shewas
too
much
occupied
with
the
gradual
gliding
into
somewhat
of
her
original
activity
and
importance
in
the
field
thus
left
open
to
her
.
None
the
less
,
however
,
did
she
feel
the
burden
of
life’s
problems
;
the
intercourse
she
had
enjoyed
with
Colonel
Keith
had
excited
her
for
a
time
,
but
in
the
reaction
,
the
old
feelings
returned
painfully
that
the
times
were
out
of
joint
;
the
heavens
above
became
obscure
and
misty
as
before
,
the
dark
places
of
the
earth
looked
darker
than
ever
,
and
those
who
lived
at
ease
seemed
to
be
employed
either
in
sport
upon
the
outside
of
the
dungeon
where
the
captives
groaned
,
or
in
obstructing
the
way
of
those
who
would
fain
have
plunged
in
to
the
rescue
.
Her
new
acquaintance
,
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
was
an
example
of
such
prevention
,
which
weighed
much
on
her
mind
.
He
had
been
perfectly
unobtrusive
,
but
Mrs.
Curtis
meeting
him
on
the
second
day
of
his
sketching
,
had
naturally
looked
at
his
drawing
,
and
admired
it
so
much
that
she
brought
her
daughters
to
see
it
when
in
course
of
completion
the
next
day
.
He
had
then
asked
whether
there
would
be
any
objection
to
his
making
use
of
the
sketches
in
the
way
of
remunerative
sale
.
Mrs.
Curtis
looked
rather
taken
aback
,
it
hardly
agreed
with
her
exclusive
notions
of
privacy
,
and
he
at
once
apologized
with
such
humility
that
she
was
touched
,
and
felt
herself
doing
him
a
wrong
,
whilst
Rachel
was
angry
at
her
scruple
,
yet
uncomfortably
thought
of
“
that
landscape
painter
,
”
then
said
in
her
decided
way
,
“
you
did
not
mean
to
object
,
mother
?
”
“
Oh
,
not
for
a
moment
,
pray
don’t
think
of
it
,
”
returned
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
in
haste
.
“
I
would
not
think
of
the
intrusion
.
It
is
only
that
these
poor
trifles
are
steps
to
one
of
the
few
means
by
which
I
can
still
hope
to
do
even
a
little
for
my
fellow
creatures
;
the
greatest
solace
that
remains
to
me
.
”
“
My
mother
did
not
mean
to
prevent
anything
,
”
said
Rachel
eagerly
;
“
least
of
all
any
means
of
doing
good
.
”
“
Indeed
,
I
cannot
but
be
aware
that
Miss
Curtis
is
the
last
individual
who
would
do
so
,
except
indeed
by
the
good
works
she
herself
absorbs
.
”
“
You
are
too
good
,
sir
,
”
returned
Mrs.
Curtis
;
“
I
am
sure
I
did
not
mean
to
object
to
anything
for
good
.
If
it
is
for
a
charity
,
I
am
sure
some
of
our
friends
would
be
very
glad
to
take
some
sketches
of
our
scenery
;
they
have
been
begging
me
this
long
time
to
have
it
photographed
.
I
should
like
to
have
that
drawing
myself
,
it
would
please
your
aunt
so
much
,
my
dear
,
if
we
sent
it
to
her
.
”
Mr.
Mauleverer
bowed
,
but
Rachel
was
not
sure
whether
he
had
not
been
insulted
.
Next
day
he
left
at
the
door
the
drawing
handsomely
mounted
,
and
looking
so
grand
and
meritorious
that
poor
Mrs.
Curtis
became
much
troubled
in
mind
whether
its
proper
price
might
not
be
five
or
even
ten
guineas
,
instead
of
the
one
for
which
she
had
mentally
bargained
,
or
if
this
might
not
be
the
beginning
of
a
series
;
“
which
would
be
quite
another
thing
,
you
know
,
my
dear
.
”
Rachel
offered
to
go
and
talk
to
the
artist
,
who
was
sketching
in
full
view
from
the
windows
,
and
find
out
what
value
he
set
upon
it
.
“
Perhaps
,
but
I
don’t
know
,
my
dear
.
Won’t
it
be
odd
?
Had
you
not
better
wait
till
Grace
comes
in
,
or
till
I
can
come
down
with
you
?
”
“
No
need
at
all
,
mother
,
I
can
do
it
much
better
alone
,
and
at
my
age
—
”
So
Rachel
took
a
parasol
and
stepped
out
,
looked
at
the
outline
newly
produced
,
thanked
and
praised
the
drawing
that
had
been
received
,
adding
that
her
mother
would
be
glad
to
know
what
price
Mr.
Mauleverer
set
upon
it
.
She
was
met
by
a
profession
of
ignorance
of
its
value
,
and
of
readiness
to
be
contented
with
whatever
might
be
conferred
upon
his
project
;
the
one
way
in
which
he
still
hoped
to
be
of
service
to
his
fellow
creatures
,
the
one
longing
of
his
life
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Rachel
,
greatly
delighted
with
this
congenial
spirit
,
and
as
usual
preferring
the
affirmative
to
the
interrogative
.
“
I
heard
you
had
been
interesting
yourself
about
Mrs
Kelland’s
lace
school
.
What
a
miserable
system
it
is
!
”
“
My
inquiries
have
betrayed
me
then
?
It
is
indeed
a
trying
spectacle
.
”
“
And
to
be
helpless
to
alleviate
it
,
”
continued
Rachel
.
“
Over
work
,
low
prices
and
middle-men
perfectly
batten
on
the
lives
of
our
poor
girls
here
.
I
have
thought
it
over
again
and
again
,
and
it
is
a
constant
burden
on
my
mind
.
”
“
Yes
,
indeed
.
The
effects
of
modern
civilization
are
a
constant
burden
on
the
compassion
of
every
highly
constituted
nature
.
”
“
The
only
means
that
seems
to
me
likely
to
mitigate
the
evil
,
”
continued
Rachel
,
charmed
at
having
the
most
patient
listener
who
had
ever
fallen
to
her
lot
,
“
would
be
to
commence
an
establishment
where
some
fresh
trades
might
be
taught
,
so
as
to
lessen
the
glut
of
the
market
,
and
to
remove
the
workers
that
are
forced
to
undersell
one
another
,
and
thus
oblige
the
buyers
to
give
a
fairly
remunerative
price
.
”
“
Precisely
my
own
views
.
To
commence
an
establishment
that
would
drain
off
the
superfluous
labour
,
and
relieve
the
oppressed
,
raising
the
whole
tone
of
female
employment
.
”
“
And
this
is
the
project
you
meant
?
”
“
And
in
which
,
for
the
first
time
,
I
begin
to
hope
for
success
,
if
it
can
only
receive
the
patronage
of
some
person
of
influence
.
”
“
Oh
,
anything
I
can
do
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
infinitely
rejoiced
.
“
It
is
the
very
thing
I
have
been
longing
for
for
years
.
What
,
you
would
form
a
sort
of
industrial
school
,
where
the
children
could
be
taught
some
remunerative
labour
,
and
it
might
soon
be
almost
self-supporting
?
”
“
Exactly
;
the
first
establishment
is
the
difficulty
,
for
which
I
have
been
endeavouring
to
put
a
few
mites
together
.
”
“
Every
one
would
subscribe
for
such
a
purpose
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
.
“
You
speak
from
your
own
generous
nature
,
Miss
Curtis
;
but
the
world
would
require
patronesses
to
recommend
.
”
“
There
could
be
no
difficulty
about
that
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
;
but
at
this
moment
she
saw
the
Myrtlewood
pony
carriage
coming
to
the
door
,
and
remembering
that
she
had
undertaken
to
drive
out
Ermine
Williams
in
it
,
she
was
obliged
to
break
off
the
conversation
,
with
an
eager
entreaty
that
Mr.
Mauleverer
would
draw
up
an
account
of
his
plan
,
and
bring
it
to
her
the
next
day
,
when
she
would
give
her
opinion
on
it
,
and
consider
of
the
means
.
“
My
dear
,
”
said
her
mother
,
on
her
return
,
“
how
long
you
have
been
;
and
what
am
I
to
give
for
the
water-colour
?
”
“
Oh
,
I
forgot
all
about
the
water-colour
;
but
never
mind
what
we
give
,
mamma
,
it
is
all
to
go
to
an
asylum
for
educating
poor
girls
,
and
giving
them
some
resource
beyond
that
weary
lace-making
—
the
very
thing
I
have
always
longed
for
.
He
is
coming
to
settle
it
all
with
me
to-morrow
,
and
then
we
will
arrange
what
to
give
.
”
“
Indeed
,
my
dear
,
I
hope
it
will
be
something
well
managed
.
I
think
if
it
were
not
for
those
middle-men
,
lace-making
would
not
be
so
bad
.
But
you
must
not
keep
poor
Miss
Williams
waiting
.
”
Ermine
had
never
seen
Rachael
in
such
high
spirits
as
when
they
set
out
through
the
network
of
lanes
,
describing
her
own
exceeding
delight
in
the
door
thus
opening
for
the
relief
of
the
suffering
over
which
she
had
long
grieved
,
and
launching
out
into
the
details
of
the
future
good
that
was
to
be
achieved
.
At
last
Ermine
asked
what
Rachel
knew
of
the
proposer
.
“
Captain
Keith
,
heard
he
was
a
distinguished
professor
and
essayist
.
”
“
Then
I
wonder
we
have
not
heard
his
name
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
It
is
a
remarkable
one
;
one
might
look
in
the
‘Clergy
List’
at
Villars’s
.
”
“
Villars
called
him
a
clerical
gentleman
,
”
mused
Rachel
.
“
Then
you
would
be
sure
to
be
able
to
find
out
something
about
him
before
committing
yourself
.
”
“
I
can
see
what
he
is
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
a
very
sensible
,
accomplished
man
,
and
a
great
deal
more
;
not
exactly
a
finished
gentleman
.
But
that
is
no
objection
to
his
doing
a
great
work
.
”
“
None
at
all
,
”
said
Ermine
,
smiling
;
“
but
please
forgive
me
.
We
have
suffered
so
much
from
trusting
too
implicitly
,
that
I
never
can
think
it
safe
to
be
satisfied
without
thorough
knowledge
of
a
person’s
antecedents
.
”
“
Of
course
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
I
shall
do
nothing
without
inquiry
.
I
will
find
out
all
about
him
,
but
I
cannot
see
any
opening
for
distrust
.
Schemes
of
charity
are
not
compatible
with
self-seeking
and
dishonesty
.
”
“
But
did
I
not
hear
something
about
opinions
?
”
“
Oh
,
as
to
that
,
it
was
only
Villars
.
Besides
,
you
are
a
clergyman’s
daughter
,
and
your
views
have
a
different
colouring
from
mine
.
Modern
research
has
introduced
so
many
variations
of
thought
,
that
no
good
work
would
be
done
at
all
if
we
required
of
our
fellow-labourers
perfect
similarity
of
speculative
belief
.
”
“
Yet
suppose
he
undertook
to
teach
others
?
”
“
The
simple
outlines
of
universal
doctrine
and
morality
which
are
required
by
poor
children
are
not
affected
by
the
variations
to
which
investigation
conducts
minds
of
more
scope
.
”
“
I
am
afraid
such
variations
may
often
reach
the
foundation
.
”
“
Now
,
Miss
Williams
,
I
am
sure
you
must
often
have
heard
it
observed
how
when
it
comes
to
real
practical
simple
teaching
of
uninstructed
people
,
villagers
or
may
be
heathens
,
the
details
of
party
difference
melt
away
,
and
people
find
themselves
in
accordance
.
”
“
True
,
but
there
I
think
party
differences
in
the
Church
,
and
even
the
variations
between
Christian
sects
are
concerned
,
both
being
different
ways
of
viewing
the
same
truth
.
These
may
,
like
the
knights
in
the
old
fable
,
find
that
both
were
right
about
the
shield
,
both
have
the
same
foundation
.
But
where
the
foundation
is
not
the
same
,
the
results
of
the
teaching
will
not
agree
.
”
“
Every
one
agrees
as
to
morality
.
”
“
Yes
,
but
do
all
give
a
motive
sufficient
to
enforce
the
self-denial
that
morality
entails
?
Nay
,
do
they
show
the
way
to
the
spiritual
strength
needful
to
the
very
power
of
being
moral
?
”
“
That
is
begging
the
question
.
The
full
argument
is
whether
the
full
church
,
say
Christian
system
,
exactly
as
you
,
as
we
hold
it
,
is
needful
to
the
perfection
of
moral
observance
.
I
don’t
say
whether
I
assent
,
but
the
present
question
is
whether
the
child’s
present
belief
and
practice
need
be
affected
by
its
teacher’s
dogmatic
or
undogmatic
system
.
”
“
The
system
for
life
is
generally
formed
in
childhood
.
Harvest
depends
on
seed
time
.
”
“
And
after
all
,
”
added
Rachel
,
“
we
have
no
notion
whether
this
poor
man
be
not
precisely
of
your
own
opinions
,
and
from
their
fruits
I
am
sure
you
ought
to
claim
them
.
”
“
Their
blossoms
if
you
please
,
”
laughed
Ermine
.
“
We
have
not
seen
their
fruits
yet
.
”
“
And
I
shall
take
care
the
fruits
are
not
nipped
with
the
blight
of
suspicion
,
”
said
Rachel
,
good-humouredly
.
However
,
after
driving
Ermine
home
,
and
seeing
her
lifted
out
and
carried
into
the
house
by
her
sister
,
Rachel
did
send
the
carriage
back
by
the
groom
and
betake
herself
to
Villars’s
shop
,
where
she
asked
for
a
sight
of
the
“
Clergy
List
.
”
The
name
of
Mauleverer
caught
her
eye
,
but
only
one
instance
of
it
appeared
,
and
he
was
a
cathedral
canon
,
his
presentation
dated
in
1832
,
the
time
at
which
,
judging
from
appearances
,
the
object
of
her
search
might
have
been
born
;
besides
,
he
rejoiced
in
the
simple
name
of
Thomas
.
But
Rachel’s
search
was
brought
to
an
abrupt
conclusion
by
the
issue
of
Mr.
Mauleverer
himself
from
the
reading-room
within
the
shop
.
He
bowed
and
passed
by
,
but
Rachel
for
the
life
of
her
could
not
hinder
a
burning
colour
from
spreading
to
the
very
tips
of
her
ears
;
so
certain
did
she
feel
that
she
was
insulting
him
by
her
researches
,
and
that
he
perceived
them
.
She
felt
absolutely
ashamed
to
see
him
the
next
day
,
and
even
in
her
dreams
was
revolving
speeches
that
might
prove
that
though
cautious
and
clear-sighted
,
she
was
neither
suspicious
nor
narrow-minded
.
He
came
when
some
morning
visitors
were
at
the
Homestead
,
prosy
neighbours
whose
calls
were
always
a
penance
to
Rachel
,
and
the
butler
,
either
from
the
manner
of
the
inquiry
or
not
regarding
him
as
drawing-room
company
,
put
him
into
the
dining-room
and
announced
,
“
Mr.
Mauleverer
to
see
Miss
Rachel
.
”
Up
jumped
Miss
Rachel
,
with
“
You’ll
excuse
me
,
it
is
on
business
;
”
and
went
off
highly
satisfied
that
“
the
mother
”
was
hindered
by
politeness
from
making
any
attempt
at
chaperonage
either
personally
or
through
Grace
,
so
unnecessary
at
her
age
,
for
since
Colonel
Keith’s
departure
,
Rachel’s
age
had
begun
to
grow
on
her
again
.
She
held
out
her
hand
as
if
to
atone
for
her
search
,
but
she
found
at
once
that
it
had
been
remarked
.
“
You
were
doing
me
the
honour
to
look
for
my
name
in
the
‘Clergy
List
,
’
Miss
Curtis
,
”
he
said
.
“
Yes
,
one
is
apt
—
,
”
faltered
Rachel
,
decidedly
out
of
countenance
.
“
I
quite
appreciate
the
motive
.
It
is
exactly
in
accord
with
Miss
Curtis’s
prudence
and
good
sense
.
I
should
wish
to
be
fully
explicit
before
any
arrangements
are
made
.
I
am
unhappily
not
in
orders
,
Miss
Curtis
.
I
know
your
liberality
will
regard
the
cause
with
leniency
.
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Rachel
,
sufficiently
restored
to
recall
one
of
her
premeditated
reassurances
.
“
I
can
fully
appreciate
any
reluctance
to
become
stringently
bound
to
dogmatic
enunciations
,
before
the
full
powers
of
the
intellect
have
examined
into
them
.
”
“
You
have
expressed
it
exactly
,
Miss
Curtis
.
Without
denying
an
iota
of
them
,
I
may
be
allowed
to
regret
that
our
formularies
are
too
technical
for
a
thoughtful
mind
in
the
present
age
.
”
“
Many
have
found
it
so
,
”
returned
Rachel
,
thoughtfully
,
“
who
only
needed
patience
to
permit
their
convictions
to
ripen
.
Then
I
understand
you
,
it
was
a
rejection
on
negative
not
positive
grounds
?
”
“
Precisely
;
I
do
not
murmur
,
but
it
has
been
the
blight
of
my
life
.
”
“
And
yet
,
”
said
Rachel
,
consolingly
,
“
it
may
enable
you
to
work
with
more
freedom
.
”
“
Since
you
encourage
me
to
believe
so
,
Miss
Curtis
,
I
will
hope
it
,
but
I
have
met
with
much
suspicion
.
”
“
I
can
well
believe
it
,
”
said
Rachel
;
“
even
some
of
the
most
superior
persons
refuse
to
lay
their
hands
to
any
task
unless
they
are
certified
of
the
religious
opinions
of
their
coadjutors
,
which
seems
to
me
like
a
mason’s
refusing
to
work
at
a
wall
with
a
man
who
liked
Greek
architecture
when
he
preferred
Gothic
!
”
If
Rachel
had
been
talking
to
Ermine
she
might
have
been
asked
whether
the
dissimilarity
might
not
be
in
the
foundations
,
or
in
the
tempering
of
the
mortar
,
but
Mr.
Mauleverer
only
commended
her
liberal
spirit
,
and
she
thought
it
high
time
to
turn
from
this
subject
to
the
immediate
one
in
hand
.
He
had
wished
to
discuss
the
plan
with
her
,
he
said
,
before
drawing
it
up
,
and
in
effect
she
had
cogitated
so
much
upon
it
that
her
ideas
came
forth
with
more
than
her
usual
fluency
and
sententiousness
.
The
scheme
was
that
an
asylum
should
be
opened
under
the
superintendence
of
Mr.
Mauleverer
himself
,
in
which
young
girls
might
be
placed
to
learn
handicrafts
that
might
secure
their
livelihood
,
in
especial
,
perhaps
,
wood
engraving
and
printing
.
It
might
even
be
possible
,
in
time
,
to
render
the
whole
self-supporting
,
suppose
by
the
publication
of
a
little
illustrated
periodical
,
the
materials
for
which
might
be
supplied
by
those
interested
in
the
institution
.
If
anything
could
add
to
Rachel’s
delight
it
was
this
last
proposition
.
In
all
truth
and
candour
,
the
relief
to
the
victims
to
lace-making
was
her
primary
object
,
far
before
all
besides
,
and
the
longing
desire
of
her
heart
for
years
seemed
about
to
be
fulfilled
;
but
a
domestic
magazine
,
an
outlet
to
all
the
essays
on
Curatocult
,
on
Helplessness
,
on
Female
Folly
,
and
Female
Rights
,
was
a
development
of
the
plan
beyond
her
wildest
hopes
!
No
dull
editor
to
hamper
,
reject
or
curtail
!
She
should
be
as
happy
,
and
as
well
able
to
expand
as
the
Invalid
herself
.
Mr.
Mauleverer
had
brought
a
large
packet
of
letters
with
him
,
in
all
manner
of
hands
.
There
were
some
testimonials
from
a
German
university
,
and
letters
from
German
professors
in
a
compromise
between
English
and
German
hand
,
looking
impossible
to
read
,
also
the
neat
writing
and
thin
wavy
water-marked
paper
of
American
professors
and
philanthropists
in
high
commendation
of
his
ability
and
his
scheme
,
and
a
few
others
that
he
said
were
of
too
private
a
nature
to
do
more
than
show
Miss
Curtis
in
confidence
,
but
on
which
she
recognised
some
distinguished
names
of
persons
interested
in
Social
Science
.
She
would
not
wound
his
feelings
by
too
close
an
inquiry
,
but
she
felt
armed
at
all
points
against
cavillers
.
Really
,
she
began
to
think
,
it
was
a
great
pity
Colonel
Keith
should
cross
her
path
again
,
she
had
so
much
on
her
hands
that
it
would
be
a
public
misfortune
if
any
one
man’s
private
domestic
love
should
monopolize
her
;
and
yet
,
such
was
this
foolish
world
,
the
Honourable
Mrs.
Colin
Keith
would
be
a
more
esteemed
lady
patroness
than
Miss
Rachel
Curtis
,
though
the
Curtises
had
been
lords
of
the
soil
for
many
generations
,
and
Colonel
Keith
was
a
mere
soldier
of
fortune
.
One
disappointment
Rachel
had
,
namely
,
that
Mr.
Mauleverer
announced
that
he
was
about
to
return
to
St.
Herbert’s
,
the
very
large
and
fashionable
watering-place
in
the
next
indentation
of
the
coast
.
He
had
duties
there
,
he
said
,
and
he
had
only
come
to
Avonmouth
for
a
brief
holiday
,
a
holiday
that
was
to
result
in
such
happy
effects
.
He
lived
in
an
exceedingly
retired
way
,
he
said
,
being
desirous
of
saving
his
small
private
means
for
his
great
object
,
and
he
gave
Rachel
his
address
at
the
chief
printseller’s
of
the
place
,
where
his
letters
were
left
for
him
,
while
he
made
excursions
from
time
to
time
to
study
the
picturesque
,
and
to
give
lectures
on
behalf
of
philanthropical
subjects
.
He
offered
such
a
lecture
at
Avonmouth
,
but
Mr.
Touchett
would
not
lend
either
school-room
,
and
space
was
nowhere
else
available
.
In
the
meantime
a
prospectus
was
drawn
up
,
which
Rachel
undertook
to
get
printed
at
Villars’s
,
and
to
send
about
to
all
her
friends
,
since
a
subscription
in
hand
was
the
first
desideratum
.
Never
since
she
had
grown
up
to
be
a
thinking
woman
had
Rachel
been
so
happy
as
with
this
outlet
to
her
activity
and
powers
of
managing
,
“
the
good
time
coming
at
last
.
”
Eagerly
she
claimed
sympathy
,
names
and
subscriptions
.
Her
own
immediate
circle
was
always
easily
under
her
influence
,
and
Lady
Temple
,
and
Mrs.
Curtis
supplied
the
dignity
of
lady
patronesses
;
Bessie
Keith
was
immensely
diverted
at
the
development
of
“
that
landscape
painter
,
”
and
took
every
opportunity
of
impressing
on
Rachel
that
all
was
the
result
of
her
summons
to
the
rescue
.
Ermine
wished
Rachel
had
found
out
who
was
the
bishop’s
chaplain
who
rejected
him
,
but
allowed
that
it
would
have
been
an
awkward
question
to
ask
,
and
also
she
wondered
if
he
were
a
university
man
;
but
Mr.
Touchett
had
been
at
a
Hall
,
and
never
knew
anybody
,
besides
being
so
firmly
convinced
that
Mr.
Mauleverer
was
a
pestiferous
heretic
,
that
no
one
,
except
Lady
Temple
,
could
have
obtained
a
patient
answer
from
him
on
that
head
—
and
even
with
her
he
went
the
length
of
a
regret
that
she
had
given
the
sanction
of
her
name
to
an
undertaking
by
a
person
of
whose
history
and
principles
nothing
satisfactory
was
known
.
“
Oh
!
”
said
Fanny
,
with
her
sweet
look
of
asking
pardon
,
“
I
am
so
sorry
you
think
so
;
Rachel
wished
it
so
much
,
and
it
seems
such
a
nice
thing
for
the
poor
children
.
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Mr.
Touchett
,
well
nigh
disarmed
by
the
look
,
“
I
am
quite
sensible
of
the
kindness
of
all
you
do
,
I
only
ventured
to
wish
there
had
been
a
little
more
delay
,
that
we
were
more
certain
about
this
person
.
”
“
When
Colonel
Keith
comes
back
he
will
find
out
all
about
him
,
I
am
sure
,
”
said
Fanny
,
and
Mr.
Touchett
,
to
whom
seemed
to
have
been
transferred
Rachel’s
dislike
to
the
constant
quoting
of
Colonel
Keith
,
said
no
more
.
The
immediate
neighbourhood
did
not
very
readily
respond
to
the
appeal
to
it
in
behalf
of
the
lace-makers
.
People
who
did
not
look
into
the
circumstances
of
their
neighbours
thought
lace
furnished
a
good
trade
,
and
by
no
means
wished
to
enhance
its
price
;
people
who
did
care
for
the
poor
had
charities
of
their
own
,
nor
was
Rachel
Curtis
popular
enough
to
obtain
support
for
her
own
sake
;
a
few
five-pound
notes
,
and
a
scanty
supply
of
guineas
and
half-guineas
from
people
who
were
ready
at
any
cost
to
buy
off
her
vehement
eyes
and
voice
was
all
she
could
obtain
,
and
with
a
subscription
of
twenty
pounds
each
from
her
mother
,
Lady
Temple
,
and
Grace
,
and
all
that
she
could
scrape
together
of
her
own
,
hardly
seemed
sufficient
to
meet
the
first
expenses
,
and
how
would
the
future
be
provided
for
?
She
calculated
how
much
she
could
spare
out
of
her
yearly
income
,
and
actually
,
to
the
great
horror
of
her
mother
and
the
coachman
,
sold
her
horse
.
Bessie
Keith
was
the
purchaser
.
It
was
an
expense
that
she
could
quite
afford
,
for
she
and
her
brother
had
been
left
very
well
off
by
their
father
—
a
prudent
man
,
who
,
having
been
a
widower
during
his
Indian
service
,
had
been
able
to
live
inexpensively
,
besides
having
had
a
large
amount
of
prize
money
.
She
had
always
had
her
own
horse
at
Littleworthy
,
and
now
when
Rachel
was
one
day
lamenting
to
her
the
difficulty
of
raising
money
for
the
Industrial
Asylum
,
and
declaring
that
she
would
part
with
her
horse
if
she
was
sure
of
its
falling
into
good
hands
,
Bessie
volunteered
to
buy
it
,
it
was
exactly
what
would
suit
her
,
and
she
should
delight
in
it
as
a
reminder
of
dear
Avonmouth
.
It
was
a
pang
,
Rachel
loved
the
pretty
spirited
creature
,
and
thought
of
her
rides
with
the
Colonel
;
but
how
weigh
the
pleasure
of
riding
against
the
welfare
of
one
of
those
hard-worked
,
half-stifled
little
girls
,
and
besides
,
it
might
be
best
to
have
done
with
Colonel
Keith
now
that
her
mission
had
come
to
find
her
.
So
the
coachman
set
a
purposely
unreasonable
value
upon
poor
Meg
,
and
Rachel
reduced
the
sum
to
what
had
been
given
for
it
three
years
before
;
but
Bessie
begged
her
brother
to
look
at
the
animal
and
give
his
opinion
.
“
Is
that
what
you
are
after
?
”
he
exclaimed
.
“
Indeed
,
Alick
,
I
thought
it
was
the
greatest
kindness
I
could
do
her
;
she
is
so
very
eager
about
this
plan
,
and
so
anxious
to
find
poor
Meg
a
good
home
.
”
“
Purely
to
oblige
her
?
”
“
Of
course
,
Alick
,
it
was
much
more
convenient
to
her
than
if
she
had
had
to
send
about
to
horse-dealers
or
to
advertise
.
I
doubt
if
she
could
have
done
it
at
all
;
and
it
is
for
her
asylum
,
you
know
.
”
“
Then
give
the
coachman’s
sixty
guineas
at
once
.
”
“
Ah
,
Alick
,
that’s
your
infatuation
!
”
and
she
put
on
a
droll
gesture
of
pity
.
“
But
excuse
me
,
where
would
be
the
fine
edge
of
delicacy
in
giving
a
manifestly
fancy
price
?
Come
and
look
at
her
.
”
“
I
never
meddle
with
horse-dealing
.
”
“
Stuff
,
as
if
you
weren’t
the
best-mounted
man
in
the
regiment
.
I
shall
send
a
note
to
Captain
Sykes
if
you
won’t
;
he
knows
how
to
drive
a
bargain
.
”
“
And
give
a
fancy
price
the
other
way
.
Well
,
Bessie
,
on
one
condition
I’ll
go
,
and
that
is
,
that
Meg
goes
to
Bishopsworthy
the
day
she
is
yours
.
I
won’t
have
her
eating
Lady
Temple’s
corn
,
and
giving
her
servants
trouble
.
”
“
As
if
I
should
think
of
such
a
thing
.
”
Captain
Keith’s
estimate
of
the
value
of
the
steed
precisely
agreed
with
Rachel’s
demand
of
the
original
price
.
Bessie
laughed
,
and
said
there
was
collusion
.
“
Now
seriously
,
Alick
,
do
you
think
her
worth
so
much
?
Isn’t
it
a
pity
,
when
you
know
what
a
humbug
poor
Rachel
is
going
to
give
it
to
?
”
and
she
looked
half
comical
,
half
saucy
.
“
If
she
were
going
to
throw
it
into
the
sea
,
I
don’t
see
what
difference
that
would
make
.
”
“
Ah
!
you
are
far
too
much
interested
.
Nothing
belonging
to
her
can
bear
a
vulgar
price
.
”
“
Nothing
belonging
to
me
is
to
gain
profit
by
her
self-denial
,
”
said
Alick
,
gravely
.
“
You
cannot
do
less
than
give
her
what
she
gave
for
it
,
if
you
enter
on
the
transaction
at
all
.
”
“
You
mean
that
it
would
look
shabby
.
You
see
we
womankind
never
quite
know
the
code
of
the
world
on
such
matters
,
”
she
said
,
candidly
.
“
There
is
something
that
makes
codes
unnecessary
,
Bessie
,
”
he
said
.
“
Ah
!
I
can
make
allowances
.
It
is
a
cruel
stroke
.
I
don’t
wonder
you
can’t
bear
to
see
any
one
else
on
her
palfrey
;
above
all
as
a
sacrifice
to
the
landscape
painter
.
”
“
Then
spare
my
feelings
,
and
send
the
mare
to
Bishopsworthy
,
”
said
Alick
,
as
usual
too
careless
of
the
imputation
to
take
the
trouble
to
rebut
it
or
to
be
disconcerted
.
Bessie
was
much
tickled
at
his
acceptance
,
and
laughed
heartily
.
“
To
be
sure
,
”
she
said
,
“
it
is
past
concealment
now
.
You
must
have
been
very
far
gone
,
indeed
,
to
have
been
taken
in
to
suppose
me
to
be
making
capital
of
her
‘charitable
purposes.’
”
“
Your
acting
is
too
like
life
,
”
he
said
,
not
yet
induced
to
laugh
,
and
she
rattled
on
with
her
droll
,
sham
sentimental
air
.
“
Is
it
the
long
words
,
Alick
,
or
is
it
‘the
great
eyes
,
my
dear
;
’
or
is
it
—
oh
,
yes
,
I
know
what
is
the
great
attraction
—
that
the
Homestead
doesn’t
possess
a
single
spot
where
one
could
play
at
croquet
!
”
“
Quite
irresistible
!
”
replied
Alick
,
and
Bessie
retreated
from
the
colloquy
still
not
laughing
at
but
with
him
;
that
is
,
if
the
odd
,
quaint
,
inward
mirth
which
only
visibly
lengthened
his
sleepy
eyes
,
could
be
called
a
laugh
.
Next
time
Captain
Keith
rode
to
Avonmouth
he
met
the
riding
party
on
the
road
,
Bessie
upon
Rachel’s
mare
,
and
it
appeared
that
Lady
Temple
had
considered
it
so
dreadful
that
Meg
should
not
share
her
hospitality
,
that
it
had
been
quite
impossible
to
send
her
away
.
“
So
,
Alick
,
your
feelings
must
endure
the
dreadful
spectacle
.
”
Meanwhile
Rachel
was
hard
at
work
with
the
subscribers
to
the
“
Christian
Knowledge
Society
.
”
Beginning
with
the
A’s
,
and
working
down
a
page
a
day
,
she
sent
every
member
a
statement
of
the
wrongs
of
the
lacemakers
,
and
the
plans
of
the
industrial
establishment
,
at
a
vast
expense
of
stamps
;
but
then
,
as
she
calculated
,
one
pound
thus
gained
paid
for
two
hundred
and
forty
fruitless
letters
.
“
And
pray
,
”
said
Alick
,
who
had
ridden
on
to
call
at
the
Homestead
,
“
how
do
you
reconcile
yourself
to
the
temptation
to
the
postmen
?
”
“
They
don’t
see
what
my
letters
are
about
?
”
“
They
must
be
dull
postmen
if
they
don’t
remark
on
the
shower
of
envelopes
that
pass
through
their
hands
—
ominous
money-letters
,
all
with
the
same
address
,
and
no
detection
remember
.
You
don’t
know
who
will
answer
and
who
will
not
.
”
“
I
never
thought
of
that
,
”
said
Rachel
;
“
but
risks
must
be
run
when
any
great
purpose
is
in
hand
.
”
“
The
corruption
of
one
postman
versus
the
rescue
of
—
how
many
children
make
a
postman
?
”
asked
Captain
Keith
,
with
his
grave
,
considering
look
.
“
The
postman
would
be
corrupt
already
,
”
said
Grace
,
as
Rachel
thought
the
last
speech
too
mocking
to
be
worthy
of
reply
,
and
went
on
picking
up
her
letters
.
“
There
is
another
objection
,
”
added
Captain
Keith
,
as
he
watched
her
busy
fingers
.
“
Have
you
considered
how
you
are
frightening
people
out
of
the
society
?
It
is
enough
to
make
one
only
subscribe
as
Michael
Miserly
or
as
Simon
Skinflint
,
or
something
equally
uninviting
to
applications
.
”
“
I
shall
ask
you
to
subscribe
by
both
names
!
”
said
Rachel
,
readily
.
“
How
much
for
Simon
Skinflint
?
”
“
Ten
pounds
.
Stop
—
when
Mr.
Mauleverer
gives
him
a
reference
.
”
“
That’s
ungenerous
.
Will
Michael
Miserly
make
up
for
it
?
”
“
Yes
,
when
the
first
year’s
accounts
have
been
audited
.
”
“
Ah
!
those
who
have
no
faith
to
make
a
venture
can
never
effect
any
good
.
”
“
You
evidently
build
on
a
great
amount
of
faith
from
the
public
.
How
do
you
induce
them
to
believe
—
do
you
write
in
your
own
name
?
”
“
No
,
it
makes
mamma
unhappy
.
I
was
going
to
put
R
.
C
.
,
but
Grace
said
people
would
think
it
meant
Roman
Catholic
.
Your
sister
thought
I
had
better
put
the
initials
of
Female
Union
for
Lacemaker’s
Employment
.
”
“
You
don’t
mean
that
Bessie
persuaded
you
to
put
that
?
”
exclaimed
Alick
Keith
,
more
nearly
starting
up
than
Rachel
had
ever
seen
him
.
“
Yes
.
There
is
no
objection
,
is
there
?
”
“
Oh
,
Rachel
,
Rachel
,
how
could
we
have
helped
thinking
of
it
?
”
cried
Grace
,
nearly
in
a
state
of
suffocation
.
Rachel
held
up
her
printed
appeal
,
where
subscriptions
were
invited
to
the
address
of
F
.
U
.
L
.
E
.
,
the
Homestead
,
Avonmouth
.
“
Miss
Curtis
,
though
you
are
not
Scottish
,
you
ought
to
be
well
read
in
Walter
Scott
.
”
“
I
have
thought
it
waste
of
time
to
read
incorrect
pictures
of
pseudo-chivalry
since
I
have
been
grown
up
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
But
that
has
nothing
to
do
with
it
.
”
“
Ah
,
Rachel
,
if
we
had
been
more
up
in
our
Scotch
,
we
should
have
known
what
F
.
U
.
L
.
E
.
spells
,
”
sighed
Grace
.
A
light
broke
in
upon
Rachel
.
“
I
am
sure
Bessie
never
could
have
recollected
it
,
”
was
her
first
exclamation
.
“
But
there
,
”
she
continued
,
too
earnest
to
see
or
stumble
at
straws
,
“
never
mind
.
It
cannot
be
helped
,
and
I
dare
say
not
one
person
in
ten
will
be
struck
by
it
.
”
“
Stay
,
”
said
Grace
,
“
let
it
be
Englishwoman’s
Employment
.
See
,
I
can
very
easily
alter
the
L
into
an
E
.
”
Rachel
would
hardly
have
consented
,
but
was
forced
to
yield
to
her
mother’s
entreaties
.
However
,
the
diligent
transformation
at
L’s
did
not
last
long
,
for
three
days
after
a
parcel
was
left
at
the
Homestead
containing
five
thousand
printed
copies
of
the
appeal
,
with
the
E
rightly
inserted
.
Bessie
laughed
,
and
did
not
disavow
the
half
reluctant
thanks
for
this
compensation
for
her
inadvertence
or
mischief
,
whichever
it
might
be
,
laughing
the
more
at
Rachel’s
somewhat
ungrateful
confession
that
she
had
rather
the
cost
had
gone
into
a
subscription
for
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
As
Bessie
said
to
herself
,
it
was
much
better
and
more
agreeable
for
all
parties
that
it
should
so
stand
,
and
she
would
consider
herself
in
debt
to
Alick
for
the
amount
.
Indeed
,
she
fully
expected
him
to
send
her
in
the
bill
,
but
in
the
meantime
not
one
word
was
uttered
between
the
brother
and
sister
on
the
subject
.
They
understood
one
another
too
well
to
spend
useless
words
.
Contrary
to
most
expectation
,
there
was
result
enough
from
Rachel’s
solicitations
to
serve
as
justification
for
the
outlay
in
stamps
.
The
very
number
of
such
missives
that
fly
about
the
world
proves
that
there
must
be
a
great
amount
of
uninquiring
benevolence
to
render
the
speculation
anything
but
desperate
,
and
Rachel
met
with
very
tolerable
success
.
Mr.
Mauleverer
called
about
once
a
week
to
report
progress
on
his
side
,
and
,
in
his
character
of
treasurer
,
to
take
charge
of
the
sums
that
began
to
accumulate
.
But
Rachel
had
heard
so
much
on
all
sides
of
the
need
of
caution
in
dealing
with
one
so
entirely
a
stranger
,
that
she
resolved
that
no
one
should
blame
her
for
imprudence
,
and
therefore
retained
in
her
own
name
,
in
the
Avoncester
Bank
,
all
the
sums
that
she
received
.
Mr.
Mauleverer
declared
himself
quite
contented
with
this
arrangement
,
and
eagerly
anticipated
the
apologies
that
Rachel
was
ashamed
even
to
make
to
him
.
Enough
was
collected
to
justify
a
beginning
on
a
small
scale
.
A
house
was
to
be
taken
where
Mr.
Mauleverer
and
a
matron
would
receive
the
first
pupils
,
teach
them
wood
engraving
,
and
prepare
the
earlier
numbers
of
the
magazine
.
When
a
little
more
progress
had
been
made
,
the
purchase
of
a
printing-press
might
be
afforded
,
and
it
might
be
struck
off
by
the
girls
themselves
,
but
in
the
meantime
they
must
be
dependent
on
the
regular
printer
.
On
this
account
Mr.
Mauleverer
thought
it
best
to
open
the
establishment
,
not
at
Avonmouth
,
but
at
St.
Herbert’s
,
where
he
had
acquaintance
that
would
facilitate
the
undertaking
.
Rachel
was
much
disappointed
.
To
be
in
and
out
constantly
,
daily
teaching
and
watching
the
girls
,
and
encouraging
them
by
learning
the
employment
herself
,
had
been
an
essential
portion
of
her
vision
.
She
had
even
in
one
of
her
most
generous
moods
proposed
to
share
the
delight
with
the
Williamses
,
and
asked
Ermine
if
she
would
not
,
if
all
things
suited
,
become
the
resident
matron
.
However
,
Mr.
Mauleverer
said
that
there
was
an
individual
of
humbler
rank
,
the
widow
of
a
National
Schoolmaster
,
so
anxious
to
devote
herself
to
the
work
,
that
he
had
promised
she
should
share
it
whenever
he
was
in
a
condition
to
set
the
asylum
on
foot
;
and
he
assured
Rachel
that
she
would
find
this
person
perfectly
amenable
to
all
her
views
,
and
ready
to
work
under
her
.
He
brought
letters
in
high
praise
of
the
late
school
master
,
and
recommendations
of
his
widow
from
the
clergyman
of
the
parish
where
they
had
lived
;
and
place
and
name
being
both
in
the
“
Clergy
List
,
”
even
Ermine
and
Alison
began
to
feel
ashamed
of
their
incredulity
,
whilst
as
to
Grace
,
she
had
surrendered
herself
completely
to
the
eager
delight
of
finding
a
happy
home
for
the
little
children
in
whom
she
was
interested
.
Grace
might
laugh
a
little
at
Rachel
,
but
in
the
main
her
trust
in
her
sister’s
superiority
always
led
her
judgment
,
and
in
the
absence
of
Colonel
Keith
,
Fanny
was
equally
willing
to
let
Rachel
think
for
her
when
her
own
children
were
not
concerned
.
Rachel
did
not
give
up
her
hopes
of
fixing
the
asylum
near
her
till
after
a
considerable
effort
to
get
a
house
for
it
at
Avonmouth
,
but
this
was
far
from
easy
.
The
Curtises’
unwillingness
to
part
with
land
for
building
purposes
enhanced
the
price
of
houses
,
and
in
autumn
and
winter
the
place
was
at
its
fullest
,
so
that
she
could
not
even
rent
a
house
but
at
a
ruinous
price
.
It
would
be
the
best
way
to
build
on
Homestead
land
,
but
this
would
be
impracticable
until
spring
,
even
if
means
were
forthcoming
,
as
Rachel
resolved
they
should
be
,
and
in
the
meantime
she
was
obliged
to
acquiesce
in
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
assurance
that
a
small
house
in
an
overbuilt
portion
of
St.
Norbert’s
would
be
more
eligible
than
one
in
some
inland
parish
.
Anything
was
better
than
delay
.
Mr.
Mauleverer
was
to
superintend
from
his
lodgings
.
Rachel
went
with
Grace
and
her
mother
to
St.
Norbert’s
,
and
inspected
the
house
,
an
ordinary
cheap
one
,
built
to
supply
lodgings
for
the
more
economical
class
of
visitors
.
It
was
not
altogether
what
Rachel
wished
,
but
must
serve
till
she
could
build
,
and
perhaps
it
would
be
best
to
form
her
experience
before
her
plans
.
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
own
lodgings
were
near
at
hand
,
and
he
could
inspect
progress
.
The
furniture
was
determined
upon
—
neat
little
iron
beds
for
the
dormitories
,
and
all
that
could
serve
for
comfort
and
even
pleasure
,
for
both
Mr.
Mauleverer
and
Rachel
were
strong
against
making
the
place
bare
and
workhouse-like
,
insulting
poverty
and
dulling
the
spirit
.
Grace
suggested
communication
with
the
clergyman
of
the
parish
;
but
the
North
Hill
turned
out
not
to
belong
to
St.
Norbert’s
proper
,
being
a
part
of
a
great
moorland
parish
,
whose
focus
was
twelve
miles
off
.
A
district
was
in
course
of
formation
,
and
a
church
was
to
be
built
;
but
in
the
meantime
the
new
houses
were
practically
almost
pastorless
,
and
the
children
and
their
matron
must
take
their
chance
on
the
free
seats
of
one
of
the
churches
of
St.
Norbert’s
.
The
staff
of
clergy
there
were
so
busy
that
no
one
liked
to
add
extra
parochial
work
to
their
necessary
duties
,
and
there
was
not
sufficient
acquaintance
with
them
to
judge
how
they
would
view
Mr.
Mauleverer’s
peculiarities
.
Clerical
interference
was
just
what
Rachel
said
she
did
not
want
;
it
was
an
escape
that
she
did
not
call
it
meddling
.
One
bit
of
patronage
at
least
she
could
exercise
;
a
married
pair
of
former
Homestead
servants
had
set
up
a
fuel
store
at
St.
Norbert’s
,
receiving
coal
from
the
ships
,
and
retailing
it
.
They
were
to
supply
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
with
wood
,
coal
,
and
potatoes
;
and
this
was
a
great
ingredient
in
Mrs.
Curtis’s
toleration
.
The
mother
liked
anything
that
brought
custom
to
Rossitur
and
Susan
.
The
establishment
was
at
present
to
consist
of
three
children
:
the
funds
were
not
sufficient
for
more
.
One
was
the
child
of
the
matron
,
and
the
other
two
were
Lovedy
Kelland
and
the
daughter
of
a
widow
in
ill
health
,
whose
family
were
looking
very
lean
and
ill
cared
for
.
Mrs.
Kelland
was
very
unwilling
to
give
Lovedy
up
,
she
had
always
looked
to
receiving
the
apprentice
fee
from
the
Burnaby
bargain
for
her
as
soon
as
the
child
was
fourteen
,
and
she
had
a
strong
prejudice
against
any
possible
disturbance
to
the
lace
trade
;
but
winter
would
soon
come
and
her
sale
was
uncertain
;
her
best
profit
was
so
dependent
on
Homestead
agency
that
it
was
impolitic
to
offend
Miss
Curtis
;
and
,
moreover
,
Lovedy
was
so
excited
by
the
idea
of
learning
to
make
pictures
to
books
that
she
forgot
all
the
lace
dexterity
she
had
ever
learnt
,
and
spoilt
more
than
she
made
,
so
that
Mrs.
Kelland
was
reduced
to
accept
the
kind
proposal
that
Lovedy
should
be
Lady
Temple’s
nominee
,
and
be
maintained
,
by
her
at
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
at
seven
shillings
a
week
.
Fanny
,
however
,
asked
the
clergyman’s
consent
first
,
telling
him
,
with
her
sweet
,
earnest
smile
,
how
sorry
she
was
for
the
little
girl
,
and
showing
him
the
high
testimonials
to
Mrs.
Rawlins
.
He
owned
that
they
were
all
that
could
be
wished
,
and
even
said
at
her
request
that
he
would
talk
to
Mr.
Mauleverer
.
What
the
talk
amounted
to
they
never
knew
;
but
when
Fanny
said
“
she
hoped
he
had
found
nothing
unsatisfactory
,
the
poor
man
must
be
so
glad
to
be
of
use
;
”
Mr.
Touchett
replied
with
,
“
Indeed
,
it
is
an
unfortunate
situation
;
”
and
his
opposition
might
therefore
be
considered
as
suspended
.
“
Of
course
,
”
cried
Bessie
,
“
we
know
by
what
witchery
!
”
But
Alison
Williams
,
her
listener
,
turned
on
her
such
great
eyes
of
wilful
want
of
comprehension
,
that
she
held
her
peace
.
Rachel
and
Grace
united
in
sending
Mary
Morris
,
the
other
child
;
they
really
could
do
nothing
more
,
so
heavily
had
their
means
been
drawn
upon
for
the
first
expenses
;
but
Rachel
trusted
to
do
more
for
the
future
,
and
resolved
that
her
dress
should
henceforth
cost
no
more
than
Alison
Williams’s
;
indeed
,
she
went
through
a
series
of
assertions
by
way
of
examining
Alison
on
the
expenses
of
her
wardrobe
.
The
house
was
taken
from
Michaelmas
,
and
a
few
days
after
,
the
two
little
victims
,
as
Bessie
laughingly
called
them
,
were
taken
over
to
St.
Norbert’s
in
the
Homestead
carriage
,
Lady
Temple
chaperoning
the
three
young
ladies
to
see
the
inauguration
,
and
the
height
of
Rachel’s
glory
.
They
were
received
by
Mr.
Mauleverer
at
the
door
,
and
slightly
in
the
rear
saw
the
matron
,
Mrs.
Rawlins
,
a
handsome
pale
woman
,
younger
than
they
expected
,
but
whose
weeds
made
Fanny
warm
to
her
directly
;
but
she
was
shy
and
retiring
,
and
could
not
be
drawn
into
conversation
;
and
her
little
Alice
was
only
three
years
old
,
much
younger
than
Rachel
had
expected
as
a
pupil
,
but
a
very
pretty
creature
with
great
black
eyes
.
Tea
and
cake
were
provided
by
way
of
an
inauguration
feast
,
and
the
three
little
girls
sat
up
in
an
atmosphere
of
good
cheer
,
strongly
suggestive
of
school
feasts
,
and
were
left
in
the
midst
,
with
many
promises
of
being
good
,
a
matter
that
Lovedy
seemed
to
think
would
be
very
easy
in
this
happy
place
,
with
no
lace
to
make
.
Mrs.
Rawlins
,
whose
husband
had
been
a
trained
schoolmaster
,
was
to
take
the
children
to
church
,
and
attend
to
their
religious
instruction
;
indeed
,
Mr.
Mauleverer
was
most
anxious
on
this
head
,
and
as
Rachel
already
knew
the
scruples
that
withheld
him
from
ordination
were
only
upon
the
absolute
binding
himself
to
positive
belief
in
minor
technical
points
,
that
would
never
come
in
the
way
of
young
children
.
Altogether
,
the
neat
freshness
of
the
room
,
the
urbanity
of
Mr.
Mauleverer
,
the
shy
grief
of
the
matron
,
all
left
a
most
pleasant
impression
.
Rachel
was
full
of
delight
and
triumph
,
and
Grace
and
Fanny
quite
enthusiastic
;
the
latter
even
to
the
being
sure
that
the
Colonel
would
be
delighted
,
for
the
Colonel
was
already
beginning
to
dawn
on
the
horizon
,
and
not
alone
.
He
had
written
,
in
the
name
of
his
brother
,
to
secure
a
cottage
of
gentility
of
about
the
same
calibre
as
Myrtlewood
,
newly
completed
by
a
speculator
on
one
of
the
few
bits
of
ground
available
for
building
purposes
.
A
name
was
yet
wanting
to
it
;
but
the
day
after
the
negotiation
was
concluded
,
the
landlord
paid
the
delicate
compliment
to
his
first
tenant
by
painting
“
Gowanbrae
”
upon
the
gate-posts
in
letters
of
green
.
“
Go
and
bray
,
”
read
Bessie
Keith
as
she
passed
by
;
“
for
the
sake
of
the
chief
of
my
name
,
I
hope
that
it
is
not
an
omen
of
his
occupations
here
.
”
The
two
elder
boys
were
with
her
;
and
while
Francis
,
slowly
apprehending
her
meaning
in
part
,
began
to
bristle
up
with
the
assurance
that
“
Colonel
Keith
never
brayed
in
his
life
,
”
Conrade
caught
the
point
with
dangerous
relish
,
and
dwelt
with
colonial
disrespect
,
that
alarmed
his
mother
,
on
the
opinion
expressed
by
some
unguarded
person
in
his
hearing
,
that
Lord
Keith
was
little
better
than
an
old
donkey
.
“
He
is
worse
than
Aunt
Rachel
,
”
said
Conrade
,
meditatively
,
“
now
she
has
saved
Don
,
and
keeps
away
from
the
croquet
.
”
Meantime
Rachel
studied
her
own
feelings
.
A
few
weeks
ago
her
heart
would
have
leapt
at
the
announcement
;
but
now
her
mission
had
found
her
out
,
and
she
did
not
want
to
be
drawn
aside
from
it
.
Colonel
Keith
might
have
many
perfections
,
but
alike
as
Scotsman
,
soldier
,
and
High-Churchman
,
he
was
likely
to
be
critical
of
the
head
of
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
,
and
matters
had
gone
too
far
now
for
her
to
afford
to
doubt
,
or
to
receive
a
doubting
master
.
Moreover
,
it
would
be
despicable
to
be
diverted
from
a
great
purpose
by
a
courtship
like
any
ordinary
woman
;
nor
must
marriage
settlements
come
to
interfere
with
her
building
and
endowment
of
the
asylum
,
and
ultimate
devotion
of
her
property
thereunto
.
No
,
she
would
school
herself
into
a
system
of
quiet
discouragement
,
and
reserve
herself
and
her
means
as
the
nucleus
of
the
great
future
establishment
for
maintaining
female
rights
of
labour
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
LADY
TEMPLE’S
TROUBLES
.
“
The
pheasant
in
the
falcon’s
claw
,
He
scarce
will
yield
,
to
please
a
daw
.
”
—
SCOTT
.
Early
in
the
afternoon
of
a
warm
October
day
,
the
brothers
arrived
at
Avonmouth
,
and
ten
minutes
after
both
were
upon
the
lawn
at
Myrtlewood
,
where
croquet
was
still
in
progress
.
Shouts
of
delight
greeted
the
Colonel
,
and
very
gracefully
did
Bessie
Keith
come
to
meet
him
,
with
the
frank
confiding
sweetness
befitting
his
recent
ward
,
the
daughter
of
his
friend
.
A
reassuring
smile
and
monosyllable
had
scarcely
time
to
pass
between
him
and
the
governess
before
a
flood
of
tidings
was
poured
on
him
by
the
four
elder
boys
,
while
their
mother
was
obliged
to
be
mannerly
,
and
to
pace
leisurely
along
with
the
elder
guest
,
and
poor
Mr.
Touchett
waited
a
little
aloof
,
hammering
his
own
boot
with
his
mallet
,
as
if
he
found
the
enchanted
ground
failing
him
.
But
the
boys
had
no
notion
of
losing
their
game
,
and
vociferated
an
inquiry
whether
the
Colonel
knew
croquet
.
Yes
,
he
had
several
times
played
with
his
cousins
in
Scotland
.
“
Then
,
”
insisted
Conrade
,
“
he
must
take
mamma’s
place
,
whilst
she
was
being
devoured
,
and
how
surprised
she
would
be
at
being
so
helped
on
!
”
“
Not
now
,
not
to-day
,
”
he
answered
.
“
I
may
go
to
your
sister
,
Ailie
?
Yes
,
boys
,
you
must
close
up
your
ranks
without
me
.
”
“
Then
please
,
”
entreated
Hubert
,
“
take
him
away
,
”
pointing
to
the
engrosser
of
their
mother
.
“
Do
you
find
elder
brothers
so
easily
disposed
of
,
Hubert
?
”
said
the
Colonel
.
“
Do
you
take
Conrade
away
when
you
please
?
”
“
I
should
punch
him
,
”
returned
Francis
.
“
He
knows
better
,
”
quoth
Conrade
in
the
same
breath
,
both
with
infinite
contempt
for
Hubert
.
“
And
I
know
better
,
”
returned
Colonel
Keith
;
“
never
mind
,
boys
,
I’ll
come
back
in
—
in
reasonable
time
to
carry
him
off
,
”
and
he
waved
a
gay
farewell
.
“
Surely
you
wish
to
go
too
,
”
said
Bessie
to
Alison
,
“
if
only
to
relieve
them
of
the
little
girl
!
I’ll
take
care
of
the
boys
.
Pray
go
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
said
Alison
,
surprised
at
her
knowledge
of
the
state
of
things
,
“
but
they
are
quite
hardened
to
Rose’s
presence
,
and
I
think
would
rather
miss
her
.
”
And
in
fact
Alison
did
not
feel
at
all
sure
that
,
when
stimulated
by
Bessie’s
appreciation
of
their
mischief
,
her
flock
might
not
in
her
absence
do
something
that
might
put
their
mother
in
despair
,
and
make
their
character
for
naughtiness
irretrievable
;
so
Leoline
and
Hubert
were
summoned
,
the
one
from
speculations
whether
Lord
Keith
would
have
punched
his
brother
,
the
other
from
amaze
that
there
was
anything
our
military
secretary
could
not
do
,
and
Conrade
and
Francis
were
arrested
in
the
midst
of
a
significant
contraction
of
the
nostrils
and
opening
of
the
mouth
,
which
would
have
exploded
in
an
“
eehaw
”
but
for
Bessie’s
valiant
undertaking
to
be
herself
and
Lady
Temple
both
at
once
.
Soon
Colonel
Keith
was
knocking
at
Ermine’s
door
,
and
Rose
was
clinging
to
him
,
glowing
and
sparkling
with
shy
ecstasy
;
while
,
without
sitting
down
again
after
her
greeting
,
Rachel
resolutely
took
leave
,
and
walked
away
with
firm
steps
,
ruminating
on
her
determination
not
to
encourage
meetings
in
Mackarel
Lane
.
“
Better
than
I
expected
!
”
exclaimed
Colonel
Keith
,
after
having
ushered
her
to
the
door
in
the
fulness
of
his
gratitude
.
“
I
knew
it
was
inevitable
that
she
should
be
here
,
but
that
she
should
depart
so
fast
was
beyond
hope
!
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Ermine
,
laughing
,
“
I
woke
with
such
a
certainty
that
she
would
be
here
and
spend
the
first
half
hour
in
the
F
.
U
.
E
,
E
.
that
I
wasted
a
great
deal
of
resignation
.
But
how
are
you
,
Colin
?
You
are
much
thinner
!
I
am
sure
by
Mrs.
Tibbie’s
account
you
were
much
more
ill
than
you
told
me
.
”
“
Only
ill
enough
to
convince
me
that
the
need
of
avoiding
a
northern
winter
was
not
a
fallacy
,
and
likewise
to
make
Tibbie
insist
on
coming
here
for
fear
Maister
Colin
should
not
be
looked
after
.
It
is
rather
a
responsibility
to
have
let
her
come
,
for
she
has
never
been
farther
south
than
Edinburgh
,
but
she
would
not
be
denied
.
So
she
has
been
to
see
you
!
I
told
her
you
would
help
her
to
find
her
underlings
.
I
thought
it
might
be
an
opening
for
that
nice
little
girl
who
was
so
oppressed
with
lace-making
.
”
“
Ah
!
she
has
gone
to
learn
wood-cutting
at
the
F
.
U
.
E
.
E
.
;
but
I
hope
we
have
comfortably
provided
Tibbie
with
a
damsel
.
She
made
us
a
long
visit
,
and
told
us
all
about
Master
Colin’s
nursery
days
.
Only
I
am
afraid
we
did
not
understand
half
.
”
“
Good
old
body
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
in
tones
almost
as
national
as
Tibbie’s
own
.
“
She
was
nursery
girl
when
I
was
the
spoilt
child
of
the
house
,
and
hers
was
the
most
homelike
face
that
met
me
.
I
wish
she
may
be
happy
here
.
And
you
are
well
,
Ermine
?
”
“
Very
well
,
those
drives
are
so
pleasant
,
and
Lady
Temple
so
kind
!
It
is
wonderful
to
think
how
many
unlooked-for
delights
have
come
to
us
;
how
good
every
one
is
;
”
and
her
eyes
shone
with
happy
tears
as
she
looked
up
at
him
,
and
felt
that
he
was
as
much
her
own
as
ever
.
“
And
you
have
brought
your
brother
,
”
she
said
;
“
you
have
been
too
useful
to
him
to
be
spared
.
Is
he
come
to
look
after
you
or
to
be
looked
after
!
”
“
A
little
of
both
I
fancy
,
”
said
the
Colonel
,
“
but
I
suspect
he
is
giving
me
up
as
a
bad
job
.
Ermine
,
there
are
ominous
revivifications
going
on
at
home
,
and
he
has
got
himself
rigged
out
in
London
,
and
had
his
hair
cut
,
so
that
he
looks
ten
years
younger
.
”
“
Do
you
think
he
has
any
special
views
!
”
“
He
took
such
pains
to
show
me
the
charms
of
the
Benorchie
property
that
I
should
have
thought
it
would
have
been
Jessie
Douglas
,
the
heiress
thereof
,
only
coming
here
does
not
seem
the
way
to
set
about
it
,
unless
be
regards
this
place
as
a
bath
of
youth
and
fashion
.
I
fancy
he
has
learnt
enough
about
my
health
to
make
him
think
me
a
precarious
kind
of
heir
,
and
that
his
views
are
general
.
I
hope
he
may
not
be
made
a
fool
of
,
otherwise
it
is
the
best
thing
that
could
happen
to
us
.
”
“
It
has
been
a
dreary
uncomfortable
visit
,
I
much
fear
,
”
said
Ermine
.
“
Less
so
than
you
think
.
I
am
glad
to
have
been
able
to
be
of
use
to
him
,
and
to
have
lived
on
something
like
brotherly
terms
.
We
know
and
like
each
other
much
better
than
we
had
a
chance
of
doing
before
,
and
we
made
some
pleasant
visits
together
,
but
at
home
there
are
many
things
on
which
we
can
never
be
of
one
mind
,
and
I
never
was
well
enough
at
Gowanbrae
to
think
of
living
there
permanently
.
”
“
I
was
sure
you
had
been
very
unwell
!
You
are
better
though
?
”
“
Well
,
since
I
came
into
Avonmouth
air
,
”
said
he
,
“
I
fear
nothing
but
cold
.
I
am
glad
to
have
brought
him
with
me
,
since
he
could
not
stay
there
,
for
it
is
very
lonely
for
him
.
”
“
Yet
you
said
his
daughter
was
settled
close
by
.
”
“
Yes
;
but
that
makes
it
the
worse
.
In
fact
,
Ermine
,
I
did
not
know
before
what
a
wretched
affair
he
had
made
of
his
daughters’
marriages
.
