A Canadian Heroine, Volume 1

de and drove with Mrs. Bellairs. From different causes, the project of spending the day at the farm, as well as some other schemes of amusement, had been deferred, and, with

nd daughter, and the very atmosphere of t

med suddenly to have burst from bud into blossom; her childishness of manner had a

t brown hair had more and more visible streaks of grey. They thought her ill, and each had said so, but she answered so positively that nothing was the matter, that they were unable to do more than seem to accept

a little anxious and disturbed in mind. Have patience for a while, my darl

ther, and growing daily more absorbed in a strange new delight of her own-seeing all things through a new medium

fact, the magnet had more power over him than he knew; he came, because, without a much stronger effort of self-denial than was possible to him, he could not stay away. And though he thought himself free, Lucia had in her heart an unacknowledged sense of power over him; the old ability to torment, which she had so often exercised on Maurice in mere girlish playfulness. Once or twice she had purposely exerted this power over her new acquaintance, but not with her old carelessness; too deeply interested in the question of how far it extended, she used it with trembling as a dangerous i

er confidence with regard to all that concerned herself. He wanted all this; but he could do without it: he could love her and wait, if that were all. But what was hardest, nay, almost unendurable, was the anticipation of her day of disenchantment, when she must see the truth as he saw it now, and find herself thrown aside to learn, in solitude and suffering, how blindly she had suffered herself to be duped by a fair appearance. For, of course, Mauric

rudent ones who gave him but a carefully measured civility, because he was a portionless younger son. Here he knew that both facts were absolutely nothing; and egotist as he was, this knowledge stirred most powerfully such depths as his nature possessed. In Lucia's presence he became almost as unw

fe, past and present, and judged him at last with an accuracy which her intense interest in the subject made almost perfect. Over this result she both rejoiced and lamented; but for the present the one idea most constantly and strongly present to her was that Lucia must pass by-and-by, only too so

's undisguised admiration for the beauty of Cacouna. Bella Latour was questioned on all sides, and finding the general thirst for information a source of considerable amusement, she did not s

brought a hasty note from her, excusing herself on the plea of her mother's not being well. Little notice was taken at the time, for all knew that Mrs. Costello had been looking ill lately, and it was th

s. Costello," said one. "Lucia seems

mployed at home,

ght Mr. Percy, Bella,

and beside, I think we ar

n't you

but I am gettin

of him

could not be content to spend

little, but answe

an old maid, I

were to be always required to be looking at o

d her daughter away,

Magdalen so, Bella? She do

e business in life is to sit still and look pretty for

. He told George that he thought

e they ever care about anything except a pretty fa

prettiness to attract them, and she never has any want of admirers. There's Maurice Leigh perf

ble to take care of himself, and would not be at all obliged to you for pitying

e perpetually a

ot there

I passed your house in the afternoo

both fond

es to help he

cy help

dare say Lucia finds

ning? Did he go with

honours; but he had heard that I intended being here, and was

course. No wonder Lu

r. Mr. Percy, aware of her engagement for the evening, had ridden over early in the afternoon and spent an hour or two lounging

e said. "It is growing cool now, and t

ined to go in out of the sunshine, which suited her mood. Mrs. Costello had left her chair and her work on the verandah and gone indoors. Lucia picked up a fallen knitting-needle,

this became evident, Lucia had time to wonder what could have caused so sudden an illness. She remembered having seen a letter lying on the table beside her mother, and the moment she could safely leave the bedside she went in search of it. It was only an empty envelope, but as she moved away her dress rustled against a paper on the floor, which s

ear f

e to add to your anxieties at this moment by telling you that he is really in this neighbourhood. I have not seen him, but one of my people, Mary Wanita, who remembers you affectionately, brought me the news. You may depend upon my guarding, with the utmost care, my knowledge of your retreat; but I thought it best to prepare you for the possibility of discovery, lest he

you and for your child, be

traff

turn? What could be the fear strong enough to induce such precautions for secrecy? Her senses seemed utterly confused. But after the first few minutes, she remembered that Mrs. Costello had probably meant to keep her still ignorant of a myst

she entered, that her mother's eyes turned to her with a peculiar look of inquiry. Happily the room was dark, so that the burning colour which rose to her cheeks was not per

enjoyed yourself, and there is n

was not gone. Ca

I dropped a letter

er pocket. "It is he

She looked at it for a moment, as if hes

er curiosity. But a heart so ignorant of sadness in itself, and so filled at the moment with all that is least in accord with the prosaic troubles of middle life, could not remain long fixed upon a doubtful and uncomprehended misfortune. Gradually her fancy reverted to brighter images; the sunny life of her short experience, the only life she could believe in with a

as the first to

id, "and let us have tea. I su

bring my work in he

ice be her

at the

t. We shall be

it would have been an asserti

interruption," Mrs. Costello said more cheerfully. "

cia had almost hoped it, but on the other hand she feared, as

gain for the thousandth time; but all her doubts, her wishes, her fears quickened into new life by the threatened discovery, of which the letter lying under her p

oughts. Lucia was interested in her story, and

in at the back, just to ask how yo

lour, and she almost ran against him. He put his han

etter," she answered. "But

passing affair? Are you a

do you ask such a question? Sh

ot mean to alarm you, only to remind you that if yo

hey seemed to have returned to their old life. The very attitude in which they stood, in which they had been used to have their most confidential chats, had lately been disused; and to resume it, and with it the o

rful for any one to be weakened by it. No doubt, that was the reason of Mrs. Costello's illness." Luci

ng a word. Besides, she ha

"-in trouble, she was going t

er a little now, since she will be

ou come in for a mom

t now. Do not b

rds of hers, which showed how naturally she still

g to the faint sound of their voices, which just r

ould have been the same to her through all-but the other, how could I tell him even? Truly,

ed, in truth, to have grown years older in the last few weeks. A pang of remorse shot through her heart; she stooped and kissed her with unusual tenderness, and

He came to a

ing to tell you

m, and I believe he

erested to forget such an event a

out you. Maurice says yo

y. I have been a little

ther, why do you always give me that answer?

arling. I am a coward, and should have

wait, you s

yet shared my troubles, such as they are, with you; for your own sake I see that I

of comforting her mother; she dared not therefore say more, and could only busy her

er mother, but had persuaded herself that with her care, and, above all, with her sympathy, when the promised "long story" should be told, all would come right. She had still, however, enough need of sympa

Bella. The former came to see Mrs. Costello, the latter had affairs of her own with Lucia. Mr. Percy, for once, was decidedly de trop, but after

but I dare say it was trouble thrown away. Have you any at

you enjoy yours

as black as thunder at May Anderson; and Magdalen Scott and Harry-not flirting, they have

ice looking b

alk about you before Maurice, I can tell you. But I don't want to

d I till y

since Mr. Percy came, he has prevented y

lla; I can always se

s? Well, then, my dear,

t ab

ant to be an old mai

ands. "Oh, Bella! i

ried; Elise and William might get tired of too much of my society, and no doubt

rigible. I should think you

Percy; though, to tell you the truth, I think you would be much better off in th

ece of news told by one girl to another, in so calm and business-like a st

ther, with wondering comments on a compact so coolly arranged, and was

tor Morton is a sensible man, and Bella too honest a girl to

more, yet less than she would have done if she had known how gladly Mrs. Costell