Clara Vaughan, Volume 1 (of 3)

nd of October, it blew a heavy gale after torrents of rain. Going to the churchyard next day, I found, as I had expected, that the flowers so carefully kept through the summer were shattere

d pigeon who has tumbled down the horse-rack. He followed me to and fro, with a sort of stuttering walk, as I chose the

ehind me, and began his errand with more than his usual li

t to tell you something, if

, without turning to look. "Won't it do

know it's much prettier than your long waving black stuff, and it curls of its ow

is light showy dress and pink rose of a face, which seemed made to be worn in the hair, were thrown into brighter relief by my som

u must not be angry with me

not you

--what do they call it?-

ute doll! How dare you fall i

k you, Clara. I couldn't

satin arms, and a sash and a slip, and pretty blue eyes that go with a string, perhaps I'll forgi

shall be a man, and then you'll be afraid of me, and p

and his tongue was taking l

, you wretched little wh

tened, till his mother looked forth from the drawing-room window. Between the two fears he chose the less, and fo

in Clara, you shall hear what I have got to say. You have lived with me now a long time, and

ou indee

if you would only laugh now and then, and leave off those nasty black gowns; and then if you would only leave off being so grand, and

I asked, "do yo

, turning pale, a

ord like this to me, or even to show by your looks that you think it

vourite bow-window seat, Mrs. Daldy glided in. She had put on with care her clinging smile, as she would a

tidewaiter, "what have you done to

mad, and I gave him advice in a truly Ch

ise you. But, of course, you need not take his advice. My Clara loves her own way

of that,"

, as is not inconsistent with the spirit of Christian forgiveness. Your guardian has thought of that, in effecting this arrangement; and I trust that I

am much obl

which are not without weight, however the heart be weaned by trials and chastened from transient things. And your guardian has this arrangement so very much at heart. My

it. This is a good thing which under Pr

hint at my riches. But

s well as your father's, it is the path of duty. Let me tell you, both she and yourself are very much more in your guardian's power than you have any idea. And w

doing a thing below him and myself. The last of th

the rouge of the world, and the pearl-powder of religion, nature flushed forth o

p to the maniac-child of a man who was stabbed--stabbed in his

ood, who made a point of attending me, came

r things. Get a fly from the Walnut Tr

at man would have done it. She shrunk away from me; for the

did not mean what I sa

re. Leave the ro

t leave this house until

owards her, "if Mrs. Daldy is not g

as she crossed the threshold, and gave me a look which I shall never forget. Was such the look that had glared on my father

throw you and your mother at the feet of your father's murd

took refuge when strongly excited and unable to fly to his grave. The thoughts and the memories hoveri

now, I had always believed that some worldly advantage or gain had impelled my foe to the deed which left me an orphan. But that woman's dark words had started a new train of reasoning, whose very first motion was doubt of the man I worshipped. Among all I had ever met, there existed but one opinion as to what he had been--a true g

ay or two, now and then, among his county neighbours; and any ill will which h

the black spot of mildew. And what if the charge were true? In that case, how was I better than he who had always been to my mind a fiend

trembled with an unknown awe, to find myself in that lonely presence, not indeed thinking, but inkling such things of my father, my own darling father, whose blood was looking at me. In a storm of self-loathing and s

, I now had a new incentive--to dispel t