A Canadian Heroine, Volume 1

he bride, whatever else might be wanting, should have all the blessing sunshine could give her. Lucia, however, after that first eager look out at the weather which w

ook now, reminded her of his absence; partly that the words her mother had spoken the previous evening lingered in her mind, and not only brought back more for

to dream had almost past away. After breakfast, and after the various daily affairs which in the small household fell to her share to atten

re to please one,-the shy wish to be admired, to see that she was so, possibly to hear it. She wondered to herself whether she would look very awkward and rustic beside Lord Lastingham's handsome daughters, and whether a certain Lady Adeliza, whose name had somehow reached her ears, was much more beautiful than she could ever hope to be. Poor child! her uneasiness on that point would certainly have ceased if she could have peeped into Mr. Percy's brain and seen the two portraits he carried about with him there,-he

o be dressed by her sister and Magdalen Scott. The moment she saw Lucia, however, she whirled herself round out of t

er hands in mock ecstasy. "It's quite useless for me to d

Bella. It is time

bby old dress, and here, Lucia, put this

hrew it over Lucia's head be

then," said Magdalen, rather malicious

have to be Mr. Percy, Lucia," cried Be

irs, "and finish dressing at once,

veil and smoothed her hair. Bella, a little sobered by her sister's a

other corner soon filled; and the party overflowed into Mrs. Bellairs' own little room adjoining. Mr. and Mr

ly, took a last look at herself in the glass, and was standing ready when her brother-in law came to fetch her. In the hall, the bridegroom and his two friends met them-

e, without the smallest tremulousness, or appearance of what one of her neighbours called "proper feeling," she was a most exemplary bride-even to the point of looking prettier than she had ever bee

atched, and had so reasonable a prospect of being content with each other and their fortunes, that there did not seem to be a single cloud on the day. The same boat which had carried Maurice away three days before, took the bride and bridegroom on their tour,

eems as if she could never be serious for a moment. She went

ng away as some people do, hundreds

ter again as she used to be. I am sure I should have cried. There is somet

rather affectedl

believe you think so, however. But, you know, Bella always declared a bride

nk Harry says ab

ha

r money just as she liked, and give away a great deal, but Doctor Morton looks too sharply after the doll

o careful, to be sure; but Bella use

e will do, so good-natured as she is,

istaken, though. Co

's quadrille with Mr. Percy to-

ning passed too quickly; it seemed as if so much happiness ought to last, but twelve o'clock came, and the elder people began to disappear. Mrs. Bellai

"It is getting late. But, dear Mrs. Be

n't happen very often. Have

was such a delightful party. It is only a

much as you have done. Lucia, I am a little vexed wit

d it saucily, confident that, as she stood half

vexed with me

ion straightforwardly, and Mrs. Bellairs p

to call you? They say that you are a flirt; and that

good earnest now, but it

irt. It is quite absurd to say so.

which her friend had in her heart to make, though

ready to go," she said. But some

ile Mrs. Bellairs hastily congratulated herself

n this instant to look for you for our

ot recover her te

urprise and some offence. There was something so charming, however, in her little air of pride and displeasure, that he admired her more then ever; while she, quite unconscious of the effect h

h me. Indeed I shal

on her arrival. They went together to the parlour for a few minutes, and afterwards to Lucia's room, but it

till dawn that Mrs. Costello came; her night had been spent like so many before it, in painful thought and vigil; but before she slept, she had, as she hoped, fixed clearly and definitely her plans

tions to ask about the previous day, that Lucia readi

Costello's answer satisfied her: "I had a note yesterday evening.

ng him back home. They lingered over it, as people do over the first letter, and amused themselves by guessing how far he could yet be on his voyage; whether the weather, which at Cacouna had been fair and calm, would have been good or bad for those far out on the Atlantic. That day neither Lucia nor Mr. Leigh cared for newspaper or book. They had plenty

r Mr. Leigh's companionship. Mr. Percy's usual visit had not been paid, and she could not help wondering whether he stayed away because he was offended with her last night; whether he would come yet, whether he

, at last, to

said. "I have spoken to you

m very sorry. I belie

You have not been further

t here, and I will not go to sleep agai

go, like a good child, and have a little walk. You must go to-morrow

es it sloped more gradually and was covered with soft turf. On the opposite, or American side, the land was lower, and a little of town which lay almost opposite to Cacouna was girdled in on all sides by pine-woods, the tops of which showed like a black fringe against the brilliant light and colour of the sunset sky. This contrast of brightness and darkness in the distance, was heightened by the fainter, but still vivid gleam of the water, as the river

leep, his head hidden by his arms. Suspecting him, from his attitude, to be tipsy, she felt for a moment inclined to turn back, but her hesitation seemed so foolish that it was immediately conquered, and, keeping on the opposite side, she walked quietly past. She had scarcely done so, however, when a loud discordant shout was heard from the river, and the sleeper, awakened by it, suddenly raised his head, and began to scramble as quickly as he could to his feet. Lucia hurried on, but in a moment, hearing unsteady footsteps coming fast behind her, and a thick inarticulate voice calling, she turned to l

upported, with her hand drawn firmly through his arm, while her pursuer seemed to have slunk away at the sight of

waited patiently till Lucia's panic had subsided an

ute! Yes, I am glad

he was almost startled. It flashed into her mind too how he had cried

" he asked, looking at her wi

nswered, and the

after a minute's silence. "The road

t fishing with him this evening, and as we came back I caught sight of

. I did not eve

nding, there was a canoe lying, with a man in it, most likely

I looked round once, and saw such a horrible face, red and swollen and

nt. You see it is not safe

ened before. Now, I bel

. I was coming to-night to tel

both faces. Lucia was the first to recover herself; she made a movement to go

-bye" he said, "but it is harder than I thought. I can't

a man could have for such madness. Madness it must have been, for he had wholly forgotten himself, and all his life had taught

an to flit round them, before the two, who were so occupied with each other, ca

cia half whispered. "I am

I? Which shall you like best

does not know. I suppose I must tel

little first. After all, Lucia, you don

" she asked simply. "Ma

tent to live like a bird, on next to nothi

am nothing bett

oman, and will make the best and dearest of wive

y, really? Are

nd as I have the good fortune to be a younger son, the lit

lent a momen

sked her. "You did not kno

Mamma has some money; she would give me what she could, but I

ou what you must do. Make up your mind to be as charming as possible when you see my father, and fascinate him in spite of himself

she go out of the soft summer darkness into the bright light of the parlour and its every day associations? But as she retraced every word and look of the past hour, she came back at last to the horrible reco

amp-shade threw most of the room into comparative darkness. Even as it was, she came with shy lingering ste

ome time," she said. "It i

k for you a long time ago, and saw yo

ma, I want to tell y

lo laid dow

g in her child's soft caressing attitude, an

kneeling at her mother's feet. "A

ace to the light, and looked at it cl

u would have been safe from this

her against her mother. She let her cl

," she answered, and half rose f

r. "I have tried to save you from suffering. I s

d a few almost unintelligible words, then came to a sudden pause. She had slipped back again

it was," she said; "only it w

arted. "What Ind

ould only tell in broken words and blushes. As she spoke her eyes were still raised to her mother's face, looking only for the refle

and in a moment was again so far mist

our story, and then descr

s to add, but her description had nothing characteristic in it, except the utterly d

amusement of his leisure that he had been so perseveringly blind to her own coldness, and that he was too thoroughly selfish to be guilty of such an imprudence as she now saw had been committed. That Lucia could ever be his wife, she knew was utterly impossible. She had thought that the worst which could happen, was that when he had left Cacouna his memory would have to be slowly and painfully eradicated from her heart, but now it had become needful to ca

went up to the chair where Lucia sat, and pu

ppy, my child?"

on't know.

eve that, for it is time you should share my secre