I broke off my diary so suddenly in "If you're never miserable, dull, or out some trepidation, because the red light of sorts without a clear reason. If, failwhich I was describing began to approaching any other reason, you promptly score the house. My fear, however, was ren- the state of your feelings down to health, dered ridiculous when I discovered that and pooh-pooh them. If you're happy, it was merely George Hazlit strolling unscientifically without a Why, why? along, with a cigar in his mouth, eying the Pick this to pieces, what is it worth?' windows interrogatively as he walked. If you never distort your own or your He did not see me until he was close friends' trumpery shortcomings into heioutside, for it was the parlor window that nous sins, and don't yearn to become arismonopolized his chief attention - then he tocratic in your virtues, feeling that most called, "Will you come for a turn, Mrs. of the world are going democratically Markenfield? The paths are dry enough downhill—well, then I should say you're if you put thick boots on, and it is stuffy sound." indoors." Wonderful how a man's advent chases hobgoblins! I answered with alacrity, "The boots are on. I haven't changed them since my walk this morning. I will come directly." An instant to close my writing-case, a pause in the dark hall to find my cloak, and I am breathing the freshness of the air with satisfaction, as we turn towards the terrace. It is at the side of the house, and lies lower. Here and there, by twos and threes, are little steps in the paths we take, until we reach the avenue of fine old limes, planted much closer on the side next the building, and, were it not for the beacon-like cigar, screening us from observation from that quarter. On the other side the terrace is raised by a steep bank above some long fields belonging to the Owlery, and there the trees are much thinner, so as not to interfere with the view, which by a full light is very lovely. A mist hangs over the fields, lurking thickest by the hedges. The sky is clear, but moonless, and the stars dot it thinly; but I have fair hopes of to-morrow, for the air has lost its oppressiveness, and feels dry and cool. Something sends a waft of delicious odor to my nose — not the limes, it is, of course, past their season, and there is a gentle rustling among shifting branches, for which George, noticing it, gives the German word—a most expressive one that my ignorance does not retain. "This is a favorite lounge of mine in the evening; " he remarks," 'perhaps all the more that I have it to myself. It's not popular." "I question whether, as a rule, it would be with me. I should have to be in a healthy-minded state, that my surroundings could not affect, to enjoy coming here at dusk." "Aren't you always healthy-minded?" "I don't know - define healthy-mindedness, and I'll tell you." I reflected. My sensations lately had certainly rendered me liable to a charge of morbidity, although I think in the main I am free from that affliction. Instead of pleading one way or the other, I said, — "I should fancy from your tone, Mr. Hazlit, the healthy-minded are the class of the community which you prefer." "There He gave a mischievous laugh. you nearly admit you don't belong to them. If I like people, or a person, I don't stop to enquire if their hidden springs are all such as I should kindly approve of. Perhaps," he concluded, with a sly side-glance, "if they were shown by the outward sign of an aversion to the smell of tobacco -even in the open air it might induce me to do so." "Now I shall retort. You like to come here alone, in the evening, to smoke. There must be sentiment somewhere in the background. Sentimentality is violently opposed to healthy-mindedness." "Oh-pardon! Nothing of the sort. How can it be? Ask yourself isn't it one of the passive joys of life? Nothing ruffling about it. Sometimes you unearth it- I don't, but you may in the form of shabby old letters that soothe and gratify you with the remembrance of the pretty things you have written, or had written to you, in your day. Or it comes soothingly upon you unawares, led up to by some subtle concatenation of ideas. I should never call anything so harmlessly agreeable unhealthy;' over a pipe by the aid of sentiment we faire dodo of our past; put the teasing part to sleep, and enjoy crooning a lullaby over its cradle." "I agree with what you say; and I can fancy recollection painting things so pleasantly that it would be likely to pave the way for a revival. If you stir up even very dead-looking coals sometimes, you know, they flame up again." But my companion did not take my pretty suggestion in good part. He vigor. ously dashed away the remnant of his cigar, and threw up his hands in horror. If that was to be my case, I'd forswear them forever. Fancy two distinct parts of your life insisting on uniting themselves simultaneously in your unfortunate person! It seems to me I would as soon go for a walking tour in my baby's socks, or play cricket in my first flannels." 66 'Oh, your old-clothes simile won't do all round. In my own experience I have seen certain episodes most satisfactorily resumed. For instance, I have witnessed it in the matter of "The matter of?" "The matter of love. Why does the lady shirk the good old word? It is in a little discredit in these times; we make 'like' do a good share of its duty; but it is time-honored, and, with the thing it stands for, very stale, yet ever new." Reply, if you please !” "Well let me see. The personal test is the strongest. Putting the poker in my one cinder-heap ought to impel me to go forthwith to Heidelberg, and marry my cousin?" 66 it out. I gave an interrogative nod of my head. "No. I thought we were very nearonce; but since I bade her good-bye as Rémak's affianced my ideas began to remove her further and further away. I mean in sympathy, fancy, etc.; of course, we were really parted long before I found It seems to me, now, that she's an entirely different person, which is a very bad sign. I have a tenderness, owing to her, for my student days, and for the pretty little cousin she was then. She made a flowery, unsordid part, in a badly reared, kept down, loveless youth. Frieda had the whole of what young men at that age generally divide pretty freely, but she didn't want it, so she very sensibly pitched it back to me." "And I believe, by your manner, that it would be hard to humble your pride to offer it again?” 66 "Why, Mrs. Markenfield, if my - my affections"-bringing out the words with the demure half-banter men frequently assume when they deprecate romantic expressions were unchanged, there would still be some struggle there. But you don't seem to like me? I believe women cling to that idea of loving-only to the idea, by the bye once and for aye, which, it is a substantial blessing to most people, is little more than pretty poetry. Surely I have as good a right not to love Madame Rémak now, as Frieda Wagner had not to love me once upon a time.'" "Do you think she would have you, if you asked her?" "Um- I think she would marry me. Yes, I do; you are laughing at my conceit? But would it be particularly flattering-think it out? She has two boys to bring up, and little to do it on. She is almost as dependent on other people's counsel - say my counsel, as a hop is on its pole. She knows my means; I think it would be her distinct duty to accept me, even with her first husband unforgotten. So I shall never put the temptation in her way. I can help her and the lads without that." "How good of you!" "Good! My child - I beg your pardon. Didn't I tell you how shabbily her mother was treated?" "Yes; before you were born. It doesn't lie at your door. You are a generous man, Mr. Hazlit." "There's a complete mistake. Listen, while I make confession. Nature meant me for the greatest screw in the family. The possession of filthy lucre charms me, it slips reluctantly from my hands." "Yet you risked losing some in offending your father by doing this. I don't believe you." "Well-allow the influence of a spirit of determination, for I'm as obstinate as he is." Here his face changed to thought. fulness, which the quiet skies revealed indistinctly, as he slightly raised his head. "The poor old man he is hard by the end now the end; and clings to life. If it was in my power to prolong his days for a season I would make some sacrifice to do so, though I know he would employ the grant in the old miserable style. But yet," there was an emotion in his voice as he concluded, which shook it, “in all my life, he has felt no more for me-than yonder tree does. He has been no father to one amongst us. I lose nothing in him, and shall search in vain for a softening recollection to endue his memory with." How true, how sadly true his words were I knew from Keezie; also that the circumstances connected with his mother's death, of which he did not breathe a syllable to me, had cut to the very core of the young man's nature. . We kept silence for a time. I was looking with solemn thoughts at the solitary light shining from the upper part of the dark mass which defined the Owlery, where one, whose last days should have been tended by the solicitude of those belonging to him, whose bedside might have been a rallying-point for the affection there remains so brief a span to testify, was lying, keeping them at bay, forbidden, almost, to cross his doorway, mistrusting and hating them to the last. We had made two silent turns upon the terrace, when I perceived some objects defined against the white mist that fringed the hedges a little distance down the field. At the same time my sharp ears caught the faint sound of voices. My companion, deeply lost in reflections, did neither, and I did not attract his attention. I watched the objects. They did not move at first; then a sort of struggle appeared to take place between them, but accompanied by no noise. Finally, one, swiftly darting from the other, came nearer and nearer the terrace, and with a foot too light to betray its passage over the ground, scaled the bank, crossed our path at its extremity, and vanished; but not without striking George's quick eye. "Wasn't that some one on the terrace? Yes; and there is another some one in the field, I see. Halloa! you vagabond, what are you doing there? The devil! it's a man. I'll make him give an account of why he is trespassing on our premises." He left my side; vaulted down the bank, and made for the intruder; who, on his part, quitted the shelter of the hedge and advanced to meet him. Then, clear on the quiet night air, came the careless tones of Septimus. "No occasion for violence, old fellow; it's I." 66 Skulking about a damp field — at this time! Well, for a man who has the gout by seasons, and enjoys comfort when he can get it gratis, you've chosen a funny place. What are you doing?" "The same as yourself up on the terrace there. Talking to a pretty woman." The air carried the words better than the speaker intended, or than either of the two imagined. "What pretty woman could you find in this field? The expression of Septimus's voice scarcely changed as he replied, "That girl of my father's. I saw her as I was coming home from the office, later than usual, climbing the gate at the bottom; and when I spoke to her she flew like a lunatic. I was rather curious to know where she had been and I followed to enquire, but I got nothing but gasps and-ahem!-lies for my pains. She was empty-handed, however." "Why the deuce can't you let her alone? She'll be out of your way before long; and if she gets a legacy-which is doubtful she has thoroughly well earned it." "Ah! she's artful enough to do the lot of us yet. And I was only politely inquisitive." They were now sufficiently close for Septimus to raise his hat to me, and say with bland courtesy, "I'm sorry I can't give myself the pleasure of remaining with you. My hands are none the better for scaling a gate or two, and I feel the necessity of a good brush." The brothers parted; and as George rejoined me, where I leant against a tree, he began reassuringly, "I hope you haven't been frightened alone here. You see it was only Septimus and Miss Waylen, having some sort of skirmish as to why she was out to-night—” But I stopped him. Barely had he reached me, when I caught his arm and exclaimed, with real apprehension, "Has he gone after her? Follow, follow them, please. Don't let him overtake her!" Keeping my hands tight in his own and bending low, he said in a half-remonstrating, half-caressing way, to which his full, masterful voice adapted itself very well, "You've had too much of this old terrace, we'll go in. There's no reason to alarm yourself. Lizzie is up-stairs, safe enough before now; and he won't follow her there. Perhaps Isabella may have a mauvais quart d'heure, but that I can't interfere with. My brother, like several of the vastly clever kind, is over-suspicious. Why, you're trembling! Let me pull that cloak closer. I'm afraid you've taken cold." I made a gesture of dissent. And then, impelled to do so as a relief to a portion of the restrained feelings of the last few days, I told him, as we went back to the house, what had passed between Lizzie and me on the morning of my rejected proposal. I described her agitation, and recounted, as faithfully as I was able, all she had then said, feeling, with vexation, how difficult it is to transmit impressions as we receive them. He was quite attentive, but he shrugged his shoulders now and again, and when I had finished, said, "She could go if she wished, Mrs. Markenfield, that's nonsense! I can think of no reason to hinder her accepting your offer. Don't you really believe if she wanted to go she would?" "But she seemed wretched. She cried "She was hysterical; she certainly has too much put upon her. Now the task must be awful. There shall be a nurse got, or some arrangement made. But, on my honor, there is nothing to keep Lizzie here; and personally I wish she'd gone years ago.' "Do you dislike her?" "No; but I emphatically dislike her presence in the house. It's a false position, which has raised scandal; I assure you I'm convinced it is groundless, but all of us are not especially stupid old Keezie. I think my father has placed her in her peculiar post, in terrorism over us. His money is his own to do as he chooses with; and, perhaps, he has enjoyed exciting our fears. Old men do leave their property curiously, you know. Well, as far as I'm specially concerned, she might have the lot. But to talk of being obliged to stop- nonsense!" of intellect, and sometimes in a condition of semi-oblivion to all around him. In one of the latter of these states I went in to see him, and was startled by the ghastly change his illness had worked upon his features. His deeply sunken eyes, startling in their brightness, followed Lizzie's every movement about the room, but he called her "Damaris." Of me, oddly enough, he had a correct remembrance, answered my questions regarding his health, and said nothing to mark an unsettled brain, but the words, spoken very fretfully, that "Septimus would have been a good husband for me, and it would have squared things evened them more." I was devoutly grateful that Isabella was not by at the moment; but my predominant feeling, as I sat in that mean, barrack-like room, was entire compassion for the wreck of life, whose long, gaunt limbs, bereft of all power and vigor, were stretched on the hard wooden bedstead. The old man's mind does not cease to "There is one part of what she said to run horribly upon his money. Disconyou," he concluded, as we gained the nected allusions to investments, bitter porch, and heard a rasping sound that de- menaces against debtors, and ramblings noted the securing of windows, "which I concerning locks which Lizzie must keep selfishly wish might have weight. She well guarded, "and not let them get at begged you not to hurry your departure. until the proper time, Damaris! They'll I can easily conceive, in her not too agree- get as much as they want at the proper able life, how pleasant your kindness must time; won't they? Eh?" He partly rises have been. May I the request makes from his pillow when he fiercely jerks out me feel ridiculous, considering the foot-"Eh?" and waits impatiently for an aning your residence here is upon but may swer. Then, seemingly satisfied by an I say, as a fellow-lodger, ask you not to assenting one, falls back upon it. desert the Owlery for a short time longer? See the clear sky-I believe the weather's going to mend - and don't be afraid of bogies there are none. If there were, I should be delighted to drive them off for you." I could make no immediate answer. The door in front of us opened quickly, and Septimus and his wife, she sullen, he smiling, appeared on the threshold, prepared to depart to their bald little abode down the road. CHAPTER VIII. THE morning succeeding our conference, George paid an early visit to his brother I saw him go, as I was dressing to discuss the project of engaging a nurse for Mr. Hazlit. After some confabulation it was decided that, for the present, Isabella should relieve Miss Waylen. The old man, lately, has been more light headed than at first, and inclined to fall into long dozes, from which he sometimes wakes in a state of preternatural acuteness Maisie was there when I was, playing at the bedside with a little doll: watching her grandfather, and occasionally addressing him in her clear treble. Very wonderful is the innocent composure and placid curiosity with which these babies often gaze upon what to their elders is so aweinspiring, or even repulsive. This child is so engaging, that it is barely credible she is her mother's daughter. The first thing that Mr. Hazlit invariably does with returning consciousness is to ask for her. She has slept in the house a week now, and I often have her company in my bedroom. The long glass pleases her vastly, and she curtsies and turns about to her own little image in full, with high delight. I was by when Mrs. Hazlit dryly stated to Lizzie that she was prepared to lighten her labor, when it became too trying for her. She made the announcement in a way as if she presumed the offer would not be particularly welcome. But she was mistaken. The poor girl has worn to a thread, latterly; and a gleam of eager opportunity of any words with Lizzie. relief came into her face, as she replied, quickly, "I shall be very glad. It's very kind of you, Mrs. Hazlit; and if I can arrange that Mr. Hazlit—” 66 "Arrange!" the woman laughed offensively. No doubt, if he's asked, he won't suffer me in the room, instead of you, a minute. But, as he's generally wool-gathering, I don't see why you've any reason to mention it." "Perhaps," I put in, to distract Isabella's malicious eye from Lizzie's vivid blush, "as Miss Waylen looks so very tired this morning, it would do her good to have a complete rest in her own room to-night. If you don't care for so long a watch, Mrs. Hazlit, I could relieve you. I am a nurse of some experience." "Oh, it won't kill me, Mrs. Markenfield, thank you!" she answered. "I'm strong enough, when nothing worries me; and if I should take a nap in a chair the old man would wake me if he stirred. I always sleep with one eye open." The doctor's opinion of Mr. Hazlit's present state was communicated to him by his wife, I believe; and I was surprised to notice that when he came across me, immediately afterwards, his manner was more elate than usual, though he is always in good spirits. I was with Maisie, trying to find a clue through a labyrinthine mess she had made of a hideous scrap of woolwork, Keezie's gift, destined when completed to form an offering to "grandpa,” when I heard his cheerful "How are you?" and looked up to see him, clearskinned and trim, trifling with a handkerchief, with a peculiar-patterned blue border, which was protruding jauntily from his pocket. He sat down on the settee beside me. "Maisie, you're teasing as usual. What on earth is that thing, Mrs. Markenfield?" He caressed the child while speaking, dwelling with pleasure on her golden hair, her sweeping brown lashes, and the wonderful bloom, at once so vivid and so delicate, that only tints cheeks so young. It did not delight me when the critical I should not have thought this. On my own private judgment I should have pro-regard turned from Maisie, bending over nounced the lady to be blest with deep and heavy slumbers. After this assertion she betook herself on some errand to the kitchen, and shortly engaged in a war of words with Mrs. Skey, from which she retired undeniably worsted. I took a long ramble that day, which was as fine as one could wish, starting alone, but meeting George when I was some distance from the Owlery on my way back. The doctor was emerging from the gate as we returned, and, to my companion's queries, reported his patient somewhat better. Commenting on this, I told George how pleased I felt that Lizzie was to have an occasional respite from her attendance, and he replied, “I did my best for a regular nurse. But Septimus would have it this way; on the candle-end principle, doubtless. I know the old man will have none of it when his wits are about him." 66 Do you think," I enquired, "that it is possible he may get round, for a time?" "Yes; I do now. I didn't a day or two back. But he has a marvellous constitution." Later on, Septimus dropped in, and held a rather protracted colloquy with his wife, alone. It seemed he urged, what I had suggested, that she should remain to sit up that night. The sight of him reminded me of the episode of the preceding one, concerning which I had had no her woolly horror, too engrossed to deign him any attention, to me. I have the average share of vanity, but as already during the day I had listened to some remarks, not offered as mere compliments, concerning hair that looked as bright under a thunder-cloud as in the sunbeams, and grey eyes that had been ridiculously idealized, I was afraid of an outbreak from another quarter. Furthermore, I intensely dislike this man's admiration, even when silent. "The worthy medico, I hear," he went on, "thinks we may by-and-by be rejoicing over a recovery. What an unlooked-for termination to our protracted anxiety!" The sarcasm was thinly glazed. It is Septimus's way to keep just an outer layer of banter over sentiments which his acute worldly sense does not expect will be credited. "Yes, I should think very unlookedfor." |