disliking
almost
equally
their
sudden
personal
attentions
and
their
suicidal
propensities
,
and
Rachel
dutifully
started
up
at
once
to
give
chase
to
the
father-long-legs
,
and
put
it
out
of
window
before
it
had
succeeded
in
deranging
her
mother’s
equanimity
either
by
bouncing
into
her
face
,
or
suspending
itself
by
two
or
three
legs
in
the
wax
of
the
candle
.
Mr.
Keith
seconded
her
efforts
,
but
the
insect
was
both
lively
and
cunning
,
eluding
them
with
a
dexterity
wonderful
in
such
an
apparently
over-limbed
creature
,
until
at
last
it
kindly
rested
for
a
moment
with
its
wooden
peg
of
a
body
sloping
,
and
most
of
its
thread-like
members
prone
upon
a
newspaper
,
where
Rachel
descended
on
it
with
her
pocket-handkerchief
,
and
Mr.
Keith
tried
to
inclose
it
with
his
hands
at
the
same
moment
.
To
have
crushed
the
fly
would
have
been
melancholy
,
to
have
come
down
on
the
young
soldier’s
fingers
,
awkward
;
but
Rachel
did
what
was
even
more
shocking
—
her
hands
did
descend
on
,
what
should
have
been
fingers
,
but
they
gave
way
under
her
—
she
felt
only
the
leather
of
the
glove
between
her
and
the
newspaper
.
She
jumped
and
very
nearly
cried
out
,
looking
up
with
an
astonishment
and
horror
only
half
reassured
by
his
extremely
amused
smile
.
“
I
beg
your
pardon
;
I’m
so
sorry
—
”
she
gasped
confused
.
“
Inferior
animals
can
dispense
with
a
member
more
or
less
,
”
he
replied
,
giving
her
the
other
corner
of
the
paper
,
on
which
they
bore
their
capture
to
the
window
,
and
shook
it
till
it
took
wing
,
with
various
legs
streaming
behind
it
.
“
That
venerable
animal
is
apparently
indifferent
to
having
left
a
third
of
two
legs
behind
him
,
”
and
as
he
spoke
he
removed
the
already
half
drawn-off
left-hand
glove
,
and
let
Rachel
see
for
a
moment
that
it
had
only
covered
the
thumb
,
forefinger
,
two
joints
of
the
middle
,
and
one
of
the
third
;
the
little
finger
was
gone
,
and
the
whole
hand
much
scarred
.
She
was
still
so
much
dismayed
that
she
gasped
out
the
first
question
she
had
ever
asked
him
—
“
Where
—
?
”
“
Not
under
the
handkerchief
,
”
he
answered
,
picking
it
up
as
if
he
thought
she
wanted
convincing
.
“
At
Delhi
,
I
imagine
.
”
At
that
moment
,
Grace
,
as
an
act
of
general
beneficence
certainly
pleasing
to
her
mother
,
began
to
sing
.
It
was
a
stop
to
all
conversation
,
for
Mrs.
Curtis
particularly
disliked
talking
during
singing
,
and
Rachel
had
to
digest
her
discoveries
at
her
leisure
,
as
soon
as
she
could
collect
herself
after
the
unnatural
and
strangely
lasting
sensation
of
the
solid
giving
way
.
So
Grace
was
right
,
he
was
no
boy
,
but
really
older
than
Fanny
,
the
companion
of
her
childhood
,
and
who
probably
would
have
married
her
had
not
the
general
come
in
the
way
!
Here
was
,
no
doubt
,
the
real
enemy
,
while
they
had
all
been
thinking
of
Colonel
Keith
.
A
man
only
now
expecting
his
company
!
It
would
sound
more
absurd
.
Yet
Rachel
was
not
wont
to
think
how
things
would
sound
!
And
this
fresh
intense
dislike
provoked
her
.
Was
it
the
unsuitability
of
the
young
widow
remarrying
?
“
Surely
,
surely
,
it
must
not
be
that
womanhood
in
its
contemptible
side
is
still
so
strong
that
I
want
to
keep
all
for
myself
!
Shame
!
And
this
may
be
the
true
life
love
,
suppressed
,
now
able
to
revive
!
I
have
no
right
to
be
disgusted
,
I
will
watch
minutely
,
and
judge
if
he
will
be
a
good
guide
and
father
to
the
boys
,
though
it
may
save
the
colonel
trouble
.
Pish
!
what
have
I
to
do
with
either
?
Why
should
I
think
about
them
?
Yet
I
must
care
for
Fanny
,
I
must
dislike
to
see
her
lower
herself
even
in
the
eyes
of
the
world
.
Would
it
really
be
lowering
herself
?
I
cannot
tell
,
I
must
think
it
out
.
I
wish
that
game
was
over
,
or
that
Grace
would
let
one
speak
.
”
But
songs
and
whist
both
lasted
till
the
evening
was
ended
by
Lady
Temple
coming
up
to
the
curate
with
her
winnings
and
her
pretty
smile
,
“
Please
,
Mr.
Touchett
,
let
this
go
towards
some
treat
for
the
school
children
.
I
should
not
like
to
give
it
in
any
serious
way
,
you
know
,
but
just
for
some
little
pleasure
for
them
.
”
If
she
had
done
it
on
purpose
,
she
could
not
have
better
freshly
riveted
his
chains
.
That
pensive
simplicity
,
with
the
smile
of
heartfelt
satisfaction
at
giving
pleasure
to
anybody
,
were
more
and
more
engaging
as
her
spirits
recovered
their
tone
,
and
the
most
unsatisfactory
consideration
which
Rachel
carried
away
that
evening
was
that
Alexander
Keith
being
really
somewhat
the
senior
,
if
the
improvement
in
Fanny’s
spirits
were
really
owing
to
his
presence
,
the
objection
on
the
score
of
age
would
not
hold
.
But
,
thought
Rachel
,
Colonel
Keith
being
her
own
,
what
united
power
they
should
have
over
Fanny
.
Pooh
!
she
had
by
no
means
resigned
herself
to
have
him
,
though
for
Fanny’s
sake
it
might
be
well
,
and
was
there
not
a
foolish
prejudice
in
favour
of
married
women
,
that
impeded
the
usefulness
of
single
ones
?
However
,
if
the
stiff
,
dry
old
man
approved
of
her
for
her
fortune’s
sake
,
that
would
be
quite
reason
enough
for
repugnance
.
The
stiff
old
man
was
the
pink
of
courtesy
,
and
paid
his
respects
in
due
order
to
his
brother’s
friends
the
next
day
,
Colin
attending
in
his
old
aide-de-camp
fashion
.
It
was
curious
to
see
them
together
.
The
old
peer
was
not
at
all
ungracious
to
his
brother
;
indeed
,
Colin
had
been
agreeably
surprised
by
an
amount
of
warmth
and
brotherliness
that
he
had
never
experienced
from
him
before
,
as
if
old
age
had
brought
a
disposition
to
cling
to
the
remnant
of
the
once
inconveniently
large
family
,
and
make
much
of
the
last
survivor
,
formerly
an
undesirable
youngest
favourite
,
looked
on
with
jealous
eyes
and
thwarted
and
retaliated
on
for
former
petting
,
as
soon
as
the
reins
of
government
fell
from
the
hands
of
the
aged
father
.
Now
,
the
elder
brother
was
kind
almost
to
patronizing
,
though
evidently
persuaded
that
Colin
was
a
gay
careless
youth
,
with
no
harm
in
him
,
but
needing
to
be
looked
after
;
and
as
to
the
Cape
,
India
,
and
Australia
being
a
larger
portion
of
the
world
than
Gowanbrae
,
Edinburgh
,
and
London
,
his
lordship
would
be
incredulous
to
the
day
of
his
death
.
He
paid
his
formal
and
gracious
visits
at
Myrtlewood
and
the
Homestead
,
and
then
supposed
that
his
brother
would
wish
him
to
call
upon
“
these
unfortunate
ladies
.
”
Colin
certainly
would
have
been
vexed
if
he
had
openly
slighted
them
;
but
Alison
,
whom
the
brothers
overtook
on
their
way
into
Mackarel
Lane
,
did
not
think
the
colonel
looked
in
the
most
felicitous
frame
of
mind
,
and
thought
the
most
charitable
construction
might
be
that
he
shared
her
wishes
that
she
could
be
a
few
minutes
in
advance
;
to
secure
that
neither
Rose’s
sports
nor
Colinette’s
toilette
were
very
prominent
.
All
was
right
,
however
;
Ermine’s
taste
for
the
fitness
of
things
had
trained
Rose
into
keeping
the
little
parlour
never
in
stiff
array
,
but
also
never
in
a
state
to
be
ashamed
of
,
and
she
herself
was
sitting
in
the
shade
in
the
garden
,
whither
,
after
the
first
introduction
,
Colin
and
Rose
brought
seats
;
and
the
call
,
on
the
whole
,
went
off
extremely
well
.
Ermine
naver
let
any
one
be
condescending
to
her
,
and
conducted
the
conversation
with
her
usual
graceful
good
breeding
,
while
the
colonel
,
with
Rose
on
his
knee
,
half
talked
to
the
child
,
half
listened
and
watched
.
As
soon
as
he
had
deposited
his
brother
at
the
hotel
,
he
came
back
again
,
and
in
answer
to
Ermine’s
“
Well
,
”
he
demanded
,
“
What
she
thought
of
his
brother
,
and
if
he
were
what
she
expected
?
”
“
Very
much
,
only
older
and
feebler
.
And
did
he
communicate
his
views
of
Mackarel
Lane
?
I
saw
him
regarding
,
me
as
a
species
of
mermaid
or
syren
,
evidently
thinking
it
a
great
shame
that
I
have
not
a
burnt
face
.
If
he
had
only
known
about
Rose
!
”
“
The
worst
of
it
is
that
he
wants
me
to
go
home
with
him
,
and
I
am
afraid
I
must
do
so
,
for
now
that
he
and
I
are
the
last
in
the
entail
,
there
is
an
opportunity
of
making
an
arrangement
about
the
property
,
for
which
he
is
very
anxious
.
”
“
Well
,
you
know
,
I
have
long
thought
it
would
be
very
good
for
you
.
”
“
And
when
I
am
there
I
shall
have
to
visit
every
one
in
the
family
;
”
and
he
looked
into
her
eyes
to
see
if
she
would
let
them
show
concern
,
but
she
kept
up
their
brave
sparkle
as
she
still
said
,
“
You
know
you
ought
.
”
“
Then
you
deliver
me
up
to
Keith’s
tender
mercies
till
—
”
“
Till
you
have
done
your
duty
—
and
forgiven
him
.
”
“
Remember
,
Ermine
,
I
can’t
spend
a
winter
in
Scotland
.
A
cold
always
makes
the
ball
remind
me
of
its
presence
in
my
chest
,
and
I
was
told
that
if
I
spent
a
winter
at
home
,
it
must
be
on
the
Devonshire
coast
.
”
“
That
ball
is
sufficient
justification
for
ourselves
,
I
allow
,
”
she
said
,
that
one
little
word
our
making
up
for
all
that
had
gone
before
.
“
And
meantime
you
will
write
to
me
—
about
Rose’s
education
.
”
“
To
be
sure
,
or
what
would
be
the
use
of
growing
old
?
”
Alison
felt
savage
all
through
this
interview
.
That
perfect
understanding
and
the
playful
fiction
about
waiting
for
Rose
left
him
a
great
deal
too
free
.
Ermine
might
almost
be
supposed
to
want
to
get
rid
of
him
,
and
even
when
he
took
leave
she
only
remained
for
a
few
minutes
leaning
her
cheek
on
her
hand
,
and
scarcely
indulged
in
a
sigh
before
asking
to
be
wheeled
into
the
house
again
,
nor
would
she
make
any
remark
,
save
“
It
has
been
too
bright
a
summer
to
last
for
ever
.
It
would
be
very
wrong
to
wish
him
to
stay
dangling
here
.
Let
what
will
happen
,
he
is
himself
.
”
It
sounded
far
too
like
a
deliberate
resignation
of
him
,
and
persuasion
that
if
he
went
he
would
not
return
to
be
all
he
had
been
.
However
,
the
departure
was
not
immediate
,
Lord
Keith
had
taken
a
fancy
to
the
place
and
scenery
,
and
wished
to
see
all
the
lions
of
the
neighbourhood
,
so
that
there
were
various
expeditions
in
the
carriages
or
on
horseback
,
in
which
he
displayed
his
grand
courtesy
to
Lady
Temple
,
and
Rachel
enjoyed
the
colonel’s
conversation
,
and
would
have
enjoyed
it
still
more
if
she
had
not
been
tracing
a
meaning
in
every
attention
that
he
paid
her
,
and
considering
whether
she
was
committing
herself
by
receiving
it
.
She
was
glad
he
was
going
away
that
she
might
have
time
to
face
the
subject
,
and
make
up
her
mind
,
for
she
was
convinced
that
the
object
of
his
journey
was
to
make
himself
certain
of
his
prospects
.
When
he
said
that
he
should
return
for
the
winter
,
and
that
he
had
too
much
to
leave
at
Avonmouth
to
stay
long
away
from
it
,
there
must
be
a
meaning
in
his
words
.
Ermine
had
one
more
visit
from
Lord
Keith
,
and
this
time
he
came
alone
.
He
was
in
his
most
gracious
and
courteous
mood
,
and
sat
talking
of
indifferent
things
for
some
time
,
of
his
aunt
Lady
Alison
,
and
of
Beauchamp
in
the
old
time
,
so
that
Ermine
enjoyed
the
renewal
of
old
associations
and
names
belonging
to
a
world
unlike
her
present
one
.
Then
he
came
to
Colin
,
his
looks
and
his
health
,
and
his
own
desire
to
see
him
quit
the
army
.
Ermine
assented
to
his
health
being
hardly
fit
for
the
army
,
and
restrained
the
rising
indignation
as
she
recollected
what
a
difference
the
best
surgical
advice
might
have
made
ten
years
ago
.
And
then
,
Lord
Keith
said
,
a
man
could
hardly
be
expected
to
settle
down
without
marrying
.
He
wished
earnestly
to
see
his
brother
married
,
but
,
unfortunately
,
charges
on
his
estate
would
prevent
him
from
doing
anything
for
him
;
and
,
in
fact
,
he
did
not
see
any
possibility
of
his
—
of
his
marrying
,
except
a
person
with
some
means
.
“
I
understand
,
”
said
Ermine
,
looking
straight
before
her
,
and
her
colour
mounting
.
“
I
was
sure
that
a
person
of
your
great
good
sense
would
do
so
,
”
said
Lord
Keith
.
“
I
assure
you
no
one
can
be
more
sensible
than
myself
of
the
extreme
forbearance
,
discretion
,
and
regard
for
my
brother’s
true
welfare
that
has
been
shown
here
.
”
Ermine
bowed
.
He
did
not
know
that
the
vivid
carmine
that
made
her
look
so
handsome
was
not
caused
by
gratification
at
his
praise
,
but
by
the
struggle
to
brook
it
patiently
.
“
And
now
,
knowing
the
influence
over
him
that
,
most
deservedly
,
you
must
always
possess
,
I
am
induced
to
hope
that
,
as
his
sincere
friend
,
you
will
exert
it
in
favour
of
the
more
prudent
counsels
.
”
“
I
have
no
influence
over
his
judgment
,
”
said
Ermine
,
a
little
proudly
.
“
I
mean
,
”
said
Lord
Keith
,
forced
to
much
closer
quarters
,
“
you
will
excuse
me
for
speaking
thus
openly
—
that
in
the
state
of
the
case
,
with
so
much
depending
on
his
making
a
satisfactory
choice
,
I
feel
convinced
,
with
every
regret
,
that
you
will
feel
it
to
be
for
his
true
welfare
—
as
indeed
I
infer
that
you
have
already
endeavoured
to
show
him
—
to
make
a
new
beginning
,
and
to
look
on
the
past
as
past
.
”
There
was
something
in
the
insinuating
tone
of
this
speech
,
increased
as
it
was
by
the
modulation
of
his
Scottish
voice
,
that
irritated
his
hearer
unspeakably
,
all
the
more
because
it
was
the
very
thing
she
had
been
doing
.
“
Colonel
Keith
must
judge
for
himself
,
”
she
said
,
with
a
cold
manner
,
but
a
burning
heart
.
“
I
—
I
understand
,
”
said
Lord
Keith
,
“
that
you
had
most
honourably
,
most
consistently
,
made
him
aware
that
—
that
what
once
might
have
been
desirable
has
unhappily
become
impossible
.
”
“
Well
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
And
thus
,
”
he
proceeded
,
“
that
the
sincere
friendship
with
which
you
still
regard
him
would
prevent
any
encouragement
to
continue
an
attachment
,
unhappily
now
hopeless
and
obstructive
to
his
prospects
.
”
Ermine’s
eyes
flashed
at
the
dictation
.
“
Lord
Keith
,
”
she
said
,
“
I
have
never
sought
your
brother’s
visits
nor
striven
to
prolong
them
;
but
if
he
finds
pleasure
in
them
after
a
life
of
disappointment
and
trouble
,
I
cannot
refuse
nor
discourage
them
.
”
“
I
am
aware
,
”
said
Lord
Keith
,
rising
as
if
to
go
,
“
that
I
have
trespassed
long
on
your
time
,
and
made
a
suggestion
only
warranted
by
the
generosity
with
which
you
have
hitherto
acted
.
”
“
One
may
be
generous
of
one’s
own
,
not
of
other
people’s
,
”
said
Ermine
.
He
looked
at
her
puzzled
,
then
said
,
“
Perhaps
it
will
be
best
to
speak
categorically
,
Miss
Williams
.
Let
it
be
distinctly
understood
that
my
brother
Colin
,
in
paying
his
addresses
to
you
,
is
necessarily
without
my
sanction
or
future
assistance
.
”
“
It
might
not
be
necessary
,
my
lord
.
Good
morning
;
”
and
her
courteous
bow
was
an
absolute
dismissal
.
But
when
Alison
came
home
she
found
her
more
depressed
than
she
had
allowed
herself
to
be
for
years
,
and
on
asking
what
was
the
matter
was
answered
—
“
Pride
and
perverseness
,
Ailie
!
”
then
,
in
reply
to
the
eager
exclamation
,
“
I
believe
he
was
justified
in
all
he
said
.
But
,
Ailie
,
I
have
preached
to
Colin
more
than
I
had
a
right
to
do
about
forgiving
his
brother
.
I
did
not
know
how
provoking
he
can
be
.
I
did
not
think
it
was
still
in
me
to
fly
out
as
I
did
!
”
“
He
had
no
business
to
come
here
interfering
and
tormenting
you
,
”
said
Alison
,
hotly
.
“
I
dare
say
he
thought
he
had
!
But
one
could
not
think
of
that
when
it
came
to
threatening
me
with
his
giving
no
help
to
Colin
if
—
There
was
no
resisting
telling
him
how
little
we
cared
!
”
“
You
have
not
offended
him
so
that
he
will
keep
Colin
away
!
”
“
The
more
he
tried
,
the
more
Colin
would
come
!
No
,
I
am
not
sorry
for
having
offended
him
.
I
don’t
mind
him
;
but
Ailie
,
how
little
one
knows
!
All
the
angry
and
bitter
feelings
that
I
thought
burnt
out
for
ever
when
I
lay
waiting
for
death
,
are
stirred
up
as
hotly
as
they
were
long
ago
.
The
old
self
is
here
as
strong
as
ever
!
Ailie
,
don’t
tell
Colin
about
this
;
but
to-morrow
is
a
saint’s
day
,
and
would
you
see
Mr.
Touchett
,
and
try
to
arrange
for
me
to
go
to
the
early
service
?
I
think
then
I
might
better
be
helped
to
conquer
this
.
”
“
But
,
Ermine
,
how
can
you
?
Eight
o’clock
,
you
know
.
”
“
Yes
,
dearest
,
it
will
give
you
a
great
deal
of
trouble
,
but
you
never
mind
that
,
you
know
;
and
I
am
so
much
stronger
than
I
used
to
be
,
that
you
need
not
fear
.
Besides
,
I
want
help
so
much
!
And
it
is
the
day
Colin
goes
away
!
”
Alison
obeyed
,
as
she
always
obeyed
her
sister
;
and
Lord
Keith
,
taking
his
constitutional
turn
before
breakfast
on
the
esplanade
,
was
met
by
what
he
so
little
expected
to
encounter
that
he
had
not
time
to
get
out
of
the
way
—
a
Bath
chair
with
Alison
walking
on
one
side
,
his
brother
on
the
other
.
He
bowed
coldly
,
but
Ermine
held
out
her
hand
,
and
he
was
obliged
to
come
near
.
“
I
am
glad
to
have
met
you
,
”
she
said
.
“
I
am
glad
to
see
you
out
so
early
,
”
he
answered
,
confused
.
“
This
is
an
exception
,
”
she
said
,
smiling
and
really
looking
beautiful
.
“
Good-bye
,
I
have
thought
over
what
passed
yesterday
,
and
I
believe
we
are
more
agreed
than
perhaps
I
gave
you
reason
to
think
.
”
There
was
a
queenly
air
of
dignified
exchange
of
pardon
in
her
manner
of
giving
her
hand
and
bending
her
head
as
she
again
said
“
Good-bye
,
”
and
signed
to
her
driver
to
move
on
.
Lord
Keith
could
only
say
“
Good-bye
;
”
then
,
looking
after
her
,
muttered
,
“
After
all
,
that
is
a
remarkable
woman
.
”
CHAPTER
VIII
.
WOMAN’S
MISSION
DISCOVERED
.
“
But
O
unseen
for
three
long
years
,
Dear
was
the
garb
of
mountaineers
To
the
fair
maid
of
Lorn
.
”
—
LORD
OF
THE
ISLES
.
“
Only
nerves
,
”
said
Alison
Williams
,
whenever
she
was
pushed
hard
as
to
why
her
sister
continued
unwell
,
and
her
own
looks
betrayed
an
anxiety
that
her
words
would
not
confess
.
Rachel
,
after
a
visit
on
the
first
day
,
was
of
the
same
opinion
,
and
prescribed
globules
and
enlivenment
;
but
after
a
personal
administration
of
the
latter
in
the
shape
of
a
discussion
of
Lord
Keith
,
she
never
called
in
the
morning
without
hearing
that
Miss
Williams
was
not
up
,
nor
in
the
afternoon
without
Alison’s
meeting
her
,
and
being
very
sorry
,
but
really
she
thought
it
better
for
her
sister
to
be
quite
quiet
.
In
fact
,
Alison
was
not
seriously
uneasy
about
Ermine’s
health
,
for
these
nervous
attacks
were
not
without
precedent
,
as
the
revenge
for
all
excitement
of
the
sensitive
mind
upon
the
much-tried
constitution
.
The
reaction
must
pass
off
in
time
,
and
calm
and
patience
would
assist
in
restoring
her
;
but
the
interview
with
Lord
Keith
had
been
a
revelation
to
her
that
her
affection
was
not
the
calm
,
chastened
,
mortified
,
almost
dead
thing
of
the
past
that
she
had
tried
to
believe
it
;
but
a
young
,
living
,
active
feeling
,
as
vivid
,
and
as
little
able
to
brook
interference
as
when
the
first
harsh
letter
from
Gowanbrae
had
fallen
like
a
thunderbolt
on
the
bright
hopes
of
youth
.
She
looked
back
at
some
verses
that
she
had
written
,
when
first
perceiving
that
life
was
to
be
her
portion
,
where
her
own
intended
feelings
were
ascribed
to
a
maiden
who
had
taken
the
veil
,
believing
her
crusader
slain
,
but
who
saw
him
return
and
lead
a
recluse
life
,
with
the
light
in
her
cell
for
his
guiding
star
.
She
smiled
sadly
to
find
how
far
the
imaginings
of
four
and
twenty
transcended
the
powers
of
four
and
thirty
;
and
how
the
heart
that
had
deemed
itself
able
to
resign
was
chafed
at
the
appearance
of
compulsion
.
She
felt
that
the
right
was
the
same
as
ever
;
but
it
was
an
increased
struggle
to
maintain
the
resolute
abstinence
from
all
that
could
bind
Colin
to
her
,
at
the
moment
when
he
was
most
likely
to
be
detached
,
and
it
was
a
struggle
rendered
the
more
trying
by
the
monotony
of
a
life
,
scarcely
varied
except
by
the
brainwork
,
which
she
was
often
obliged
to
relinquish
.
Nothing
,
however
,
here
assisted
her
so
much
as
Lady
Temple’s
new
pony
carriage
which
,
by
Fanny’s
desire
,
had
been
built
low
enough
to
permit
of
her
being
easily
lifted
into
it
.
Inert
,
and
almost
afraid
of
change
,
Ermine
was
hard
to
persuade
,
but
Alison
,
guessing
at
the
benefit
,
was
against
her
,
and
Fanny’s
wistful
eyes
and
caressing
voice
were
not
to
be
gainsaid
;
so
she
suffered
herself
to
be
placed
on
the
broad
easy
seat
,
and
driven
about
the
lanes
,
enjoying
most
intensely
the
new
scenes
,
the
peeps
of
sea
,
the
distant
moors
,
the
cottages
with
their
glowing
orchards
,
the
sloping
harvest
fields
,
the
variety
that
was
an
absolute
healing
to
the
worn
spirits
,
and
moreover
,
that
quiet
conversation
with
Lady
Temple
,
often
about
the
boys
,
but
more
often
about
Colonel
Keith
.
Not
only
Ermine
,
but
other
inhabitants
of
Avonmouth
found
the
world
more
flat
in
his
absence
.
Rachel’s
interest
was
lessened
in
her
readings
after
she
had
lost
the
pleasure
of
discussion
,
and
she
asked
herself
many
times
whether
the
tedium
were
indeed
from
love
,
or
if
it
were
simply
from
the
absence
of
an
agreeable
companion
.
“
I
will
try
myself
,
”
she
said
to
herself
,
“
if
I
am
heartily
interested
in
my
occupations
by
the
end
of
the
next
week
,
then
I
shall
believe
myself
my
own
woman
!
”
But
in
going
back
to
her
occupations
,
she
was
more
than
ordinarily
sensible
of
their
unsatisfactoriness
.
One
change
had
come
over
her
in
the
last
few
months
.
She
did
not
so
much
long
for
a
wider
field
,
as
for
power
to
do
the
few
things
within
her
reach
more
thoroughly
.
Her
late
discussions
had
,
as
it
were
,
opened
a
second
eye
,
that
saw
two
sides
of
questions
that
she
had
hitherto
thought
had
only
one
,
and
she
was
restless
and
undecided
between
them
,
longing
for
some
impulse
from
within
or
without
,
and
hoping
,
for
her
own
dignity
and
consistency’s
sake
,
that
it
was
not
only
Colonel
Keith’s
presence
which
had
rendered
this
summer
the
richest
in
her
life
.
A
test
was
coming
for
her
,
she
thought
,
in
the
person
of
Miss
Keith
.
Judging
by
the
brother
,
Rachel
expected
a
tall
fair
dreamy
blonde
,
requiring
to
be
taught
a
true
appreciation
of
life
and
its
duties
,
and
whether
the
training
of
this
young
girl
would
again
afford
her
food
for
eagerness
and
energy
,
would
,
as
she
said
to
herself
,
show
whether
her
affections
were
still
her
own
.
Moreover
,
there
was
the
great
duty
of
deciding
whether
the
brother
were
worthy
of
Fanny
!
It
chanced
to
be
convenient
that
Rachel
should
go
to
Avoncester
on
the
day
of
the
arrival
,
and
call
at
the
station
for
the
traveller
.
She
recollected
how
,
five
months
previously
,
she
had
there
greeted
Fanny
,
and
had
seen
the
bearded
apparition
since
regarded
,
with
so
much
jealousy
,
and
now
with
such
a
strangely
mixed
feeling
.
This
being
a
far
more
indifferent
errand
,
she
did
not
go
on
the
platform
,
but
sat
in
the
carriage
reading
the
report
of
the
Social
Science
Congress
,
until
the
travellers
began
to
emerge
,
and
Captain
Keith
(
for
he
had
had
his
promotion
)
came
up
to
her
with
a
young
lady
who
looked
by
no
means
like
his
sister
.
She
was
somewhat
tall
,
and
in
that
matter
alone
realized
Rachel’s
anticipations
,
for
she
was
black-eyed
,
and
her
dark
hair
was
crepe
and
turned
back
from
a
face
of
the
plump
contour
,
and
slightly
rosy
complexion
that
suggested
the
patches
of
the
last
century
;
as
indeed
Nature
herself
seemed
to
have
thought
when
planting
near
the
corner
of
the
mouth
a
little
brown
mole
,
that
added
somehow
to
the
piquancy
of
the
face
,
not
exactly
pretty
,
but
decidedly
attractive
under
the
little
round
hat
,
and
in
the
point
device
,
though
simple
and
plainly
coloured
travelling
dress
.
“
Will
you
allow
me
a
seat
?
”
asked
Captain
Keith
,
when
he
had
disposed
of
his
sister’s
goods
;
and
on
Rachel’s
assent
,
he
placed
himself
on
the
back
seat
in
his
lazy
manner
.
“
If
you
were
good
for
anything
,
you
would
sit
outside
and
smoke
,
”
said
his
sister
.
“
If
privacy
is
required
for
swearing
an
eternal
friendship
,
I
can
go
to
sleep
instead
,
”
he
returned
,
closing
his
eyes
.
“
Quite
the
reverse
,
”
quoth
Bessie
Keith
;
“
he
has
prepared
me
to
hate
you
all
,
Miss
Curtis
.
”
“
On
the
mutual
aversion
principle
,
”
murmured
the
brother
.
“
Don’t
you
flatter
yourself
!
Have
you
found
out
,
Miss
Curtis
,
that
it
is
the
property
of
this
species
always
to
go
by
contraries
?
”
“
To
Miss
Curtis
I
always
appear
in
the
meekest
state
of
assent
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
Then
I
would
not
be
Miss
Curtis
.
How
horribly
you
must
differ
!
”
Rachel
was
absolutely
silenced
by
this
cross
fire
;
something
so
unlike
the
small
talk
of
her
experience
,
that
her
mind
could
hardly
propel
itself
into
velocity
enough
to
follow
the
rapid
encounter
of
wits
.
However
,
having
stirred
up
her
lightest
troops
into
marching
order
,
she
said
,
in
a
puzzled
,
doubtful
way
,
“
How
has
he
prepared
you
to
hate
us
?
—
By
praising
us
?
”
“
Oh
,
no
;
that
would
have
been
too
much
on
the
surface
.
He
knew
the
effect
of
that
,
”
looking
in
his
sleepy
eyes
for
a
twinkle
of
response
.
“
No
;
his
very
reserve
said
,
I
am
going
to
take
her
to
ground
too
transcendent
for
her
to
walk
on
,
but
if
I
say
one
word
,
I
shall
never
get
her
there
at
all
.
It
was
a
deep
refinement
,
you
see
,
and
he
really
meant
it
,
but
I
was
deeper
,
”
and
she
shook
her
head
at
him
.
“
You
are
always
trying
which
can
go
deepest
?
”
said
Rachel
.
“
It
is
a
sweet
fraternal
sport
,
”
returned
Alick
.
“
Have
you
no
brother
?
”
asked
Bessie
.
“
No.
”
“
Then
you
don’t
know
what
detestable
creatures
they
are
,
”
but
she
looked
so
lovingly
and
saucily
at
her
big
brother
,
that
Rachel
,
spite
of
herself
,
was
absolutely
fascinated
by
this
novel
form
of
endearment
.
An
answer
was
spared
her
by
Miss
Keith’s
rapture
at
the
sight
of
some
soldiers
in
the
uniform
of
her
father’s
old
regiment
.
“
Have
a
care
,
Bessie
;
Miss
Curtis
will
despise
you
,
”
said
her
brother
.
“
Why
should
you
think
so
?
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
not
desirous
of
putting
on
a
forbidding
aspect
to
this
bright
creature
.
“
Have
I
not
been
withered
by
your
scorn
!
”
“
I
—
I
—
”
Rachel
was
going
to
say
something
of
her
change
of
opinion
with
regard
to
military
society
,
but
a
sudden
consciousness
set
her
cheeks
in
a
flame
and
checked
her
tongue
;
while
Bessie
Keith
,
with
ease
and
readiness
,
filled
up
the
blank
.
“
What
,
Alick
,
you
have
brought
the
service
into
disrepute
!
I
am
ashamed
of
you
!
”
“
Oh
,
no
!
”
said
Rachel
,
in
spite
of
her
intolerable
blushes
,
feeling
the
necessity
of
delivering
her
confession
,
like
a
cannon-ball
among
skirmishers
;
“
only
we
had
been
used
to
regard
officers
as
necessarily
empty
and
frivolous
,
and
our
recent
experience
has
—
has
been
otherwise
.
”
Her
period
altogether
failed
her
.
“
There
,
Alick
,
is
that
the
effect
of
your
weight
of
wisdom
?
I
shall
be
more
impressed
with
it
than
ever
.
It
has
redeemed
the
character
of
your
profession
.
Captain
Keith
and
the
army
.
”
“
I
am
afraid
I
cannot
flatter
myself
,
”
said
Alick
;
and
a
sort
of
reflection
of
Rachel’s
burning
colour
seemed
to
have
lighted
on
his
cheek
,
“
its
reputation
has
been
in
better
hands
.
”
“
O
Colonel
Colin
!
Depend
upon
it
,
he
is
not
half
as
sage
as
you
,
Alick
.
Why
,
he
is
a
dozen
years
older
!
—
What
,
don’t
you
know
,
Miss
Curtis
,
that
the
older
people
grow
the
less
sage
they
get
?
”
“
I
hope
not
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Do
you
!
A
contrary
persuasion
sustains
me
when
I
see
people
obnoxiously
sage
to
their
fellow-creatures
.
”
“
Obnoxious
sageness
in
youth
is
the
token
that
there
is
stuff
behind
,
”
said
Alick
,
with
eagerness
that
set
his
sister
laughing
at
him
for
fitting
on
the
cap
;
but
Rachel
had
a
sort
of
odd
dreamy
perception
that
Bessie
Keith
had
unconsciously
described
her
(
Rachel’s
)
own
aspect
,
and
that
Alick
was
defending
her
,
and
she
was
silent
and
confused
,
and
rather
surprised
at
the
assumption
of
the
character
by
one
who
she
thought
could
never
even
exert
himself
to
be
obnoxious
.
He
evidently
did
not
wish
to
dwell
on
the
subject
,
but
began
to
inquire
after
Avonmouth
matters
,
and
Rachel
in
return
asked
for
Mr.
Clare
.
“
Very
well
,
”
was
the
answer
;
“
unfailing
in
spirits
,
every
one
agreed
that
he
was
the
youngest
man
at
the
wedding
.
”
“
Having
outgrown
his
obnoxious
sageness
,
”
said
Bessie
.
“
There
is
nothing
he
is
so
adroit
at
as
guessing
the
fate
of
a
croquet-ball
by
its
sound
.
”
“
Now
Bessie
,
”
exclaimed
Alick
.
“
I
have
not
transgressed
,
have
I
?
”
asked
Bessie
;
and
in
the
exclamations
that
followed
,
she
said
,
“
You
see
what
want
of
confidence
is
.
This
brother
of
mine
no
sooner
saw
you
in
the
carriage
than
he
laid
his
commands
on
me
not
to
ask
after
your
croquet-ground
all
the
way
home
,
and
the
poor
word
cannot
come
out
of
my
mouth
without
—
”
“
I
only
told
you
not
to
bore
Miss
Curtis
with
the
eternal
subject
,
as
she
would
think
you
had
no
more
brains
than
one
of
your
mallets
,
”
he
said
,
somewhat
energetically
.
“
And
if
we
had
begun
to
talk
croquet
,
we
should
soon
have
driven
him
outside
.
”
“
But
suppose
I
could
not
talk
it
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
and
that
we
have
no
ground
for
it
.
”
“
Why
,
then
,
”
—
and
she
affected
to
turn
up
her
eyes
,
—
“
I
can
only
aver
that
the
coincidence
of
sentiments
is
no
doubt
the
work
of
destiny
.
”
“
Bessie
!
”
exclaimed
her
brother
.
“
Poor
old
fellow
!
you
had
excuse
enough
,
lying
on
the
sofa
to
the
tune
of
tap
and
click
;
but
for
a
young
lady
in
the
advanced
ranks
of
civilization
to
abstain
is
a
mere
marvel
.
”
“
Surely
it
is
a
great
waste
of
time
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Ah
!
when
I
have
converted
you
,
you
will
wonder
what
people
did
with
themselves
before
the
invention
.
”
“
Woman’s
mission
discovered
,
”
quoth
her
brother
.
“
Also
man’s
,
unless
he
neglects
it
,
”
returned
Miss
Elizabeth
;
“
I
wonder
,
now
,
if
you
would
play
if
Miss
Curtis
did
.
”
“
Wisdom
never
pledges
itself
how
it
will
act
in
hypothetical
circumstances
,
”
was
the
reply
.
“
Hypothetical
,
”
syllabically
repeated
Bessie
Keith
;
“
did
you
teach
him
that
word
,
Miss
Curtis
?
Well
,
if
I
don’t
bring
about
the
hypothetical
circumstances
,
you
may
call
me
hyperbolical
.
”
So
they
talked
,
Rachel
in
a
state
of
bewilderment
,
whether
she
were
teased
or
enchanted
,
and
Alexander
Keith’s
quiet
nonchalance
not
concealing
that
he
was
in
some
anxiety
at
his
sister’s
reckless
talk
,
but
,
perhaps
,
he
hardly
estimated
the
effect
of
the
gay
,
quaint
manner
that
took
all
hearts
by
storm
,
and
gave
a
frank
careless
grace
to
her
nonsense
.
She
grew
graver
and
softer
as
she
came
nearer
Avonmouth
,
and
spoke
tenderly
of
the
kindness
she
had
received
at
the
time
of
her
mother’s
death
at
the
Cape
,
when
she
had
been
brought
to
the
general’s
,
and
had
there
remained
like
a
child
of
the
house
,
till
she
had
been
sent
home
on
the
removal
of
the
regiment
to
India
.
“
I
remember
,
”
she
said
,
“
Mrs.
Curtis
kept
great
order
.
In
fact
,
between
ourselves
,
she
was
rather
a
dragon
;
and
Lady
Temple
,
though
she
had
one
child
then
,
seemed
like
my
companion
and
playfellow
.
Dear
little
Lady
Temple
,
I
wonder
if
she
is
altered
!
”
“
Not
in
the
least
,
”
returned
both
her
companions
at
once
,
and
she
was
quite
ready
to
agree
with
them
when
the
slender
form
and
fair
young
face
met
her
in
the
hall
amid
a
cloud
of
eager
boys
.
The
meeting
was
a
full
renewal
of
the
parting
,
warm
and
fond
,
and
Bessie
so
comported
herself
on
her
introduction
to
the
children
,
that
they
all
became
enamoured
of
her
on
the
spot
,
and
even
Stephana
relaxed
her
shyness
on
her
behalf
.
That
sunny
gay
good-nature
could
not
be
withstood
,
and
Rachel
,
again
sharing
Fanny’s
first
dinner
after
an
arrival
,
no
longer
sat
apart
despising
the
military
atmosphere
,
but
listening
,
not
without
amusement
,
to
the
account
of
the
humours
of
the
wedding
,
mingled
with
Alick
Keith’s
touches
of
satire
.
“
It
was
very
stupid
,
”
said
Bessie
,
“
of
none
of
those
girls
to
have
Uncle
George
to
marry
them
.
My
aunt
fancied
he
would
be
nervous
,
but
I
know
he
did
marry
a
couple
when
Mr.
Lifford
was
away
;
I
mean
him
to
marry
me
,
as
I
told
them
all
.
”
“
You
had
better
wait
till
you
know
whether
he
will
,
”
observed
Alick
.
“
Will
?
Oh
,
he
is
always
pleased
to
feel
he
can
do
like
other
people
,
”
returned
Bessie
,
“
and
I’ll
undertake
to
see
that
he
puts
the
ring
on
the
right
—
I
mean
the
left
finger
.
Because
you’ll
have
to
give
me
away
,
you
know
,
Alick
,
so
you
can
look
after
him
.
”
“
You
seem
to
have
arranged
the
programme
pretty
thoroughly
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
After
four
weddings
at
home
,
one
can’t
but
lay
by
a
little
experience
for
the
future
,
”
returned
Bessie
;
“
and
after
all
,
Alick
need
not
look
as
if
it
must
be
for
oneself
.
He
is
quite
welcome
to
profit
by
it
,
if
he
has
the
good
taste
to
want
my
uncle
to
marry
him
.
”
“
Not
unless
I
were
very
clear
that
he
liked
my
choice
,
”
said
Alick
,
gravely
.
“
Oh
,
dear
!
Have
you
any
doubts
,
or
is
that
meant
for
a
cut
at
poor
innocent
me
,
as
if
I
could
help
people’s
folly
,
or
as
if
he
was
not
gone
to
Rio
Janeiro
,
”
exclaimed
Bessie
,
with
a
sort
of
meek
simplicity
and
unconsciousness
that
totally
removed
all
the
unsatisfactoriness
of
the
speech
,
and
made
even
her
brother
smile
while
he
looked
annoyed
;
and
Lady
Temple
quietly
changed
the
conversation
.
Alick
Keith
was
obliged
to
go
away
early
,
and
the
three
ladies
sat
long
in
the
garden
outside
the
window
,
in
the
summer
twilight
,
much
relishing
the
frank-hearted
way
in
which
this
engaging
girl
talked
of
herself
and
her
difficulties
to
Fanny
as
to
an
old
friend
,
and
to
Rachel
as
belonging
to
Fanny
.
“
I
am
afraid
that
I
was
very
naughty
,
”
she
said
,
with
a
hand
laid
on
Lady
Temple’s
,
as
if
to
win
pardon
;
“
but
I
never
can
resist
plaguing
that
dear
anxious
brother
of
mine
,
and
he
did
so
dreadfully
take
to
heart
the
absurdities
of
that
little
Charlie
Carleton
,
as
if
any
one
with
brains
could
think
him
good
for
anything
but
a
croquet
partner
,
that
I
could
not
help
giving
a
little
gentle
titillation
.
I
saw
you
did
not
like
it
,
dear
Lady
Temple
,
and
I
am
sorry
for
it
.
”
“
I
hope
I
did
not
vex
you
,
”
said
Fanny
,
afraid
of
having
been
severe
.
“
Oh
,
no
,
indeed
;
a
little
check
just
makes
one
feel
one
is
cared
for
,
”
and
they
kissed
affectionately
:
“
you
see
when
one
has
a
very
wise
brother
,
plaguing
him
is
irresistible
.
How
little
Stephana
will
plague
hers
,
in
self-defence
,
with
so
many
to
keep
her
in
order
.
”
“
They
all
spoil
her
.
”
“
Ah
,
this
is
the
golden
age
.
See
what
it
will
be
when
they
think
themselves
responsible
for
her
!
Dear
Lady
Temple
,
how
could
you
send
him
home
so
old
and
so
grave
?
”
“
I
am
afraid
we
sent
him
home
very
ill.
I
never
expected
to
see
him
so
perfectly
recovered
.
I
could
hardly
believe
my
eyes
when
Colonel
Keith
brought
him
to
the
carriage
not
in
the
least
lame
.
”
“
Yes
;
and
it
was
half
against
his
will
.
He
would
have
been
almost
glad
to
be
a
lay
curate
to
Uncle
George
,
only
he
knew
if
he
was
fit
for
service
my
father
would
have
been
vexed
at
his
giving
up
his
profession
.
”
“
Then
it
was
not
his
choice
!
”
said
Rachel
.
“
Oh
,
he
was
born
a
soldier
,
like
all
the
rest
of
us
,
couldn’t
help
it
.
The
—
th
is
our
home
,
and
if
he
would
only
take
my
hint
and
marry
,
I
could
be
with
him
there
,
now
!
Lady
Temple
,
do
pray
send
for
all
the
eligible
officers
—
I
don’t
know
any
of
them
now
,
except
the
two
