and how little I thought I should never see her again!'
'Oh, she meant what she said! She always was kind to me! Most kind!' repeated Rachel; 'so considerate about all the dreadful spring--not one word did she say to vex me about the past! I am sure she did go out on that day as much to shelter me as for anything else. I can't bear to think all this--here in this pretty room that she had such pleasure in; where she made me so welcome, after all my disagreeableness and foolishness.'
The Colonel could almost have said, 'Better such foolishness than such wisdom, such repulsion than such attraction.' He was much struck by Rachel's distress, and the absence of all female spite and triumph, made him understand Ermine's defence of her as really large- minded and generous.
'It is a very sad moment to be undeceived,' he said; 'one would rather have one's faults come to light in one's life than afterwards.'
They were simple words, so simple that the terrible truth with which they were connected, did not come upon Rachel at the first moment; but as if to veil her agitation, she drew towards her a book, an ivory-bound Prayer-book, full of illuminations, of Bessie's own doing, and her eye fell upon the awful verse, 'So long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.' It was almost more than Rachel could bear, sitting in the midst of the hoards, for which poor Bessie had sold herself. She rose up, with a sob of oppressive grief, and broke out, 'Oh! at least it is a comfort that Alick was really the kindest and rightest! Only too right! but you can settle all this without him,' she added imploringly; 'need he know of this? I can't bear that he should.'
'Nor I,' said Colonel Keith, 'it was the reason that I am glad you are here alone.'
'Oh, thank you! No one need ever know,' added Rachel.
'I fear my brother must see the accounts, as they have to be paid, but that need not be immediately.'
'Is there anything else that is dreadful?' said Rachel, looking at the remaining papers, as if they were a nest of adders. 'I don't like to take them home now, if they will grieve Alick.'
'You need not be afraid of that packet,' said the Colonel; 'I see his father's handwriting. They look like his letters from India.'
Rachel looked into one or two, and her face lighted up. 'Oh!' she exclaimed, 'this is enough to make up for all. This is his letter to tell about Alick's wound. Oh how beautifully he speaks of him,' and Rachel, with no voice to read, handed the thin paper to her companion, that he might see the full commendation, that had been wrung from the reserved father's heart by his son's extremity.
'You must be prepared to hear that all is over,' wrote the father to his daughter; 'in fact, I doubt whether he can live till morning, though M'Vicar declares that nothing vital has been touched. Be it as it may, the boy has been in all respects, even more than I dared to wish, and the comfort he has been ever since he came out to me has been unspeakable. We must not grudge him such a soldier's death after his joyous life. But for you, my poor girl, I could only wish the same for myself to-morrow. You will, at least, if you lose a brother's care, have a memory of him, to which to live up. The thought of such a dead brother will be more to you than many a living one can ever be to a sister.'
Rachel's heart beat high, and her eyes were full of tears of exultation. And the Colonel was well pleased to compensate for all the pain he had inflicted by giving her all the details he could recollect of her husband's short campaign. They had become excellent friends over their mournful work, and were sorry to have their tete- a-tete interrupted when a message was brought that his Lordship was ready, if Mrs. Keith would be so good as to come into his sitting- room.
She wiped away the tears, and awe-struck and grave, followed the Colonel; a great contrast to Lord Keith's more frequent lady-visitor, as she silently received the polished greeting, its peculiar stateliness of courtesy, enhanced by the feeble state of the shattered old man, unable to rise from his pillowed chair, and his face deeply lined by suffering. He would not let her give him any account of her labours, nor refer any question to him, he only entreated that everything might be taken away, and that he might hear nothing about it. He spoke warmly of Alick's kindness and attention, and showed much solicitude about his indisposition, and at last he inquired for Rachel's 'little charge,' hoping he was not clamorous or obnoxious to her, or to Mr. Clare's household. Her eager description of his charms provoked a look of interest and a sad smile, followed by a request, that weather and doctor permitting, she would bring the child to be seen for a few minutes. The next day there was an appointment, at which both the Colonel and Alick were wanted, but on the following one, the carriage should be sent to bring her and the little one to Timber End.
The effect of this invitation amused Alick. The first thing he heard in the morning was a decided announcement from Rachel that she must go up to London to procure equipments for the baby to be presented in!
'You know I can't go with you to-day.'
'Of course, but I must make him fit to be seen. You know he has been wearing little Una's things all this time, and that will not do out of the nursery.'
'A superior woman ought to know that his Lordship will never find out what his son has on.'
'Then it is all the more reason that I should not let the poor dear little fellow go about wrapped up in somebody's old shawl!'
'What will you do then--take your maid?'
'Certainly not. I can't have him left.'
'Then take him with you?'
'What, Alick, a little unvaccinated baby! Where have you ever lived! I don't see the least reason why I should not go alone.'
'You need not begin beating about the world yet, Rachel. How many times did you say you had been in London?'
'Three; once with my father when I was a child, once in the time of the Great Exhibition, and passing through it now with you. But any one of common sense can manage.'
'If you will wait till tive o'clock I will come with you,' said Alick, wearily.
'No, indeed, I had rather not go, than that you should, you are quite tired out enough at the end of the day.'
'Then do not go.'
'Alick, why will you have no proper feeling for that poor dear child!' said Rachel with tears in her eyes.
If he winced he did not show it. 'My proper feeling takes the direction of my wife,' he said.
'You don't really mean to forbid me to go,' she exclaimed.
'I don't mean it, for I do so, unless you find some one to go with you.'
It was the first real collision that had taken place, but Alick's quiet, almost languid tone had an absolute determination in it from the very absence of argument, and Rachel, though extremely annoyed, felt the uselessness of battling the point. She paused for a few moments, then said with an effort, 'May I take the housekeeper?'
'Yes, certainly,' and then he added some advice about taking a brougham, and thus lightened her heart; so that she presently said humbly,
'Have I been self-willed and overbearing, Alick?'
He laughed. 'Not at all; you have persevered just where you ought. I dare say this is all more essential than shows on the surface. And,' he added, with a shaken voice, 'if you were not myself, Rachel, you know how I should thank you for caring for my poor Bessie's child.' He was gone almost as he spoke the words, but Rachel still felt the kiss and the hot tears that had fallen on her face.
Mr. Clare readily consented to spare his housekeeper, but the housekeeper was untoward, she was 'busied in her housewife skep,' and would not stir. Alick was gone to Timber End, and Rachel was just talking of getting the schoolmaster's wife as an escort, when Mr. Clare said--
'Pray are you above accepting my services?'
'You! Oh, uncle; thank you, but--'
'What were your orders? Anybody with you, was it not? I flatter myself that I have some body, at least.'
'If Alick will not think I ought not!'
'The boy will not presume to object to what I do with you.'
'I do wish it very much,' said candid Rachel.
'Of course you do, my dear. Alick is not cured of a young man's notion that babies are a sort of puppies. He is quite right not to let you run about London by yourself, but he will be quite satisfied if you find eyes and I find discretion.'
'But is it not very troublesome to you?'
