PART II.-CHAPTER I. "We hold our greyhound in our hand, But where shall we find leash or band out of some of them! This being the case, I have not a second for coming home: but I send some contributions for the prize-giving, some stunning articles from the Lowther Arcade. The gutta-percha face is for Billy Harrison, whether in disgrace or not. He deserves compensation for his many weary hours of Sunday School, and it may suggest a new art for beguiling the time. Mind you tell him it is from me, with my love; and bestow could see them; but you have no loss, you the rest on all the chief reprobates. I wish I know how unedifying I am. Kiss Ponto for A JUNE evening shed a slanting light over the greensward of Hiltonbury Holt, and made the western windows glisten like diamonds, as Honora Charlecote slowly walked homewards to her solitary evening meal, alone, except for the nearly blind old pointer who laid his grizzled muzzle upon her knees, gaz-me, and ask Robin for his commands to Coning wistfully into her face, as seating herself upon the step of the sundial, she fondled his smooth, depressed black head. 66 "Poor Ponto!" she said, "we are grown old together. Our young ones are all gone! Grown old? Less old in proportion than Ponto-still in full vigor of mind and body, but old in disenchantment, and not without the traces of her forty-seven years. The auburn hair was still in rich masses of curl; only on close inspection were silver threads to be detected: the cheek was paler, the brow worn, and the gravely handsome dress was chosen to suit the representative of the Charlecotes, not with regard to lingering youthfulness. The slow movement, subdued tone, and downcast eye, had an air of habitual dejection and patience, as though disappointment had gone deeper, or solitude were telling more on the spirits, than any past blow had done. She saw the preparations for her tea going on within the window, but ere going indoors, she took out and reread two letters. The first was in the irregular decided characters, affected by young ladies in the reaction from their grandmothers' pointed illegibilities, and bore a scroll at the top, with the word "Cilly," in old English letters of bright blue. naught. I know his sulkiness will transpire through Phoebe. Love to that dear little Cinderella, and tell her mamma and Juliana, Mrs. Fulmort shall have no peace and Julithat if she does not come out this winter, ana no partners. Please to look in my room for my great nailed boots and hedging-gloves, also for the pig's wool in the left-hand drawer of the cabinet, and send them to me before the end of next week. Owen would give his ears to come with us, but gentlemen would there is no hope of a faction fight. Mr. Saonly obstruct Irish chivalry; I am only afraid ville called yesterday, so I made him dine here, and sung him into raptures. What a dear old Don he is! "Your affectionate cousin, The second letter stood thus: CILLY." "Farrence's Hotel, June 14th. "MY DEAR MISS CHARLECOTE,-I have seen Lawrence on your business, and he will prepare the leases for your signature. He suggests that it might be more satisfactory to wait, in case you should be coming to town, so that you might have a personal meeting with the parties; but this will be for you to determine. I came up from College on Wednesday, having much enjoyed my visit. Oxford is in many respects a changed place, but as long as our old Head remains to us I am sure of a gratifying welcome, and I saw many old friends. I exchanged cards with Owen Sandbrook, but only saw him as we met "Lowndes Square, June 14th. in the street, and a very fine-looking youth he "MY DEAR HONOR,-Many thanks for is, a perfect Hercules, and the champion of wishing for your will-o'-th'-wisp again, but it his college in all feats of strength, likely, too, is going to dance off in another direction. to stand well in the class list His costume Rashe and I are bound to the West of Ire- was not what we should once have considered land, as soon Charles' inauguration is over at academical; but his is a daring set, intellectCastle Blanch; an odd jumble of festivities itual as well as bodily, and the clever young is to be, but Lolly is just cockney enough to be determinedly rural, and there's sure to be some fun to be got out of it; besides, I am pacified by having my special darling, Edna Murrell, the lovely schoolmistress at Wrap worth, to sing to them. How Mr. Calthorpe will admire her, as long as he thinks she is Italian! It will be hard if I can't get a ride men of the present day are not what they were in my time. It is gratifying to hear how warmly and affectionately he talks of you. I do not know how far you have undertaken the supplies, but I give you a hint that a warning on that subject might not be inappropri ate, unless they have come into some great accession of fortune on their uncle's death. ventured to call upon the young lady in Lowndes Square and was most graciously received, and asked to dinner by the young Mrs. Charteris. It was a most recherché dinner in the new Italian fashion, which does not quite approve itself to me. Regardless of expense,' seems to be the family motto. Your pupil sings better than ever, and knew how to keep her hold of my heart, though I suspected her of patronizing the old parson to pique ner more brilliant admirers, whom she possesses in plenty; and no wonder, for she is pretty enough to turn any man's head: and shows to great advantage beside her cousin, Miss Charteris. I hope you will be able to prevent the cousins from really undertaking the wild plan of travelling alone in Ireland, for the sake, they say, of salmon fishing. I should nave thought them not in earnest, but girls are as much altered as boys from the days of my experience, and brothers too; for Mr. Charteris seemed to view the scheme very coolly; but, as I told my friend Lucilla, I hope you will bring her to reason. I hope your nay-crop promises favorably. "Yours sincerely, W. SAVILLE." useful to the Parsonses. I suppose I must; but it is a heartache to be at St. Wulstan's. One is used to it here; and there are the poor people, and the farm, and the garden— yes, and those dear nightingales-and you, poor Ponto! One is used to it here, but St. Wulstan's is a fresh pain, and so is coming back. But, if it be in the way of right, and to save poor Lucy, it must be, and it is what life is made of. It is a 'following of the funeral' of the hopes that sprang up after my springtime. Is it my chastisement, or is it my training? Alas! may be I took those children more for myself than for duty's sake! May it all be for their true good in the end; whatever it may be with me. And now I will not dream. It is of no use save to unnerve me. Let me go to my book. It must be a story to-night. I cannot fix my attention yet." As she rose, however, her face brightened at the sight of two advancing figures, and she went forward to meet them. One was a long loosely limbed youth of two No wonder that these letters made loneli-and-twenty, with broad shoulders, a heavy, ness more lonely! overhanging brow, dark grey, serious eyes, and a mouth scarcely curved, and so fast shut as to disclose hardly any lip. The hair was dark and lank; the air was of ungainly force, that had not yet found its purpose, and, therefore, was not at ease; and, but for the educated cast of countenance, he would have had a peasant look, in the brown, homely undress garb, which to most youths of his age would have been becoming. "Oh, that Horatia!" exclaimed she, almost aloud. "Oh, that Captain Charteris were available! No one else ever had any real power with Lucy! It was an unlucky day when he saw that colonial young lady, and settled down in Vancouver's Island! And yet how I used to wish him away, with the surly independence he was always infusing into Owen. Wanting to take him out there indeed! And yet, and yet I sometimes doubt whether I did right to set my personal influence over my dear affectionate boy so much in opposition to his uncle-Mr. Charteris was on my side though! And I always took care to have it clearly understood that it was his education alone that I undertook. What can Mr. Saville mean? The supplies? Owen knows what he has to trust to, but I can talk to him. A daring set? Yes, every thing appears daring to an old-world man like Mr. Saville. I am sure of my Owen: with our happy home Sundays. I know I am his Sweet Honey still. And yet"-then hastily turning from that dubious " and yet”—“ Owen is the only chance for his sister. She does care for him; and he will view this mad scheme in the right light. Shall I meet him at the beginning of the vacation, and see what "No, thank you," he answered; "at least, he can do with Lucy? Mr. Saville thinks II only brought Phoebe, having rescued her ought to be in London, and I think I might be from Miss Fennimore's clutches. I must be With him was a girl, tall, slim, and lightly made though of nicely rounded figure. In height she looked like seventeen, but her dress was more childish than usual at that age; ana the contour of her smooth cheeks, and short rounded chin, her long neck, her happy blue eyes, fully opened like those of a child; her fair rosy skin and fresh simple air, might almost have belonged to seven years old; and there was all the earnestness, innocence, and careless ease of childhood, in her movements and gestures, as she sprang forward to meet Miss Charlecote, exclaiming, "Robin said I might come!" "And very right of him. You are both come to tea?" she added, in affirmative interrogation, as she shook hands with the young man. at dinner. But I will come again for her."| And he yawned wearily. I'll "I will drive her back; you are tired." "No!" he said. "At least the walk is one of the few tolerable things there is. come as soon as I can escape, Phœbe. seven-I must go!" "Can't you stay? I could find some food for you." Past "No, thank you," he still said; "I do not know whether Mervyn will come home, and there must not be too many empty chairs. Good-by!" and he walked off with long strides, but with stooping shoulders, and an air of dejection almost amounting to discontent. "Poor Robin!" said Honora, "I wish he could have stayed." "He would have liked it very much," said Phoebe, casting wistful glances toward him. "What a pity he did not give notice of his intentions at home!" "He never will. He particularly dislikes-" Miss Charlecote only said it was a comfort. To herself she hoped that, for Maria's peace and that of all concerned, her deficiency might become an acknowledged fact. She saw that the sparing Maria's tears was such a boon to Phoebe as to make her forgive all overtasking of herself. "So you get on better," she said. "Much better than Robin chooses to believe we do," said Phoebe, smiling; "perhaps it seemed hard at first, but it is comfortable to be made to do every thing thoroughly, and to be shown a better best than we had ever thought of. I think it ought to be a help in doing the duty of all one's life in a thorough way." "All that thou hast to do," said Honor, smiling, "the week-day side of the fourth commandment." "Yes, that is just the reason why I like it," said Phoebe, with bright gladness in her countenance. "But is that the motive Miss Fennimore puts before you?" said Honor, a little ironi "What?" as Phoebe paused and colored.cally. "Saying any thing to anybody," she an"wered, with a little smile. "He cannot endure remarks." "She does not say so," answered Phoebe. "She says that she never interferes with her pupils' religious tenets. But, indeed, I do not think she teaches us any thing wrong, and there is always Robert to ask." "I am a very sober old body for a visit to me to be the occasion of remarks!" said Honor, laughing more merrily than perhaps This passed as the two ladies were enterRobert himself could have done; but Phoebe ing the house and preparing for the evening answered with grave, straightforward sincer-meal. The table was placed in the bay of ity, "Yes, but he did not know if Lucy might the open window, and looked very inviting, not be come home." the little silver teapot steaming beside the Honora sighed, but playfully said, "In two quaint china cups, the small crisp twists which case he would have stayed ?" of bread, the butter cool in ice-plant leaves, "No," said the still grave girl," he would and some fresh fruit blushing in a pretty bashave been still less likely to do so." "Ah! the remarks would have been more pointed! But he has brought you at any rate, and that is something! How did he achieve it ? " "Miss Fennimore is really quite ready to be kind," said Phoebe, earnestly, with an air of defence, "whenever we have finished all that we have to do." ket. The Holt was a region of paradise to Phoebe Fulmort; and glee shone upon her sweet face, though it was very quiet enjoyment, as the summer breeze played softly round her cheeks, and danced with a merry little spiral that had detached itself from her glossy folds of light hair. "How delicious!" she said. "How sweet the honeysuckle is, dear old thing! You say "And when is that?" asked Honor, smil-you have known it all your life, and yet it is ing. fresh as ever." "It is a little like you, Phoebe," said Honor, smiling. "Now, for once," answered Phoebe, with a bright, arch look. "Yes, I sometimes can; and so does Bertha when she tries; and, indeed, Miss Charlecote, I do like Miss Fenni-flower?" "What! because it is not exactly a pretty 66 more; she never is hard upon poor Maria. Partly; and I could tell you of a few No governess we ever had made her cry so other likenesses, such as your being Robert's seldom." woodbine, yet with a sort of clinging free-ness; and she knew of old that when Robert dom. Yes, and for the qualities you share wanted her opinion or counsel, he spared his with the willow, ready to give thanks and live on the least that Heaven may give." own embarrassment by seeking it through his favorite sister. Miss Charlecote's influence had done as much for Robert, as he had done for Phoebe, and Phoebe had become his medium of communication with her in all mat "But I don't live on the least that Heaven may give," said Phoebe, in such wonder that Honor smiled at the justice of her simile, without impressing it upon Phoebe, only ask-ters of near and delicate interest. She was ing "Is the Rhine fixed upon, Phœbe?” "Yes; they start this day fortnight." "They-not you?" "No; there would be no room for me," with a small sigh. "How can that be? Who is going? Papa, mamma, two sisters ?" 66 not surprised when the maiden proceeded— Papa wants Robin to attend to the office while he is away." "Indeed! Does Robin like it?" "He would not mind it for a time; but papa wants him, besides, to take to the business in earnest. You know my great uncle, Robert Mervyn, left Robert all his fortune, Mervyn," added Phoebe, "the courier and quite in his own hands; and papa says that the two maids." "Two maids? Impossible!" "It is always uncomfortable if mamma and my sisters have only one between them," raid Phoebe, in her tone of perfect acquiescence and conviction; and as her friend could not restrain a gesture of indignation, she added, eagerly" But, indeed, it is not only for that reason, but Miss Fennimore says I am not formed enough to profit by foreign travel." "She wants you to finish Smith's Wealth of Nations,' eh?" 66 It might be a pity to go away and lose so much of her teaching," said Phoebe, with her persevering contentment. "I dare say she will go to Germany again, and perhaps I shall never have so much time for learning. But, Miss Charlecote, is Lucilla coming home for the Horticultural Show ?" "I am afraid not, my dear. I think I shall go to London to see about her, among other things. The Charterises seem to have quite taken possession of her, ever since she went to be her Cousin Caroline's bridesmaid, and I must try to put in my claim." "Ah! Robin so much wished to have seen her," sighed Phoebe. "He says he cannot settle to any thing." "Without seeing her?" said Honor, amused, though not without pain. 66 if he were to put that into the distillery it would do the business great good, and that Robert would be one of the richest men in England in ten years' time." "But that would be a complete change in his views!" exclaimed Honor, unable to conceal her disapproval and consternation. "Just so," answered Phoebe, " and that is the reason why he wants to see Lucy. She always declared that she could not bear people in business, and we always thought of him as likely to be a clergyman; but, on the other hand, she has become used to London society, and it is only by his joining in the distillery that he could give her what she is accustomed to, and that is the reason he is anxious to see her." "So Lucy is to decide his fate," said Honora. "I am almost sorry to hear it. Surely, he has never spoken to her." "He never does speak," said Phoebe, with the calm gravity of simplicity which was like a halo of dignity. "There is no need of speaking. Lucilla knows how he feels as well as she knows that she breathes the air." And regards it as little, perhaps, thought Honor sadly. "Poor Robin!" she said. "I suppose he had better get his mind settled; but indeed it is a fearful responsibility for my poor foolish Lucy-" and but for the fear of "Yes," said Phoebe, "he has thought so grieving Phoebe, she would have added, that much about Lucilla." "And he tells you?" "Yes," in a voice expressing of course; while the frank, clear eyes turned full on Miss Charlecote with such honest seriousness, that she thought Phoebe's charm as a confidante might be this absence of romantic conscious such a purpose as that of entering Holy Orders ought not to have been made dependent upon the fancy of a girl. Possibly her expression betrayed her sentiments, for Phoebe answered-" There can be no doubt that Lucy will set him at rest. I am certain that she would be shocked at the notion that her tastes were making him doubt whether to be That is the true spirit, and I am glad you a clergyman." judged Lucy to be capable of it. Keep your "I hope so! I trust so!" said Honora, al-brother up to that, and all may be well!" most mournfully. "It may be very good for her, as I believe it is for every woman of any soundness, to be taught that her follies tell upon man's greater aims and purposes. It may be wholesome for her and a check, but-" Phoebe wondered that her friend paused and looked so sad. "O Phoebe!" said Honora, after a moment's silence, speaking fervently, "if you can in any way do so, warn your brother against making an idol! Let nothing come between him and the direct devotion of will and affection to the higher service. If he decide on the one or the other, let it be from duty, not with respect to any thing else. do not suppose it is of any use," she added, with the tears in her eyes. Every one sets the whole soul upon some one object, not the right, and then comes the shipwrek." 66 "I believe Robert knows it all the time," said Phoebe. "He always is right at the bottom; but his feelings get so much tried that he does not know how to bear it! I hope Lucy will be kind to him if they meet in London, for he has been so much harassed that he wants some comfort from her. If she would only be in earnest!" "Does he go to London at all events?" "He has promised to attend to the office in Great Whittington Street, for a month, by way of experiment." "I'll tell you what, Phœbe,” cried Honora, radiantly, “you and I will go too! You shall come with me to Woolstone Lane, and Robin shall be with us every day, and we will try and make this silly Lucy into a rational being." "O Miss Charlecote! thank you, thank you." The quiet girl's face and neck were all one crimson glow of delight. "If you can sleep in a little brown cupboard of a room in the very core of the city's heart." "Dear Robin!" said Phoebe. "He is so good! I am sure he always thinks first of what is right. But I think I see what you mean. If he undertakes the business, it should be if it be a matter of obedience to papa, not "Delightful! I have so wished to see that to keep Lucy in the great world. And, in-house. Owen has told me such things about deed, I do not think my father does care it. Oh, thank you, Miss Charlecote!" much, only he would like the additional capital; and Robert is so much more steady than Mervyn, that he would be more useful. Perhaps it would make him more important at home; no one there has any interest in common with him; and I think that moves him a little; but, after all, those do not seem reasons for not giving himself to God's service," she finished, reverently and considerately. "Have you ever seen any thing in London ?" "Never; we hardly ever go with the rest, and if we do we only walk in the square. What a holiday it will be!" 66 We will see every thing, and do it justice. I'll get an order for the print-room at the British Museum. I dare say Robin never saw it either; and what a treat it will be to take you to the Egyptian Gallery!" cried Honora, excited into looking at the expedition in the light of a party of pleasure, as she "You have thought so all along," smiled saw happiness beaming in the young face Honor. "No, indeed!" cried Miss Charlecote. "Then you think he ought not to change his mind?" "I did not like it," said Phoebe, "but I did not know if I were right. I did tell him that I really believed Lucy would think the more highly of him if he settled for himself without reference to her." "You did! You were a capital little adviser, Phoebe! A woman worthy to be loved at all had always rather to be set second instead of first: "I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more.' opposite. They built up their schemes in the open window, pausing to listen to the nightingales, who having ceased for two hours, apparently for supper, were now in full song, echoing each other in all the woods of Hiltonbury, casting over it a network of sweet melody. Honora was inclined to regret leaving them in their glory; but Phoebe, with the world before her, was too honest to profess poetry which she did not feel. Nightingales were |