said she, that same evening, "I should be glad to have an answer to the question I made so bold as to arst you three weeks ago." 66 My dear Mrs. Webber, I thought I had given you an answer at the time." "You'll escuse me, sir, but that is just what you did not do. And a answer I am respeckfully determined for to have." you must know, has a mother who lives with her an old lady of whom you remind me in many respects, Mrs. Webber. She is quite as stupid as you are, quite as obstinate, and thinks herself quite as sharp. As a bully, she beats you. Make her your enemy, and you might as well try to get Fanny into heaven as inside the doors of Longbourne, so long as she remains there; and she will remain there, I take it, until she dies. Now, Mrs. Webber, I'll be perfectly frank with you. Your writing to Mrs. Stanniforth, as you "Now, my dear, don't you worrit your-propose, would give me about as much self. I know my dooty, and your husband will see his, if it's put to him plain. For close upon a year I've held my tongue; but the time has come now for him to acknowledge you before the world, and I mean he shall do it too." "Oh, Aunt Keziah, please!" pleaded Fanny, who was lying on the sofa, and who had become very pink during this speech. Philip shrugged his shoulders wearily. 'My good Mrs. Webber, what is the use of your bothering me in this way? I told you before that I must decline to discuss the subject with you." "Very well, sir; then you will drive me to take measures which it goes against me to take them. To-morrow I write to Mrs. Stanniforth, and I tell her the whole truth. I have her address, you see, sir," added Mrs. Webber, holding up an envelope which Philip recognized. "Oho! so you've been reading my letters," said he. "A speech which no gentleman would make," returned Mrs. Webber, with awful calmness. "No, sir; I have not read your letters, nor wouldn't so demean myself if it was ever so. But a henvelope is what all the world may look at." And indeed the envelope in question bore the words Longbourne, Crayminster, in sufficiently large capitals. Philip had thought it wisest to shroud the whereabouts of his home in mystery, but, with his usual carelessness about matters of detail, had left clear evidence upon the subject on his dressing-table. "I suppose you know," he remarked, "that there is nothing to prevent Mrs. Stanniforth from cutting me off with a shilling whenever she pleases." 66 "I don't think, sir," answered Mrs. Webber, smiling, "that she will do that." Well, no; candidly speaking, I don't think she will. She has a weakness for a certain worthless individual, and upon that you appear to have calculated. I may as well tell you, though, that between forgiving me and receiving my wife there is a vast difference. Mrs. Stanniforth, pain as anything could do. Mrs. Stanniforth is in a good deal of trouble just now, owing to various things that have occurred that very letter which you are stroking your nose with was written a few days ago to tell me about them - and if this blow comes upon her as an addition to them, I believe it will very nearly break her heart. That would distress me, and wouldn't do you an atom of good. You probably know enough of your sex to be aware that she would set you down as an interested old schemer, and Fanny, at best, as a willing instrument in your hands. I grant you that she and her mother will have to make the best of what they will consider a bad business in the long run; but, if you will let me manage things in my own way, they may eventu ally consent to take Fanny by the hand; whereas, if you precipitate matters, the chances are that they will refuse to hear her name mentioned, and will use their influence to get me into the Australian police, or something of that kind. Now you can do as you like." 66 Maybe you are speaking the truth," said Mrs. Webber. "Lord knows whether you are or not; but what you say sounds like sense. I shan't interfere without you drive me to it," she continued, after tak ing counsel with herself for a minute or two; "but mind this: if ever you take it into your head to desert my niece "Aunt Keziah," cried Fanny, starting up from her couch with her cheeks aflame, "I won't sit here and let you talk so! How can you say such wicked things! You don't understand my Philip one bit." And she threw her arms round her Philip's neck protectingly. He disengaged himself gently, saying, "Lie down again, Fan, and don't agitate yourself. Imitate me: you see I am not agitated. Your Aunt Keziah takes a low view of human nature; which is to be regretted for everybody's sake, and espe cially for her own. Try, my dear Mrs. | Margaret's infinite distress, she took to Webber, to rise to a higher moral level, her bed for twenty-four hours, and sent and bear in mind that, as Fanny justly for the doctor, who unfeelingly ordered remarks, you don't understand me one her to get up forthwith and go out of bit. That thought may make you easier doors. at times when you are inclined to suspect me of being a consummate villain. Besides, you have got the address, you know." "Yes; I've got the address," said Mrs. Webber, slapping the pocket into which she had thrust Mrs. Stanniforth's envelope. "So that you will always have it in your power to throw the fat in the fire. That reflection is likely to be a comfort to you. And now, as there seems to be nothing more to be said, suppose we have some of that mulled claret which you brew so admirably, and drink the baby's health." Thus Philip glided lightly away from a peril which had frightened him more than might have been supposed from his manner of treating it. CHAPTER XV. MRS. WINNINGTON RECEIVES A SHOCK. DURING the weeks which Philip had spent agreeably in perfecting himself in the parts of husband, father, and vocalist, time had not stood still at Longbourne. The period, indeed, had been an unusually exciting one in the history of that small world, and had brought about rebellions, battles, conferences, and treaties, all of which must now be in due course recorded. Mrs. Winnington, whom we left administering a well-deserved lecture to her youngest daughter, was so little relieved by that exercise, and so much put out by the various incidents of the afternoon, that her temper entered upon one of its worst and gloomiest phases; and even the sudden retirement of Marescalchi, which at ordinary times would have given | her great satisfaction, drew nothing more from her than a passing expression of her utter disbelief in his purpose of working either at law or at anything else. Nor did she at all enjoy being left in a great, silent house, with no one to speak to except her two daughters, neither of whom happened to be a person with whom it was possible to pick a quarrel. From sheer lack of a more worthy antagonist, she fell foul of Mrs. Prosser upon some point of domestic economy, and was routed with great loss; after which, to Tom Stanniforth, as in duty bound, walked up, after a day or two, to call upon his sister-in-law; but, as ill-luck would have it, Mrs. Winnington and Edith had selected that very afternoon to pay a round of visits, and consequently missed him. The elder lady's disgust at this contretemps was not lessened by the news that Mr. Stanniforth had been persuaded to remain on a few days longer with the Brunes She still persisted in declaring to herself, as well as to Margaret, that his visit, whether long or short, could have no very serious consequences; still, having nothing else to think about, she allowed herself to brood over the subject until it became a torment to her, and at last being a woman to whom inaction was unbearable she made up her mind to go over to Broom Leas and speak a few words "in a friendly way" to Mr. Brune. The words that had hitherto passed between her and that gentleman had not commonly been very friendly ones, nor was her feeling towards him of a very friendly nature; but that, as she pointed out to Margaret, who ventured upon a mild protest against her resolution, was not the question." Accordingly, she requested the use of a carriage for the afternoon, and drove over to Broom Leas in state, not knowing very well, perhaps, what she was going to say when she got there, but feeling that at least it would be a satisfaction to her to be upon the spot. That it is always well to be " upon the spot" was a maxim which had been frequently in Mrs. Winnington's mouth in the course of a very fairly successful ca reer; and in truth it was doubtful whether, if she had not been so palpably and unflinchingly upon the spot, in Whitehall and elsewhere, at certain times, her sons would have got on as well in their several professions as they have done. 66 Mrs. Winnington was by way of being short-sighted; but her eyes were capable of doing a good stroke of work when any sudden demand was made upon them; and it so chanced that, as the victoria in which she was seated turned briskly in at the gates of Broom Leas, she distinctly saw a manly form which was familiar to her standing at the entrance of the farmyard in close proximity to a small and girlish one which she also recognized without difficulty. She saw more than | decent order at this time of year. The this, for she saw that she was seen; and mere sweeping up of the leaves takes she saw worse, for she saw Mr. Stanni- three men all their time from morning to forth, in the most barefaced manner, walk night." away and conceal himself behind an adjacent rick. Nellie came forward, and met her visitor at the front door. "How do you do?" says Mrs. Winnington, alighting slowly, and favoring Miss Brune with a full view of the lowered eyelids and faint smile which with her were the outward and visible signs of an inward and heartfelt superiority. "Is your father anywhere about?” "Impudent old woman!" thought Nellie; "what does she mean by speaking to me as if she had come to buy butter and eggs?" She said aloud, "Won't you come in, Mrs. Winnington? I don't know where my father is; but he went out with his gun some time ago, and I hardly expect him back before dark. Do you want to see him about anything in particular?" "Oh, no," answered Mrs. Winnington; "nothing very particular. If he had been in, I should have liked to ask him whether he had heard anything about the Octopus' being ordered to the west-African station. You know my son has just been appointed to her as first lieutenant, and I understood that one of your brothers had also joined her lately." "The west-African station!" exclaimed Nellie in consternation; "oh, I do hope not! No, I am sure we had heard nothing of the kind. When Harry wrote, he said they were to join the Channel fleet." "Perhaps it is not true," said Mrs. Winnington, who had in fact invented this pretext for her call upon the spur of the moment; "there are always so many absurd rumors going about. As you have heard nothing, it probably is not true. No, I won't go in, thank you; but, since I am here, I will just take a turn round the garden with you, my dear, if you can spare me a few minutes. I should be rather glad of the opportunity of saying something to you which which, in fact, I think you ought to be told." Nellie opened her eyes rather wide. Never before had she been called "my dear" by Mrs. Winnington, and her imagination failed to suggest to her any clue to the significance of this portent. "How neat and tidy your lawn always is!" said Mrs. Winnington graciously. "That is the advantage of a small garden. Now at Longbourne we find that it is next to impossible to keep the grounds in They must be three very lazy men," remarked Nellie, who knew as well as anybody how much could be accomplished in a fair day's work. She could not refrain from adding, "There is very nearly as much turf here as at Longbourne." "You don't say so! Well, I'm sure your gardener deserves every credit. And I notice that you always manage to have a few flowers, too, to make the place look bright. But perhaps Mr. Brune takes an interest in flowers. One so often sees the garden quite neglected in houses where there is no mistress; and that is such a pity." "There is a mistress in this house," said Nellie shortly. the "To be sure there is, my dear," rejoined Mrs. Winnington, patting her on shoulder quite affectionately; "but she is a very young mistress, and not a very experienced one. ought not, perhaps, to have used the word mistress; I was thinking rather of houses where there is no mother." "As far as gardening goes, I don't see why there being no mother should make any great difference," observed Nellie. ("What in the world is she driving at? I hope she'll come to the point before I lose my temper and say something rude.") Mrs. Winnington had her point quite clearly before her eyes, and, having executed these cumbrous preliminary cir clings in the air, was now ready to swoop down upon it. "As far as gardening goes! 99 she said. "But, unfortunately, there are many other ways in which the loss of a mother is an irreparable one." Nellie thought that, in the case of some people whom she knew, there might be considerations which would go far towards mitigating the bereavement alluded to; but she had the self-restraint to abstain from saying this: and Mrs. Winnington proceeded. "I am so averse to anything that might have the appearance of meddling that I generally prefer to remain silent, even when I feel that a word in season might be of real service; but the question is whether that motive for silence is not really a wrong and selfish one whether one ought not to think only of doing one's duty to one's neighbors - to point out to people when they make themselves ridiculous." "As you would they should do unto | Nellie, who had now found her tongue. you," put in Nellie, whose patience was "My friends know perfectly well that I fast ebbing away. “If you don't mind my would die rather than marry any one of telling you in what way you seem to me the name of Stanniforth; and as for other ridiculous, Mrs. Winnington, I can't ob- people, it makes no difference to me what ject to letting you do as much for me." they say. It might amuse Mr. Stanniforth to hear his name coupled with mine; but I assure you it would not amuse me at all. Impertinent and false things are said about everybody, I suppose: what I cannot understand is that any one should have the courage to repeat them to the person of whom they are said." 'My dear, you must remember the difference in our ages. It would be hardly becoming in you to call me ridiculous, even if I were so; and that is just one of those things which a mother would enable you to see.' "I suppose it would be no use to try and stop you, Mrs. Winnington, but I may as well tell you beforehand that, so long as my father does not consider me ridiculous, I shall not trouble myself in the least about what you, or anybody else, may happen to think of me." "Ah!" said Mrs. Winnington, "that is just the spirit in which I expected to be met. That is exactly the sort of speech which a motherless girl would be sure to make. You do not understand now, though you will understand some day, that no one can afford to fly in the face of society. In the present instance your father would naturally be the last man in the world to hear what people are saying about you." "And what are people saying about me?" asked Nellie, stopping short and facing Mrs. Winnington, who, however, continued her slow progress across the lawn. 66 Nellie was quite aware that, having thus delivered herself, she would best consult her self-respect by saying no more; but feminine nature got the better of her, and, after a short and sharp struggle, she added: "You need not be at all alarmed, Mrs. Winnington. Rich as Mr. Stanniforth is, he does not exactly belong to the class into which our family has been accustomed to marry." 'Why, my good girl," cried Mrs. Winnington quite unaffectedly and coarsely, "your mother was only a banker's daughter!" There was thus a momentary risk of this interview coming to an end in a deplorably vulgar manner; but happily both combatants saw the danger, and controlled themselves. Mrs. Winnington left rather hastily, but without further loss of dignity, and was upon the whole very well satisfied with the afternoon's work. Had this rather dull-witted woman been a female Machiavelli, she could hardly have played her cards more adroitly, or have taken more certain means of gaining her end, than she had done; but, as a matter of fact, no credit for successful diplomacy was due to her upon this occasion. It would never have occurred to her to res cue her intended prey by stirring up Miss Brune's pride, because it would never have occurred to her to suppose that that young lady could have any pride Well, I must say that I blame your father a little; it is partly his fault. When one has a daughter of your age, one cannot be too particular, and he has been, to say the least of it, thoughtless. I should be sorry to hurt your feelings; but it is best to tell the truth, and you know one cannot follow up a rich bachelor in that persistent way without setting people's tongues going. I would not for one moment insinuate that either you or your father knew what you were doing; and as for Mr. Stanniforth, I think I may confi-ury in which, according to Mrs. Winningdently say on his behalf that he would be very much amused at the idea of his name being coupled with yours. Still the fact remains that he is staying at your house, instead of at Longbourne." Nellie was too furious to do more than ejaculate "Oh!" under her breath. "Of course," continued her companion benevolently, "it does not matter to him; but I know so well what is invariably said in these cases. It is the poor girl who is pitied and laughed at, and "Thank you; that will do," interrupted a lux ton's notions, only the noble and wealthy could afford to indulge. In speaking as she had done, she had been actuated simply and solely by an amiable wish to make the girl uncomfortable. She had herself been made somewhat uncomfortable by Stanniforth's walking behind that haystack under her very eyes and by Nellie's virtual participation in this affront; and her desire had been to retaliate without delay, and further to let the young woman understand that, whoever might win or lose the prize, it would assuredly not fall to her share. She flattered herself that | box, or one of those pews which are still she had succeeded in both of these noble to be met with in a few old-fashioned aims. As for Miss Brune's indignant churches, whence you looked down upon repudiation of a possible alliance with a curious apse-like chamber, tacked on to any Stanniforth whatever, she took that the house by a seventeenth-century Brune for what she considered it to be worth. for some purpose unknown. It may have The impertinence of it had made her been intended to serve as a theatre, or rather angry for the moment; but, as the possibly as a private chapel: of late years thing could obviously have been only said it had fallen into disuse, being a gloomy with a view to impertinence, it was hardly and ill-lighted apartment, and was seldom worth remembering. The important point entered by anybody, except by the housewas that Mr. Stanniforth was not likely maids who swept it out from time to time. to be pressed to postpone his departure Some one, however, was in it now. Mrs. a second time, and that in a day or two Winnington, with her hand on the lock of he would be restored to his anxious friends her daughter's door, was startled by the at Longbourne. After that, Edith must sound of voices arising from that quarter, be made to bestir herself more, and per- and it was a matter of course that she haps it might even be well that something should at once make her way along the in the nature of a conditional engagement passage as stealthily as might be, and should be entered upon before he left. peer over the edge of the gallery to see It will be perceived that Mrs. Winnington what might be going on below. herself was not overburdened by any foolish pride. was She arrived in time to witness a scene so startling that she very nearly put a dramatic finish to it then and there by falling headlong over the balustrade, which was a low one. Upon an ottoman directly beneath her, her daughter Edith sitting in a very pretty and graceful attitude, her elbow resting on her knee and her face hidden by her right hand, while her left was held by Walter Brune, who was kneeling at her feet. And this is what that audacious young reprobate was saying, in accents which rose towards the roof with perfect distinctness: "Now, my darling girl, you must not allow yourself to be so cowed by that aw ful old mother of yours. There! I beg your pardon: I didn't intend to speak disrespectfully of her, but it came out before I could stop myself. What I mean is, you mustn't let her bully you to that extent that you daren't call your soul your own. Stand up to her boldly, and depend upon it she'll knock under in the long run. When all's said and done, she can't eat you alive.” The feelings of the astounded listener overhead may be imagined. It is probable that Mrs. Winnington saw no harm at all in such pokings and rummagings. Her daughters, she would have said, had no secrets from her, or at all events ought not to have any. Nor had she any particular end to serve in entering other people's bedrooms. For some occult reason it gave her pleasure to do so, and the present occasion being favorable for the gratifying of her tastes, she proceeded to profit by it. First she made a thorough examination of all the reception rooms; then she went up-stairs, and spent some time in overhauling the contents of Margaret's wardrobe; and then she passed on to the room at that "But I do understand I do consider," time occupied by Edith, which opened declared Walter, scrambling up to his feet. out of a long corridor where the family "I know it's awfully hard upon you, my portraits had hung in the days when the dearest; but wouldn't it be harder still to owners of Longbourne had possessed a marry some decrepid old lord to please family to be thus commemorated. This your mother, and to be miserable and corridor had a peculiarity. It terminated ashamed of yourself for the rest of your in a small gallery, resembling a theatre-life?" Ah, you don't understand," sighed Edith. "It is easy enough for a man to talk of standing up for himself; but you don't consider how different it is with us." |