whichI
would
suspend
my
fears
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
.
“
Come
out
,
and
take
a
turn
in
the
peacock
path
.
You
want
air
more
than
rest
.
So
you
have
been
talked
to
death
.
”
“
And
I
am
afraid
she
is
gone
to
talk
Alick
to
death
!
I
wonder
when
Alick
will
come
home
,
”
she
proceeded
,
as
they
entered
on
the
path
.
“
She
says
Colonel
Keith
had
a
telegram
about
the
result
of
the
trial
,
but
she
does
not
know
what
it
was
,
nor
indeed
who
was
tried
.
”
“
Alick
will
not
keep
you
in
doubt
longer
than
he
can
help
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
.
“
You
know
all
about
it
;
”
said
Rachel
.
“
The
facts
every
one
must
know
,
but
I
mean
that
which
led
to
them
.
”
“
Alick
told
me
you
had
suffered
very
much
.
”
“
I
don’t
know
whether
it
is
a
right
question
,
but
if
it
is
,
I
should
much
like
to
know
what
Alick
did
say
.
I
begged
him
to
tell
you
all
,
or
it
would
not
have
been
fair
towards
you
to
bring
me
here
.
”
“
He
told
me
that
he
knew
you
had
been
blind
and
wilful
,
but
that
your
confidence
had
been
cruelly
abused
,
and
you
had
been
most
unselfish
throughout
.
”
“
I
did
not
mean
so
much
what
I
had
done
as
what
I
am
—
what
I
was
.
”
“
The
first
time
he
mentioned
you
,
it
was
as
one
of
the
reasons
that
he
wished
to
take
our
dear
Bessie
to
Avonmouth
.
He
said
there
was
a
girl
there
of
a
strong
spirit
,
independent
and
thorough-going
,
and
thinking
for
herself
.
He
said
,
‘to
be
sure
,
she
generally
thinks
wrong
,
but
there’s
a
candour
and
simplicity
about
her
that
make
her
wildest
blunders
better
than
parrot
commonplace
,
’
and
he
thought
your
reality
might
impress
his
sister
.
Even
then
I
gathered
what
was
coming
.
”
“
And
how
wrong
and
foolish
you
must
have
thought
it
.
”
“
I
hoped
I
might
trust
my
boy’s
judgment
.
”
“
Indeed
,
you
could
not
think
it
worse
for
him
than
I
did
;
but
I
was
ill
and
weak
,
and
could
not
help
letting
Alick
do
what
he
would
;
but
I
have
never
understood
it
.
I
told
him
how
unsettled
my
views
were
,
and
he
did
not
seem
to
mind
—
”
“
My
dear
,
may
I
ask
if
this
sense
of
being
unsettled
is
with
you
still
?
”
“
I
don’t
know
!
I
had
no
power
to
read
or
think
for
a
long
time
,
and
now
,
since
I
have
been
here
,
I
hope
it
has
not
been
hypocrisy
,
for
going
on
in
your
way
and
his
has
been
very
sweet
to
me
,
and
made
me
feel
as
I
used
when
I
was
a
young
girl
,
with
only
an
ugly
dream
between
.
I
don’t
like
to
look
at
it
,
and
yet
that
dream
was
my
real
life
that
I
made
for
myself
.
”
“
Dear
child
,
I
have
little
doubt
that
Alick
knew
it
would
come
to
this
.
”
Rachel
paused
.
“
What
,
you
and
he
think
a
woman’s
doubts
so
vague
and
shallow
as
to
be
always
mastered
by
a
husband’s
influence
?
”
Mr.
Clare
was
embarrassed
.
If
he
had
thought
so
he
had
not
expected
her
to
make
the
inference
.
He
asked
her
if
she
could
venture
to
look
back
on
her
dream
so
as
to
mention
what
had
chiefly
distressed
her
.
He
could
not
see
her
frowning
effort
at
recollection
,
but
after
a
pause
,
she
said
,
“
Things
will
seem
to
you
like
trifles
,
indeed
,
individual
criticisms
appear
so
to
me
;
but
the
difficulty
to
my
mind
is
that
I
don’t
see
these
objections
fairly
grappled
with
.
There
is
either
denunciation
or
weak
argument
;
but
I
can
better
recollect
the
impression
on
my
own
mind
than
what
made
it
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
know
that
feeling
;
but
are
you
sure
you
have
seen
all
the
arguments
?
”
“
I
cannot
tell
—
perhaps
not
.
Whenever
I
get
a
book
with
anything
in
it
,
somebody
says
it
is
not
sound
.
”
“
And
you
therefore
conclude
that
a
sound
book
can
have
nothing
in
it
?
”
he
asked
,
smiling
.
“
Well
,
most
of
the
new
‘sound’
books
that
I
have
met
are
just
what
my
mother
and
sister
like
—
either
dull
,
or
sentimental
and
trashy
.
”
“
Perhaps
those
that
get
into
popular
circulation
do
deserve
some
of
your
terms
for
them
.
Illogical
replies
break
down
and
carry
off
some
who
have
pinned
their
faith
to
them
;
but
are
you
sure
that
though
you
have
read
much
,
you
have
read
deep
?
”
“
I
have
read
more
deeply
than
any
one
I
know
—
women
,
I
mean
—
or
than
any
man
ever
showed
me
he
had
read
.
Indeed
,
I
am
trying
not
to
say
it
in
conceit
,
but
Ermine
Williams
does
not
read
argumentative
books
,
and
gentlemen
almost
always
make
as
if
they
knew
nothing
about
them
.
”
“
I
think
you
may
be
of
great
use
to
me
,
my
dear
,
if
you
will
help
me
.
The
bishop
has
desired
me
to
preach
the
next
visitation
sermon
,
and
he
wishes
it
to
be
on
some
of
these
subjects
.
Now
,
if
you
will
help
me
with
the
book
work
,
it
will
be
very
kind
in
you
,
and
might
serve
to
clear
your
mind
about
some
of
the
details
,
though
you
must
be
prepared
for
some
questions
being
unanswered
.
”
“
Best
so
,
”
replied
Rachel
,
“
I
don’t
like
small
answers
to
great
questions
.
”
“
Nor
I
.
Only
let
us
take
care
not
to
get
absorbed
in
admiring
the
boldness
that
picks
out
stones
to
be
stumbled
over
.
”
“
Do
you
object
to
my
having
read
,
and
thought
,
and
tried
?
”
“
Certainly
not
.
Those
who
have
the
capability
should
,
if
they
feel
disturbed
,
work
out
the
argument
.
Nothing
is
gained
while
it
is
felt
that
both
sides
have
not
been
heard
.
I
do
not
myself
believe
that
a
humble
,
patient
,
earnest
spirit
can
go
far
wrong
,
though
it
may
for
a
time
be
tried
,
and
people
often
cry
out
at
the
first
stumbling
block
,
and
then
feel
committed
to
the
exclamations
they
have
made
.
”
The
conversation
was
here
ended
by
the
sight
of
Alick
coming
slowly
and
wearily
in
from
the
churchyard
,
looking
as
if
some
fresh
weight
were
upon
him
,
and
he
soon
told
them
that
the
doctors
had
pronounced
that
Lord
Keith
was
in
a
critical
state
,
and
would
probably
have
much
to
suffer
from
the
formation
that
had
begun
where
he
had
received
the
neglected
bruise
in
the
side
.
No
word
of
censure
of
poor
Bessie
had
been
breathed
,
nor
did
Alick
mention
her
name
,
but
he
deeply
suffered
under
the
fulfilment
of
his
own
predictions
,
and
his
subdued
,
dejected
manner
expressed
far
more
than
did
his
words
.
Rachel
asked
how
Lord
Keith
seemed
.
“
Oh
,
there’s
no
getting
at
his
feelings
.
He
was
very
civil
to
me
—
asked
after
you
,
Rachel
—
told
me
to
give
you
his
thanks
,
but
not
a
single
word
about
anything
nearer
.
Then
I
had
to
read
the
paper
to
him
—
all
that
dinner
at
Liverpool
,
and
he
made
remarks
,
and
expected
me
to
know
what
it
was
about
.
I
suppose
he
does
feel
;
the
Colonel
says
he
is
exceedingly
cut
up
,
and
he
looks
like
a
man
of
eighty
,
infinitely
worse
than
last
time
I
saw
him
,
but
I
don’t
know
what
to
make
of
him
.
”
“
And
,
Alick
,
did
you
hear
the
verdict
?
”
“
What
verdict
?
”
“
That
man
at
Avoncester
.
Mrs.
Menteith
said
there
had
been
a
telegram
.
”
Alick
looked
startled
.
“
This
has
put
everything
out
of
my
head
!
”
he
said
.
“
What
was
the
verdict
?
”
“
That
was
just
what
she
could
not
tell
.
She
did
not
quite
know
who
was
tried
.
”
“
And
she
came
here
and
harassed
you
with
it
,
”
he
said
,
looking
at
her
anxiously
.
“
As
if
you
had
not
gone
through
enouqh
already
.
”
“
Never
mind
that
now
.
It
seems
so
long
ago
now
that
I
can
hardly
think
much
about
it
,
and
I
have
had
another
visitor
,
”
she
added
,
as
Mr.
Clare
left
them
to
themselves
,
“
Mrs.
Carleton
—
that
poor
son
of
hers
is
in
such
distress
.
”
“
She
has
been
palavering
you
over
,
”
he
said
,
in
a
tone
more
like
displeasure
than
he
had
ever
used
towards
her
.
“
Indeed
,
Alick
,
if
you
would
listen
,
you
would
find
him
very
much
to
be
pitied
.
”
“
I
only
wish
never
to
hear
of
any
of
them
again
.
”
He
did
not
speak
like
himself
,
and
Rachel
was
aghast
.
“
I
thought
you
would
not
object
to
my
letting
her
in
,
”
she
began
.
“
I
never
said
I
did
,
”
he
answered
;
“
I
can
never
think
of
him
but
as
having
caused
her
death
,
and
it
was
no
thanks
to
him
that
there
was
nothing
worse
.
”
The
sternness
of
his
manner
would
have
silenced
Rachel
but
for
her
strong
sense
of
truth
and
justice
,
which
made
her
persevere
in
saying
,
“
There
may
have
been
more
excuse
than
you
believe
.
”
“
Do
you
suppose
that
is
any
satisfaction
to
me
?
”
He
walked
decidedly
away
,
and
entered
by
the
library
window
,
and
she
stood
grieved
and
wondering
whether
she
had
been
wrong
in
pitying
,
or
whether
he
were
too
harsh
in
his
indignation
.
It
was
a
sign
that
her
tone
and
spirit
had
recovered
,
that
she
did
not
succumb
in
judgment
,
though
she
felt
utterly
puzzled
and
miserable
till
she
recollected
how
unwell
,
weary
,
and
unhappy
he
was
,
and
that
every
fresh
perception
of
his
sister’s
errors
was
like
a
poisoned
arrow
to
him
;
and
then
she
felt
shocked
at
having
obtruded
the
subject
on
him
at
all
,
and
when
she
found
him
leaning
back
in
his
chair
,
spent
and
worn
out
,
she
waited
on
him
in
the
quietest
,
gentlest
way
she
could
accomplish
,
and
tried
to
show
that
she
had
put
the
subject
entirely
aside
.
However
,
when
they
were
next
alone
together
,
he
turned
his
face
away
and
muttered
,
“
What
did
that
woman
say
to
you
?
”
“
Oh
,
Alick
,
I
am
sorry
I
began
!
It
only
gives
you
pain
.
”
“
Go
on
—
”
She
did
go
on
till
she
had
told
all
,
and
he
uttered
no
word
of
comment
.
She
longed
to
ask
whether
he
disapproved
of
her
having
permitted
the
interview
;
but
as
he
did
not
again
recur
to
the
topic
,
it
was
making
a
real
and
legitimate
use
of
strength
of
mind
to
abstain
from
tearing
him
on
the
matter
.
Yet
when
she
recollected
what
worldly
honour
would
once
have
exacted
of
a
military
man
,
and
the
conflicts
between
religion
and
public
opinion
,
she
felt
thankful
indeed
that
half
a
century
lay
between
her
and
that
terrible
code
,
and
even
as
it
was
,
perceiving
the
strong
hold
that
just
resentment
had
taken
on
her
husband’s
silently
determined
nature
,
she
could
not
think
of
the
neighbourhood
of
the
Carleton
family
without
dread
.
CHAPTER
XXVII
.
THE
POST
BAG
.
“
Thefts
,
like
ivy
on
a
ruin
,
make
the
rifts
they
seem
to
shade
.
”
—
C
.
G
.
DUFFY
.
“
August
3d
,
7
A
.
M
.
“
My
Dear
Colonel
Keith
,
—
Papa
is
come
,
and
I
have
got
up
so
early
in
the
morning
that
I
have
nothing
to
do
but
to
write
to
you
before
we
go
in
to
Avoncester
.
Papa
and
Mr.
Beechum
came
by
the
six
o’clock
train
,
and
Lady
Temple
sent
me
in
the
waggonette
to
meet
them
.
Aunt
Ailie
would
not
go
,
because
she
was
afraid
Aunt
Ermine
would
get
anxious
whilst
she
was
waiting
.
I
saw
papa
directly
,
and
yet
I
did
not
think
it
could
be
papa
,
because
you
were
not
there
,
and
he
looked
quite
past
me
,
and
I
do
not
think
he
would
have
found
me
or
the
carriage
at
all
if
Mr.
Beechum
had
not
known
me
.
And
then
,
I
am
afraid
I
was
very
naughty
,
but
I
could
not
help
crying
just
a
little
when
I
found
you
had
not
come
;
but
perhaps
Lady
Keith
may
be
better
,
and
you
may
come
before
I
go
into
court
to-day
,
and
then
I
shall
tear
up
this
letter
.
I
am
afraid
papa
thought
I
was
unkind
to
cry
when
he
was
just
come
home
,
for
he
did
not
talk
to
me
near
so
much
as
Mr.
Beechum
did
,
and
his
eyes
kept
looking
out
as
if
he
did
not
see
anything
near
,
only
quite
far
away
.
And
I
suppose
Russian
coats
must
be
made
of
some
sort
of
sheep
that
eats
tobacco
.
”
“
August
3d
,
10
A
.
M
.
“
Dearest
Colin
,
—
I
have
just
lighted
on
poor
little
Rosie’s
before-breakfast
composition
,
and
I
can’t
refrain
from
sending
you
her
first
impressions
,
poor
child
,
though
no
doubt
they
will
alter
,
as
she
sees
more
of
her
father
.
All
are
gone
to
Avoncester
now
,
though
with
some
doubts
whether
this
be
indeed
the
critical
day
;
I
hope
it
may
be
,
the
sooner
this
is
over
the
better
,
but
I
am
full
of
hope
.
I
cannot
believe
but
that
the
Providence
that
has
done
so
much
to
discover
Edward’s
innocence
to
the
world
,
will
finish
the
work
!
I
have
little
expectation
though
of
your
coming
down
in
time
to
see
it
,
the
copy
of
the
telegraphic
message
,
which
you
sent
by
Harry
,
looks
as
bad
as
possible
,
and
even
allowing
something
for
inexperience
and
fright
,
things
must
be
in
a
state
in
which
you
could
hardly
leave
your
brother
,
so
unwell
as
he
seems
.
“
2
p.m.
I
was
interrupted
by
Lady
Temple
,
who
was
soon
followed
by
Mrs.
Curtis
,
burning
to
know
whether
I
had
any
more
intelligence
than
had
floated
to
them
.
Pray
,
if
you
can
say
anything
to
exonerate
poor
Rachel
from
mismanagement
,
say
it
strongly
;
her
best
friends
are
so
engaged
in
wishing
themselves
there
,
and
pitying
poor
Bessie
for
being
in
her
charge
,
that
I
long
to
confute
them
,
for
I
fully
believe
in
her
sense
and
spirit
in
any
real
emergency
that
she
had
not
ridden
out
to
encounter
.
“
And
I
have
written
so
far
without
a
word
on
the
great
subject
of
all
,
the
joy
untold
for
which
our
hearts
had
ached
so
long
,
and
which
we
owe
entirely
to
you
,
for
Edward
owns
that
nothing
but
your
personal
representations
would
have
brought
him
,
and
,
as
I
suppose
you
already
know
—
he
so
much
hated
the
whole
subject
of
Maddox’s
treachery
that
he
had
flung
aside
,
unread
,
all
that
he
saw
related
to
it
.
Dear
Colin
,
whatever
else
you
have
done
,
you
have
filled
a
famished
heart
.
Could
you
but
have
seen
Ailie’s
face
all
last
evening
as
she
sat
by
his
side
,
you
would
have
felt
your
reward
—
it
was
as
if
the
worn
,
anxious
,
almost
stern
mask
had
been
taken
away
,
and
our
Ailie’s
face
was
beaming
out
as
of
old
when
she
was
the
family
pet
,
before
Julia
took
her
away
to
be
finished
.
She
sees
no
change
;
she
is
in
an
ecstasy
of
glamour
that
makes
her
constantly
repeat
her
rejoicings
that
Edward
is
so
much
himself
,
so
unchanged
,
till
I
almost
feel
unsisterly
for
seeing
in
him
the
traces
that
these
sad
years
have
left
,
and
that
poor
little
Rose
herself
has
detected
.
No
,
he
is
not
so
much
changed
as
exaggerated
.
The
living
to
himself
,
and
with
so
cruel
a
past
,
has
greatly
increased
the
old
dreaminess
that
we
always
tried
to
combat
,
and
he
seems
less
able
than
before
to
turn
his
mind
into
any
channel
but
the
one
immediately
before
him
.
He
is
most
loving
when
roused
,
but
infinitely
more
inclined
to
fall
off
into
a
muse
.
I
am
afraid
you
must
have
had
a
troublesome
charge
in
him
,
judging
by
the
uproar
Harry
makes
about
the
difficulty
of
getting
him
safe
from
Paddington
.
It
is
good
to
see
him
and
Harry
together
—
the
old
schoolboy
ways
are
so
renewed
,
all
bitterness
so
entirely
forgotten
,
only
Harry
rages
a
little
that
he
is
not
more
wrapped
up
in
Rose
.
To
say
the
truth
,
so
do
I
;
but
if
it
were
not
for
Harry’s
feeling
the
same
,
I
should
believe
that
you
had
taught
me
to
be
exacting
about
my
rosebud
.
Partly
,
it
is
that
he
is
disappointed
that
she
is
not
like
her
mother
;
he
had
made
up
his
mind
to
another
Lucy
,
and
her
Williams
face
took
him
by
surprise
,
and
,
partly
,
he
is
not
a
man
to
adapt
himself
to
a
child
.
She
must
be
trained
to
help
unobtrusively
in
his
occupations
;
the
unknowing
little
plaything
her
mother
was
,
she
never
can
be
.
I
am
afraid
he
will
never
adapt
himself
to
English
life
again
—
his
soul
seems
to
be
in
his
mines
,
and
if
as
you
say
he
is
happy
and
valued
there
—
though
it
is
folly
to
look
forward
to
the
wrench
again
,
instead
of
rejoicing
in
the
present
,
gladness
;
but
often
as
I
had
fashioned
that
arrival
in
my
fancy
,
it
was
never
that
Harry’s
voice
,
not
yours
,
should
say
the
‘Here
he
is.’
“
They
all
went
this
morning
in
the
waggonette
,
and
the
two
boys
with
Miss
Curtis
in
the
carriage
.
Lady
Temple
is
very
kind
in
coming
in
and
out
to
enliven
me
.
I
am
afraid
I
must
close
and
send
this
before
their
return
.
What
a
day
it
is
!
And
how
are
you
passing
it
?
I
fear
,
even
at
the
best
,
in
much
anxiety
.
Lady
Temple
asks
to
put
in
a
line
.
—
Yours
ever
,
E
.
W
.
”
“
August
3d
,
5
P.
M
.
“
My
Dear
Colonel
,
—
This
is
just
to
tell
you
that
dear
Ermine
is
very
well
,
and
bearing
the
excitement
and
suspense
wonderfully
.
We
were
all
dreadfully
shocked
to
hear
about
poor
dear
Bessie
;
it
is
so
sad
her
having
no
mother
nor
any
one
but
Rachel
to
take
care
of
her
,
though
Rachel
would
do
her
best
,
I
know
.
If
she
would
like
to
have
me
,
or
if
you
think
I
could
do
any
good
,
pray
telegraph
for
me
the
instant
you
get
this
letter
.
I
would
have
come
this
morning
,
only
I
thought
,
perhaps
,
she
had
her
aunt
.
That
stupid
telegram
never
said
whether
her
baby
was
alive
,
or
what
it
was
,
I
do
hope
it
is
all
right
.
I
should
like
to
send
nurse
up
at
once
—
I
always
thought
she
saved
little
Cyril
when
he
was
so
ill.
Pray
send
for
nurse
or
me
,
or
anything
I
can
send
:
anyway
,
I
know
nobody
can
be
such
a
comfort
as
you
;
but
the
only
thing
there
is
to
wish
about
you
is
,
that
you
could
be
in
two
places
at
once
.
“
The
two
boys
are
gone
in
to
the
trial
,
they
were
very
eager
about
it
;
and
dear
Grace
promises
to
take
care
of
Conrade’s
throat
.
Poor
boys
!
they
had
got
up
a
triumphal
arch
for
your
return
,
but
I
am
afraid
I
am
telling
secrets
.
Dear
Ermine
is
so
good
and
resolutely
composed
—
quite
an
example
.
—
Yours
affectionately
,
“
F
.
G
.
Temple
.
”
“
Avoncester
,
August
3d
,
2
P.
M
.
“
My
Dear
Colonel
Keith
,
—
I
am
just
come
out
of
court
,
and
I
am
to
wait
at
the
inn
,
for
Aunt
Ailie
does
not
like
for
me
to
hear
the
trial
,
but
she
says
I
may
write
to
you
to
pass
away
the
time
.
I
am
sorry
I
left
my
letter
out
to
go
this
morning
,
for
Aunt
Ailie
says
it
is
very
undutiful
to
say
anything
about
the
sheep’s
wool
in
Russia
smelling
of
tobacco
.
Conrade
says
it
is
all
smoking
,
and
that
every
one
does
it
who
has
seen
the
world
.
Papa
never
stops
smoking
but
when
he
is
with
Aunt
Ermine
,
he
sat
on
the
box
and
did
it
all
the
way
to
Avoncester
,
and
Mr.
Beechum
said
it
was
to
compose
his
mind
.
After
we
got
to
Avoncester
we
had
a
long
,
long
time
to
wait
,
and
first
one
was
called
,
and
then
another
,
and
then
they
wanted
me
.
I
was
not
nearly
so
frightened
as
I
was
that
time
when
you
sent
for
me
,
though
there
were
so
many
more
people
;
but
it
was
daylight
,
and
the
judge
looked
so
kind
,
and
the
lawyer
spoke
so
gently
to
me
,
and
Mr.
Maddox
did
not
look
horrid
like
that
first
time
.
I
think
he
must
be
sorry
now
he
has
seen
how
much
he
has
hurt
papa
.
The
lawyer
asked
me
all
about
the
noises
,
and
the
lions
,
and
the
letters
of
light
,
just
as
Mr.
Grey
did
;
and
they
showed
me
papa’s
old
seal
ring
,
and
asked
if
I
knew
it
,
and
a
seal
that
was
made
with
the
new
one
that
he
got
when
the
other
was
lost
!
and
I
knew
them
because
I
used
to
make
impressions
on
my
arms
with
them
when
I
was
a
little
girl
.
There
was
another
lawyer
that
asked
how
old
I
was
,
and
why
I
had
not
told
before
;
and
I
thought
he
was
going
to
laugh
at
me
for
a
silly
little
girl
,
but
the
judge
would
not
let
him
,
and
said
I
was
a
clear-headed
little
maiden
;
and
Mr.
Beechum
came
with
Aunt
Ailie
,
and
took
me
out
of
court
,
and
told
me
to
choose
anything
in
the
whole
world
he
should
give
me
,
so
I
chose
the
little
writing
case
I
am
writing
with
now
,
and
‘The
Heroes’
besides
,
so
I
shall
be
able
to
read
till
the
others
come
back
,
and
we
go
home
.
—
Your
affectionate
little
friend
,
“
Rose
Ermine
Williams
.
”
“
The
Homestead
,
August
3d
,
9
P.
M
.
“
My
Dear
Alexander
,
—
You
made
me
promise
to
send
you
the
full
account
of
this
day’s
proceedings
,
or
I
do
not
think
I
should
attempt
it
,
when
you
may
be
so
sadly
engaged
.
Indeed
,
I
should
hardly
have
gone
to
Avoncester
had
the
sad
intelligence
reached
me
before
I
had
set
out
,
when
I
thought
my
sudden
return
would
be
a
greater
alarm
to
my
mother
,
and
I
knew
that
dear
Fanny
would
do
all
she
could
for
her
.
Still
she
has
had
a
very
nervous
day
,
thinking
constantly
of
your
dear
sister
,
and
of
Rachel’s
alarm
and
inexperience
;
but
her
unlimited
confidence
in
your
care
of
Rachel
is
some
comfort
,
and
I
am
hoping
that
the
alarm
may
have
subsided
,
and
you
may
be
all
rejoicing
.
I
have
always
thought
that
,
with
dear
Rachel
,
some
new
event
or
sensation
would
most
efface
the
terrible
memories
of
last
spring
.
My
mother
is
now
taking
her
evening
nap
,
and
I
am
using
the
time
for
telling
you
of
the
day’s
doings
.
I
took
with
me
Fanny’s
two
eldest
,
who
were
very
good
and
manageable
,
and
we
met
Mr.
Grey
,
who
put
us
in
very
good
places
,
and
told
us
the
case
was
just
coming
on
.
You
will
see
the
report
in
detail
in
the
paper
,
so
I
will
only
try
to
give
you
what
you
would
not
find
there
.
I
should
tell
you
that
Maddox
has
entirely
dropped
his
alias
.
Mr.
Grey
is
convinced
that
was
only
a
bold
stroke
to
gain
time
and
prevent
the
committal
,
so
as
to
be
able
to
escape
,
and
that
he
‘reckoned
upon
bullying
a
dense
old
country
magistrate
;
’
but
that
he
knew
it
was
quite
untenable
before
a
body
of
unexceptionable
witnesses
.
Altogether
the
man
looked
greatly
altered
and
crest-fallen
,
and
there
was
a
meanness
and
vulgarity
in
his
appearance
that
made
me
wonder
at
our
ever
having
credited
his
account
of
himself
.
He
had
an
abject
look
,
very
unlike
his
confident
manner
at
the
sessions
,
nor
did
he
attempt
his
own
defence
.
Mr.
Grey
kept
on
saying
he
must
know
that
he
had
not
a
leg
to
stand
upon
.
“
The
counsel
for
the
prosecution
told
the
whole
story
,
and
it
was
very
touching
.
I
had
never
known
the
whole
before
;
the
sisters
are
so
resolute
and
uncomplaining
:
but
how
they
must
have
suffered
when
every
one
thought
them
ruined
by
their
brother’s
fraud
!
I
grieve
to
think
how
we
neglected
them
,
and
only
noticed
them
when
it
suited
our
convenience
.
Then
he
called
Mr.
Beechum
,
and
you
will
understand
better
than
I
can
all
about
the
concern
in
which
they
were
embarked
,
and
Maddox
coming
to
him
for
an
advance
of
£
300
,
giving
him
a
note
from
Mr.
Williams
,
asking
for
it
to
carry
out
an
invention
.
The
order
for
the
sum
was
put
into
Maddox’s
hands
,
and
the
banker
proved
the
paying
it
to
him
by
an
order
on
a
German
bank
.
“
Then
came
Mr.
Williams
.
I
had
seen
him
for
a
moment
in
setting
out
,
and
was
struck
with
his
strange
,
lost
,
dreamy
look
.
There
is
something
very
haggard
and
mournful
in
his
countenance
;
and
,
though
he
has
naturally
the
same
fine
features
as
his
eldest
sister
,
his
cheeks
are
hollow
,
his
eyes
almost
glassy
,
and
his
beard
,
which
is
longer
than
the
Colonel’s
,
very
grey
.
He
gave
me
the
notion
of
the
wreck
of
a
man
,
stunned
and
crushed
,
and
never
thoroughly
alive
again
;
but
when
he
stood
in
the
witness-box
,
face
to
face
with
the
traitor
,
he
was
very
different
;
he
lifted
up
his
head
,
his
eyes
brightened
,
his
voice
became
clear
,
and
his
language
terse
and
concentrated
,
so
that
I
could
believe
in
his
having
been
the
very
able
man
he
was
described
to
be
.
I
am
sure
Maddox
must
have
quailed
under
his
glance
,
there
was
something
so
loftily
innocent
in
it
,
yet
so
wistful
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
‘how
could
you
abuse
my
perfect
confidence
?
’
Mr.
Williams
denied
having
received
the
money
,
written
the
letter
,
or
even
thought
of
making
the
request
.
They
showed
him
the
impression
of
two
seals
.
He
said
one
was
made
with
a
seal-ring
given
him
by
Colonel
Keith
,
and
lost
some
time
before
he
went
abroad
;
the
other
,
with
one
with
which
he
had
replaced
it
,
and
which
he
produced
,
—
he
had
always
worn
it
on
his
finger
.
They
matched
exactly
with
the
impressions
;
and
there
was
a
little
difference
in
the
hair
of
the
head
upon
the
seal
that
was
evident
to
every
one
.
It
amused
the
boys
extremely
to
see
some
of
the
old
jurymen
peering
at
them
with
their
glasses
.
He
was
asked
where
he
was
on
the
7th
of
September
(
the
date
of
the
letter
)
,
and
he
referred
to
some
notes
of
his
own
,
which
enabled
him
to
state
that
on
the
6th
he
had
come
back
to
Prague
from
a
village
with
a
horrible
Bohemian
name
—
all
cs
and
zs
—
which
I
will
not
attempt
to
write
,
though
much
depended
on
the
number
of
the
said
letters
.
“
The
rest
of
the
examination
must
have
been
very
distressing
,
for
Maddox’s
counsel
pushed
him
hard
about
his
reasons
for
not
returning
to
defend
himself
,
and
he
was
obliged
to
tell
how
ill
his
wife
was
,
and
how
terrified
;
and
they
endeavoured
to
make
that
into
an
admission
that
he
thought
himself
liable
.
They
tried
him
with
bits
of
the
handwriting
,
and
he
could
not
always
tell
which
were
his
own
;
—
but
I
think
every
one
must
have
been
struck
with
his
honourable
scrupulosity
in
explaining
every
doubt
he
had
.
“
Other
people
were
called
in
about
the
writing
,
but
Alison
Williams
was
the
clearest
of
all
.
She
was
never
puzzled
by
any
scrap
they
showed
her
,
and
,
moreover
,
she
told
of
Maddox
having
sent
for
her
brother’s
address
,
and
her
having
copied
it
from
a
letter
of
Mrs.
Williams’s
,
which
she
produced
,
with
the
wrong
spelling
,
just
as
it
was
in
the
forgery
.
The
next
day
had
come
a
letter
from
the
brother
,
which
she
showed
,
saying
that
they
were
going
to
leave
the
place
sooner
than
they
had
intended
,
and
spelling
it
right
.
She
gave
the
same
account
of
the
seals
,
and
nothing
ever
seemed
to
disconcert
her
.
My
boys
were
so
much
excited
about
their
‘own
Miss
Williams
,
’
that
I
was
quite
afraid
they
would
explode
into
a
cheer
.
“
That
poor
woman
whom
we
used
to
call
Mrs.
Rawlins
told
her
sad
story
next
.
She
is
much
worn
and
subdued
,
and
Mr.
Grey
was
struck
with
the
change
from
the
fierce
excitement
she
showed
when
she
was
first
confronted
with
Maddox
,
after
her
own
trial
;
but
she
held
fast
to
the
same
evidence
,
giving
it
not
resentfully
,
but
sadly
and
firmly
,
as
if
she
felt
it
to
be
her
duty
.
She
,
as
you
know
,
explained
how
Maddox
had
obtained
access
to
Mr.
Williams’s
private
papers
,
and
how
she
had
,
afterwards
,
found
in
his
possession
the
seal
ring
,
and
the
scraps
of
paper
in
his
patron’s
writing
.
A
policeman
produced
them
,
and
the
seal
perfectly
filled
the
wax
upon
the
forged
letter
.
The
bits
of
paper
showed
that
Maddox
had
been
practising
imitating
Mr.
Williams’s
writing
.
It
all
seemed
most
distinct
,
but
still
there
was
some
sharp
cross-examination
of
her
on
her
own
part
in
the
matter
,
and
Mr.
Grey
said
it
was
well
that
little
Rose
could
so
exactly
confirm
the
facts
she
mentioned
.
“
Poor
,
dear
little
Rose
looked
very
sweet
and
innocent
,
and
not
so
much
frightened
as
at
her
first
examination
.
She
told
her
story
of
the
savage
way
in
which
she
had
been
frightened
into
silence
.
Half
the
people
in
the
court
were
crying
,
and
I
am
sure
it
was
a
mercy
that
she
was
not
driven
out
of
her
senses
,
or
even
murdered
that
night
.
It
seems
that
she
was
sent
to
bed
early
,
but
the
wretches
knowing
that
she
always
woke
and
talked
while
her
mother
was
going
to
bed
,
the
phosphoric
letters
were
prepared
to
frighten
her
,
and
detain
her
in
her
room
,
and
then
Maddox
growled
at
her
when
she
tried
to
pass
the
door
.
She
was
asked
how
she
knew
the
growl
to
be
Maddox’s
,
and
she
answered
that
she
heard
him
cough
.
Rachel
will
,
I
am
sure
,
remember
the
sound
of
that
little
dry
cough
.
Nothing
could
make
it
clearer
than
that
the
woman
had
spoken
the
truth
.
The
child
identified
the
two
seals
with
great
readiness
,
and
then
was
sent
back
to
the
inn
that
she
might
not
be
perplexed
with
hearing
the
defence
.
This
,
of
course
,
was
very
trying
to
us
all
,
since
the
best
the
counsel
could
do
for
his
client
was
to
try
to
pick
holes
in
the
evidence
,
and
make
the
most
of
the
general
acquiescence
in
Mr.
Williams’s
guilt
for
all
these
years
.
He
brought
forward
letters
that
showed
that
Mr.
Williams
had
been
very
sanguine
about
the
project
,
and
had
written
about
the
possibility
that
an
advance
might
be
needed
.
Some
of
the
letters
,
which
both
Mr.
Williams
and
his
sister
owned
to
be
in
his
own
writing
,
spoke
in
most
flourishing
terms
of
his
plans
;
and
it
was
proved
by
documents
and
witnesses
that
the
affairs
were
in
such
a
state
that
bankruptcy
was
inevitable
,
so
that
there
was
every
motive
for
securing
a
sum
to
live
upon
.
It
was
very
miserable
all
the
time
this
was
going
on
,
the
whole
interpretation
,
of
Mr.
Williams’s
conduct
seemed
to
be
so
cruelly
twisted
aside
,
and
it
was
what
every
one
had
all
along
believed
,
his
absence
was
made
so
much
of
,
and
all
these
little
circumstances
that
had
seemed
so
important
were
held
so
cheap
—
one
knew
it
was
only
the
counsel’s
representation
,
and
yet
Alison
grew
whiter
and
whiter
under
it
.
I
wish
you
could
have
heard
the
reply
:
drawing
the
picture
of
the
student’s
absorption
and
generous
confidence
,
and
his
agent’s
treachery
,
creeping
into
his
household
,
and
brutally
playing
on
the
terrors
of
his
child
.
“
Well
,
I
cannot
tell
you
all
,
but
the
judge
summed
up
strongly
for
a
conviction
,
though
he
said
a
good
deal
about
culpable
negligence
almost
inviting
fraud
,
and
I
fear
it
must
have
been
very
distressing
to
the
Williamses
,
but
the
end
was
that
Maddox
was
found
guilty
,
and
sentenced
to
fourteen
years’
penal
servitude
,
though
I
am
afraid
they
will
not
follow
Conrade’s
suggestion
,
and
chain
up
a
lion
by
his
bed
every
night
of
his
life
.
“
We
were
very
happy
when
we
met
at
the
inn
,
and
all
shook
hands
.
Dr.
Long
was
,
I
think
,
the
least
at
ease
.
He
had
come
in
case
this
indictment
had
in
any
way
failed
,
to
bring
his
own
matter
forward
,
so
that
Maddox
should
not
get
off
.
I
do
not
like
him
very
much
,
he
seemed
unable
to
be
really
hearty
,
and
I
think
he
must
have
once
been
harsh
and
now
ashamed
of
it
.
Then
he
was
displeased
at
Colonel
Keith’s
absence
,
and
could
hardly
conceal
how
much
he
was
put
out
by
the
cause
,
as
if
he
thought
the
Colonel
had
imposed
himself
on
the
family
as
next
heir
.
I
hardly
know
how
to
send
all
this
in
the
present
state
of
things
,
but
I
believe
you
will
wish
to
have
it
,
and
will
judge
how
much
Rachel
will
bear
to
hear
.
Good
night
.
—
Your
affectionate
Sister
,
“
Grace
Curtis
.
”
“
Gowanbrae
,
Avonmouth
,
August
3d
,
11
P.
M
.
“
Dear
Keith
,
—
Before
this
day
has
ended
you
must
have
a
few
lines
from
the
man
whom
your
exertions
have
relieved
from
a
stigma
,
the
full
misery
of
which
I
only
know
by
the
comfort
of
its
removal
.
I
told
you
there
was
much
that
could
never
be
restored
.
I
feel
this
all
the
more
in
the
presence
of
all
that
now
remains
to
me
,
but
I
did
not
know
how
much
could
still
be
given
back
.
The
oppression
of
the
load
of
suspicion
under
which
I
laboured
now
seems
to
me
to
have
been
intolerable
since
I
have
been
freed
from
it
.
I
cannot
describe
how
changed
a
man
I
have
felt
,
since
Beechum
shook
hands
with
me
.
The
full
blackness
of
Maddox’s
treachery
I
had
not
known
,
far
less
his
cruelty
to
my
child
.
Had
I
been
aware
of
all
I
could
not
have
refrained
from
trying
to
bring
him
to
justice
;
but
there
is
no
need
to
enter
into
the
past
.
It
is
enough
that
I
owe
to
you
a
freed
spirit
,
and
new
life
,
and
that
my
gratitude
is
not
lessened
by
the
knowledge
that
something
besides
friendship
urged
you
.
Ermine
is
indeed
as
attractive
as
ever
,
and
has
improved
in
health
far
more
than
I
durst
expect
.
I
suppose
it
is
your
all-powerful
influence
.
You
are
first
with
all
here
,
as
you
well
deserve
,
even
my
child
,
who
is
as
lovely
and
intelligent
as
you
told
me
,
has
every
thought
pervaded
with
‘the
Colonel.’
She
is
a
sweet
creature
;
but
there
was
one
who
will
never
be
retraced
,
and
forgive
me
,
Keith
,
without
her
,
even
triumph
must
be
bitterness
.
—
Still
ever
most
gratefully
yours
,
“
Edward
Williams
.
”
“
August
3d
,
11
P.
M
.
“
Dearest
Colin
,
—
The
one
sound
in
my
ears
,
the
one
song
in
my
heart
is
,
‘Let
them
give
thanks.’
It
is
as
if
we
had
passed
from
a
dungeon
into
sunshine
.
I
suppose
it
would
be
too
much
if
you
were
here
to
share
it
.
They
sent
Rose
in
first
to
tell
me
,
but
I
knew
in
the
sound
of
their
wheels
that
all
was
well
.
What
an
evening
we
have
had
,
but
I
must
not
write
more
.
Ailie
is
watching
me
like
a
dragon
,
and
will
not
rest
till
I
am
in
bed
;
but
I
can’t
tell
how
to
lose
one
minute
of
gladness
in
sleep
.
Oh
,
Colin
,
Colin
,
truest
of
all
true
knights
,
what
an
achievement
yours
has
been
!
”
“
August
4th
.
“
That
was
a
crazy
bit
that
I
wrote
last
night
,
but
I
will
not
make
away
with
it
.
I
don’t
care
how
crazy
you
think
me
.
It
would
have
been
a
pity
not
to
have
slept
to
wake
to
the
knowledge
that
all
was
not
a
dream
,
but
then
came
the
contrast
with
the
sorrow
you
are
watching
.
And
I
have
just
had
your
letter
.
What
a
sudden
close
to
that
joyous
life
!
She
was
one
of
the
most
winning
beings
,
as
you
truly
say
,
that
ever
flashed
across
one’s
course
,
and
if
she
had
faults
,
they
were
those
of
her
day
and
her
training
.
I
suppose
,
by
what
you
say
,
that
she
was
too
girlish
to
be
all
the
companion
your
brother
required
,
and
that
this
may
account
for
his
being
more
shocked
than
sorrow-stricken
,
and
his
child
,
since
he
can
dwell
on
the
thought
,
is
such
a
new
beginning
of
hope
,
that
I
wonder
less
than
you
do
at
his
bearing
up
so
well
.
Besides
,
pain
dulls
the
feelings
,
and
is
a
great
occupation
.
I
wish
you
could
have
seen
that
dear
Bessie
,
but
I
gather
that
the
end
came
on
much
more
rapidly
than
had
been
expected
.
It
seemed
as
if
she
were
one
of
those
to
whom
even
suffering
was
strangely
lightened
and
shortened
,
as
if
she
had
met
only
the
flowers
of
life
,
and
even
the
thorns
and
stings
were
almost
lost
in
their
bright
blossoms
.
And
she
could
hardly
have
lived
on
without
much
either
of
temptation
or
sorrow
.
I
am
glad
of
your
testimony
to
Rachel’s
effectiveness
,
I
wrote
it
out
and
sent
it
up
to
the
Homestead
.
There
was
a
note
this
morning
requesting
Edward
to
come
in
to
see
Maddox
,
and
Ailie
is
gone
with
him
,
thinking
she
may
get
leave
to
see
poor
Maria
.
Think
of
writing
‘Edward
and
Ailie
again
!
Dr.
Long
and
Harry
are
gone
with
them
.
The
broken
thread
is
better
pieced
by
Harry
than
by
the
Doctor
;
but
he
wants
Ailie
and
me
to
go
and
stay
at
Belfast
.
Now
I
must
hear
Rose
read
,
in
order
to
bring
both
her
and
myself
to
our
reasonable
senses
.
”
“
5
P.
M
.
“
They
have
been
returned
about
an
hour
,
and
I
must
try
to
give
you
Edward’s
account
of
his
interview
.
Maddox
has
quite
dropped
his
mask
,
and
seems
to
have
been
really
touched
by
being
brought
into
contact
with
Edward
again
,
and
,
now
it
is
all
up
with
him
,
seemed
to
take
a
kind
of
pleasure
in
explaining
the
whole
web
,
almost
,
Edward
said
,
with
vanity
at
his
own
ingenuity
.
His
earlier
history
was
as
he
used
to
represent
it
to
Edward
.
He
was
a
respectable
ironmonger’s
son
,
with
a
taste
for
art
;
he
was
not
allowed
to
indulge
it
,
and
then
came
rebellion
,
and
breaking
away
from
home
.
He
studied
at
the
Academy
for
a
few
years
,
but
wanted
application
,
and
fancied
he
had
begun
too
late
,
tried
many
things
and
spent
a
shifty
life
,
but
never
was
consciously
dishonest
till
after
he
had
fallen
in
with
Edward
;
and
the
large
sums
left
uninquired
for
in
his
hands
became
a
temptation
to
one
already
inclined
to
gambling
.
His
own
difficulties
drove
him
on
,
and
before
he
ventured
on
the
grand
stroke
,
he
had
been
in
a
course
of
using
the
sums
in
his
hands
for
his
own
purposes
.
The
finding
poor
Maria
open
to
the
admiration
he
gave
her
beauty
,
put
it
into
his
head
to
make
a
tool
of
her
;
and
this
was
not
the
first
time
he
had
used
Edward’s
seal
,
or
imitated
his
writing
.
No
wonder
there
was
such
a
confusion
in
the
accounts
as
told
so
much
against
Edward
.
He
told
the
particulars
,
Edward
says
,
with
the
strangest
mixture
of
remorse
and
exultation
.
At
last
came
the
journey
to
Bohemia
,
and
his
frauds
became
the
more
easy
,
until
he
saw
there
must
be
a
bankruptcy
,
and
made
the
last
bold
stroke
,
investing
the
money
abroad
in
his
own
name
,
so
that
he
would
have
been
ready
to
escape
if
Edward
had
come
home
again
.
He
never
expected
but
that
Edward
would
have
returned
,
and
finding
the
affairs
hopeless
,
did
this
deed
in
order
to
have
a
resource
.
As
to
regret
,
he
seemed
to
feel
some
when
he
said
the
effects
had
gone
farther
than
he
anticipated
;
but
‘I
could
not
let
him
get
into
that
subject
,
’
Edward
said
,
and
he
soon
came
back
to
his
amused
complacency
in
his
complete
hoodwinking
of
all
concerned
at
home
,
almost
thanking
Edward
for
the
facilities
his
absence
had
given
him
.
After
this
,
he
went
abroad
,
taking
Maria
lest
she
should
betray
him
on
being
cast
off
;
and
they
lived
in
such
style
at
German
gambling
places
that
destitution
brought
them
back
again
to
England
,
where
he
could
better
play
the
lecturer
,
and
the
artist
in
search
of
subscriptions
.
Edward
could
not
help
smiling
over
some
of
his
good
stories
,
rather
as
‘the
lord’
may
have
‘commended
the
wisdom
of
his
unjust
steward.’
Well
,
here
he
came
,
and
,
as
he
said
,
he
really
could
hardly
have
helped
himself
;
he
had
only
to
stand
still
and
let
poor
Rachel
deceive
herself
,
and
the
whole
concern
was
in
a
manner
thrust
upon
him
.
He
was
always
expecting
to
be
able
to
get
the
main
sum
into
his
hands
,
as
he
obtained
more
confidence
from
Rachel
,
and
the
woodcuts
were
an
over-bold
stroke
for
the
purpose
;
he
had
not
intended
her
to
keep
or
show
them
,
but
her
ready
credulity
tempted
him
too
far
;
and
I
cannot
help
laughing
now
at
poor
Edward’s
reproofs
to
us
for
having
been
all
so
easily
cheated
,
now
that
he
has
been
admitted
behind
the
scenes
.
Maddox
never
suspected
our
neighbourhood
,
he
had
imagined
us
to
be
still
in
London
,
and
though
he
heard
Alison’s
name
,
he
did
not
connect
it
with
us
.
After
all
,
what
you
thought
would
have
been
fatal
to
your
hopes
of
tracing
him
,
was
really
what
gave
him
into
our
hands
—
Lady
Temple’s
sudden
descent
upon
their
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
If
he
had
not
been
so
hurried
and
distressed
as
to
be
forced
to
leave
Maria
and
the
poor
child
to
her
fate
,
Maria
would
have
held
by
him
to
the
last
and
without
her
testimony
where
should
we
have
been
?
But
with
a
summons
out
against
him
,
and
hearing
that
Maria
had
been
recognised
,
he
could
only
fly
to
the
place
at
Bristol
that
he
thought
unknown
to
Maria
.
Even
when
seized
by
the
police
,
he
did
not
know
it
was
she
who
directed
them
,
and
had
not
expected
her
evidence
till
he
actually
saw
and
heard
her
on
the
night
of
the
sessions
.
It
was
all
Colonel
Keith’s
doing
,
he
said
,
every
other
adversary
he
would
have
despised
,
but
your
array
of
forces
met
him
at
every
corner
where
he
hoped
to
escape
,
and
the
dear
little
Rosie
gave
him
check-mate
,
like
a
gallant
little
knight’s
pawn
as
she
is
.
‘Who
could
have
guessed
that
child
would
have
such
a
confounded
memory
?
’
he
said
,
for
Edward
had
listened
with
a
sort
of
interest
that
had
made
him
quite
forget
that
he
was
Rose’s
father
,
and
that
this
wicked
cunning
Colonel
was
working
in
his
cause
.
So
off
he
goes
to
penal
servitude
,
and
Edward
is
so
much
impressed
and
touched
with
his
sharpness
as
to
predict
that
he
will
be
the
model
prisoner
before
long
,
if
he
do
not
make
his
escape
.
As
to
poor
Maria
,
that
was
a
much
more
sad
meeting
,
though
perhaps
less
really
melancholy
,
for
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
she
repents
entirely
,
she
speaks
of
every
one
as
being
very
good
to
her
,
and
indeed
the
old
influences
only
needed
revival
,
they
had
never
quite
died
out
.
Even
that
poor
child’s
name
was
given
for
love
of
Ailie
,
and
the
perception
of
having
been
used
to
bring
about
her
master’s
ruin
had
always
preyed
upon
her
,
and
further
embittered
her
temper
.
The
barbarity
seemed
like
a
dream
in
connexion
with
her
,
but
,
as
she
told
Ailie
,
when
she
once
began
something
came
over
her
,
and
she
could
not
help
striking
harder
.
It
reminded
me
of
horrible
stories
of
the
Hathertons’
usage
of
animals
.
Enough
of
this
.
I
believe
the
Sisterhood
will
find
a
safe
shelter
for
her
when
her
imprisonment
is
over
,
and
that
temptation
will
not
again
be
put
in
her
way
.
We
should
never
have
trusted
her
in
poor
dear
Lucy’s
household
.
Rose
calls
for
the
letters
.
Good
bye
,
dearest
Colin
and
conqueror
.
I
know
all
this
will
cheer
you
,
for
it
is
your
own
doing
.
I
can’t
stop
saying
so
,
it
is
such
a
pleasant
sound
—
Your
own
,
“
E
.
W
.
”
CHAPTER
XXVIII
.
VANITY
OF
VANITIES
.
“
Unfaith
in
aught
is
want
of
faith
in
all
.
”
TENNYSON
.
The
funeral
was
very
quiet
.
By
Colonel
Keith’s
considerate
arrangement
the
attendants
met
at
Timber
End
,
so
that
the
stillness
of
the
Parsonage
was
not
invaded
,
a
measure
the
more
expedient
,
as
Alick
was
suffering
from
a
return
of
his
old
enemy
,
intermitting
fever
,
and
only
was
able
to
leave
his
room
in
time
to
join
the
procession
.
Many
were
present
,
for
poor
Bessie
had
been
a
general
favourite
,
and
her
untimely
fate
had
stirred
up
feelings
that
had
created
her
into
a
saint
upon
earth
;
but
there
was
no
one
whose
token
of
respect
she
would
have
more
esteemed
than
Colonel
Hammond’s
,
who
in
all
the
bustle
of
the
remove
to
Edinburgh
had
found
time
to
come
to
Bishopsworthy
to
do
honour
to
the
daughter
of
his
old
commanding
officer
.
A
flush
of
gratitude
came
over
Alick’s
pale
face
when
he
became
aware
of
his
colonel’s
presence
,
and
when
the
choristers’
hymn
had
pealed
low
and
sweetly
over
the
tranquil
meadows
,
and
the
mourners
had
turned
away
,
Alick
paused
at
the
Parsonage
gate
to
hold
out
his
hand
,
and
bring
in
this
one
guest
to
hear
how
near
to
Bessie’s
heart
the
father’s
Highland
regiment
had
been
in
all
the
wanderings
of
her
last
moments
.
The
visit
was
prolonged
for
nearly
an
hour
,
while
recollections
of
Alick’s
parents
were
talked
over
,
and
Rachel
thought
him
more
cheered
and
gratified
than
by
any
other
tribute
that
had
been
paid
to
his
sister
.
He
was
promised
an
extension
of
leave
,
if
it
were
required
on
account
of
Lord
Keith’s
state
,
though
under
protest
that
he
would
have
the
aguish
fever
as
long
as
he
remained
overlooking
the
water
meadows
,
and
did
not
put
himself
under
Dr.
M’Vicar
.
Through
these
meadows
Colonel
Hammond
meant
to
walk
back
to
the
station
,
and
Alick
and
Rachel
conducted
him
far
enough
to
put
him
into
the
right
path
,
and
in
going
back
again
,
they
could
not
but
go
towards
the
stile
leading
to
that
corner
of
the
churchyard
where
the
sexton
had
finished
his
work
,
and
smoothed
the
sods
over
that
new
grave
.
Some
one
was
standing
at
the
foot
—
not
the
sexton
—
but
a
young
man
bending
as
with
an
intolerable
load
of
grief
.
Rachel
saw
him
first
,
when
Alick
was
helping
her
down
the
step
,
and
her
start
of
dismay
made
him
turn
and
look
round
.
His
brow
contracted
,
and
she
clutched
his
arm
with
an
involuntary
cry
of
,
“
Oh
,
don’t
,
”
but
he
,
with
a
gesture
that
at
once
awed
and
tranquillized
her
,
unclasped
her
hold
and
put
her
back
,
while
he
stepped
forward
.
She
could
hear
every
word
,
though
his
voice
was
low
and
deep
with
emotion
.
“
Carleton
,
if
I
have
ever
been
harsh
or
unjust
in
my
dealings
towards
you
,
I
am
sorry
for
it
.
We
have
both
had
the
saddest
of
all
lessons
.
May
we
both
take
it
as
we
ought
.
”
He
wrung
the
surprised
and
unwilling
hand
,
and
before
the
youth
,
startled
and
overcome
,
had
recovered
enough
to
attempt
a
reply
,
he
had
come
back
to
Rachel
,
resumed
her
arm
,
and
crossed
the
churchyard
,
still
shivering
and
trembling
with
the
agitation
,
and
the
force
he
had
put
on
himself
.
Rachel
neither
could
nor
durst
speak
;
she
only
squeezed
his
hand
,
and
when
he
had
shut
himself
up
in
his
own
room
,
she
could
not
help
repairing
to
his
uncle
,
and
telling
him
the
whole
.
Mr.
Clare’s
“
God
bless
you
,
my
boy
,
”
had
double
meaning
in
it
that
night
.
Not
long
after
,
Alick
told
Rachel
of
his
having
met
poor
young
Carleton
in
the
meadows
,
pretending
to
occupy
himself
with
his
fishing-rod
,
but
too
wretched
to
do
anything
.
And
in
a
short
time
Mrs.
Carleton
again
called
to
pour
out
to
Mrs.
Keith
her
warm
thanks
to
the
Captain
,
for
having
roused
her
son
from
his
moody
,
unmanageable
despair
,
and
made
him
consent
to
accept
a
situation
in
a
new
field
of
labour
,
in
a
spirit
of
manful
duty
that
he
had
never
evinced
before
.
This
was
a
grave
and
subdued
,
but
not
wholly
mournful
,
period
at
Bishopsworthy
—
a
time
very
precious
to
Rachel
in
the
retrospect
—
though
there
was
much
to
render
it
anxious
.
Alick
continued
to
suffer
from
recurrences
of
the
fever
,
not
very
severe
in
themselves
after
the
first
two
or
three
,
but
laying
him
prostrate
with
shivering
and
headache
every
third
day
,
and
telling
heavily
on
his
strength
and
looks
when
he
called
himself
well
.
On
these
good
days
he
was
always
at
Timber
End
,
where
his
services
were
much
needed
.
Lord
Keith
liked
and
esteemed
him
as
a
sensible
prudent
young
man
,
and
his
qualities
as
a
first-rate
nurse
were
of
great
assistance
to
the
Colonel
.
Lord
Keith’s
illness
was
tedious
and
painful
,
the
necessity
of
a
dangerous
operation
became
increasingly
manifest
,
but
the
progress
towards
such
a
crisis
was
slow
and
the
pain
and
discomfort
great
;
the
patient
never
moved
beyond
his
dressing-room
,
and
needed
incessant
attention
to
support
his
spirits
and
assist
his
endeavours
to
occupy
himself
.
It
was
impossible
to
leave
him
for
long
together
,
and
Colonel
Keith
was
never
set
at
liberty
for
exercise
or
rest
except
when
Alick
came
to
his
assistance
,
and
fortunately
this
young
brother-in-law
was
an
especial
favourite
,
partly
from
Lord
Keith’s
esteem
for
his
prudence
partly
from
his
experience
in
this
especial
species
of
suffering
.
At
any
rate
the
days
of
Alick’s
enforced
absence
were
always
times
of
greater
restlessness
and
uneasiness
at
Timber
End
.
Meantime
Rachel
was
constantly
thrown
with
Mr.
Clare
,
supplying
Alick’s
place
to
him
,
and
living
in
a
round
of
duties
that
suited
her
well
,
details
of
parish
work
,
walking
with
,
writing
for
,
and
reading
to
Mr
Clare
,
and
reaping
much
benefit
from
intercourse
with
such
a
mind
.
Many
of
her
errors
had
chiefly
arisen
from
the
want
of
some
one
whose
superiority
she
could
feel
,
and
her
old
presumptions
withered
up
to
nothing
when
she
measured
her
own
powers
with
those
of
a
highly
educated
man
,
while
all
the
time
he
gave
her
thanks
and
credit
for
all
she
had
effected
,
but
such
as
taught
her
humility
by
very
force
of
infection
.
Working
in
earnest
at
his
visitation
sermon
,
she
was
drawn
up
into
the
real
principles
and
bearings
of
the
controversy
,
and
Mr.
Clare
failed
not
to
give
full
time
and
patience
to
pick
out
all
her
difficulties
,
removing
scruples
at
troubling
him
,
by
declaring
that
it
was
good
for
his
own
purpose
to
unwind
every
tangle
even
if
he
did
not
use
every
thread
.
It
was
wonderful
how
many
puzzles
were
absolutely
intangible
,
not
even
tangled
threads
,
but
a
sort
of
nebulous
matter
that
dispersed
itself
on
investigation
.
And
after
all
,
unwilling
as
she
would
have
been
to
own
it
,
a
woman’s
tone
of
thought
is
commonly
moulded
by
the
masculine
intellect
,
which
,
under
one
form
or
another
,
becomes
the
master
of
her
soul
.
Those
opinions
,
once
made
her
own
,
may
be
acted
and
improved
upon
,
often
carried
to
lengths
never
thought
of
by
their
inspirer
,
or
held
with
noble
constancy
and
perseverance
even
when
he
himself
may
have
fallen
from
them
,
but
from
some
living
medium
they
are
almost
always
adopted
,
and
thus
,
happily
for
herself
,
a
woman’s
efforts
at
scepticism
are
but
blind
faith
in
her
chosen
leader
,
or
,
at
the
utmost
,
in
the
spirit
of
the
age
.
And
Rachel
having
been
more
than
usually
removed
from
the
immediate
influence
of
superior
man
,
had
been
affected
by
the
more
feeble
and
distant
power
,
a
leading
that
appeared
to
her
the
light
of
her
independent
mind
;
but
it
was
not
in
the
nature
of
things
that
,
from
her
husband
and
his
uncle
,
her
character
should
not
receive
that
tincture
for
which
it
had
so
long
waited
,
strong
and
thorough
in
proportion
to
her
nature
,
not
rapid
in
receiving
impressions
,
but
steadfast
and
uncompromising
in
retaining
and
working
on
them
when
once
accepted
,
a
nature
that
Alick
Keith
had
discerned
and
valued
amid
its
worst
errors
far
more
than
mere
attractiveness
,
of
which
his
sister
had
perhaps
made
him
weary
and
distrustful
.
Nor
,
indeed
,
under
the
force
of
the
present
influences
,
was
attractiveness
wanting
,
and
she
suited
Alick’s
peculiarities
far
better
than
many
a
more
charming
person
would
have
done
,
and
his
uncle
,
knowing
her
only
by
her
clear
mellow
voice
,
her
consideration
,
helpfulness
,
and
desire
to
think
and
do
rightly
,
never
understood
the
doubtful
amazement
now
and
then
expressed
in
talking
of
Alick’s
choice
.
One
great
bond
between
Rachel
and
Mr.
Clare
was
affection
for
the
little
babe
,
who
continued
to
be
Rachel’s
special
charge
,
and
was
a
great
deal
dearer
to
her
already
than
all
the
seven
Temples
put
together
.
She
studied
all
the
books
