A Witch of the Hills, v. 1-2

opical melancholy. I could not get over the poor little woman's cynical hypocrisy for some days, during which I never went near the cottage; and if I met either mothe

society, and how much of selfish libertinism there had been in m

human nature to put small faith in disinterested motives, and had no weapon but their own wits wherewith to fight their natural enemy-man. Besides, my solitude had grown ten times more solitary now that, sitting alone in my study at night, with To-to languidly stretching himself on the kennel in

trousers I used to wear in town, which, though doubtless a little old-fashioned in cut, might reasonably be supposed to pass muster in the wilds, and even to give me a rather dashing appearance. But, alas! It did not. It showed me, on the contrary, how far I had slipped away from civilisation. My hair

of unframed cabinet photographs-not all uncalculated to bring a blush to the Presbyterian cheek-which stood in a row on the mantelpiece. It occurred to me that old Janet might have let out the fact that I turned back with her to the cottage and, perhaps, overheard something

what stolid lowering resignation he extracted my reason for this unparalleled order! However, he made no protest. But next morning,

ld step into the drawing-room and see if you would sti

door of the drawing-room. I dashed heroically into the apartment, only to be met with a denser cloud, which rushed into my mouth and made my eyes smart and burn. S

choked angrily, gett

t lit the fire to air the room in obedience to your orders, and that the chi

too far; he had

followed me back into the room. 'Now t-t-take the tongs,' I continued,

h soot and dust, dry twigs and blackened snow, he pulled down upon himself a sack, a couple of birds'-nests

the face but content, '

ld-for Tim and the outdoor genius who gardened twelve acres and looked after four horses had both e

t these discomforts might be necessary to a thorough cleaning, and could be borne with fortitude. At six o'clock my guests arrived, and, having left their cloaks in a spare-room opened for the occasion, they were led to shiver in the drawing-room, which still smelt of smoke and soap and water. Mrs. Ellmer, with chattering teeth, admired the painted ceiling, the white

little affected laugh which gave less the idea of pleasure than that

so softly, so shyly, that one could think she

gan to beam with a le

indiscreet to

me was

ady! She is

lieve she

y countenance expressed much, for my feelings on the subject of the original of the portrait had long ceased to be keen; but I think the little one, being very yo

h of these two pictu

ith a genuine appeal to its taste. After a few moments' grave comparison of the

love best, or which do I a

hildish lips, made me laugh. Babiole turned from me to the pictures, r

he has had a thorough art educat

gain to the girl. 'I didn't know how clever you were, Miss Babiole. Supposing I had two friends, one who had kn

d like this one, and the one who had loved her would like t

s is the prettier face

it isn't

cinated by the quickness

amous artist. I heard it was a wonderful portrait, and I commissioned a man to buy it for me. The other is an enl

like her-like wha

prettier, but

or she was still looking at the pictures in a very thoughtful way; but at that moment Mrs. Ellmer, skipping lightly along the polished

o deeply interested abo

talking about art in a vague and ignorant manner, which incautiously showed that I disl

nner of some friends of theirs-'Oh, such rich people!'-and it had been a great success. Mamma seemed a little uneasy at this indiscretion, but hastened to add that they were such dear friends of hers that when

e, certainly; but one never regrets either the time or the money when it is once learned,' said she. 'Servan

the amiability of an enraged bear restrained b

or any one but Ta-ta, with whom she had

. 'She always likes the people I like,' I added,

table. But the collie, seeing that she had nothing better than a raisin to offer, merely sniffed at it, avoided

shrilly at this misadventure, the ch

,' said I, 'and show you how an o

o, Mr. Maude?' asked Babiole,

ay after day, and To-to treated him with all the courtesy due to an honoured guest, until he decided one day that the swelling ought to be lanced, and took from his pocket a case of instru

brute!' exclaim

as we crossed the hall,

e doctor never meant to hurt you,

him a good beating

lings. But when he was gone I sneaked up to To-to's kennel and stroked him and gave him a

catch sight of Babiole, who came up to him bravely by my side, with her little hand cordially outstretched towards him, than he made a savage spring at her, his teeth and eyes gleaming with malice. I was just in time to draw her back in my arms, so that he fell t

ur driven away by the little fright had not yet come back to her cheek,

. Ellmer's eyes were fixed curiously upon me, I added, 'The first mistake, you

a?vely; 'for how coul

w indeed

I thought that perhaps the monkey might prove to be wiser

in, and the ways in which I had picked them up. She grew radiant over the present of a Venetian bead necklace, such as can be bought in the Burlington Arcade for a few shillings; but when I told her it was a souvenir from a woman whose child I had saved from drowning, her joy in her new treasure was suddenly turned to reverence. How did I do it? It was a very simp

rags, too, then

rather picture

ink, she was not h

t all mothers ar

l arm. Then, after a pause, she said, 'What a lot of nice places and peopl

m, then?' I asked, struck

oking shyly from

'Tell me what yo

n, then suggested in a

h; and the child, blushing, rubbed h

ou take off from

can't be a day mo

impulse was to set them right rather indignantly, but the next moment I remembered that I should gain nothing but a character for mendaci

because you are so very kind; you see

ild's head at the mother. 'She knows, you see, that benevolence is the last of the

t upstairs together to put on their cloaks, but Babiole came flying down before her mother to have a last peep at the portraits which had fascinated her. I followed he

t the cottage as you thou

imes. It is too good to la

hange of your travelling life,

!' Then she said simply, 'It's very exciting when you miss the train and the company go on without

ing; isn't t

I only got small parts, and it's dreadful to have to go on with noth

you like

it's so cold, and the places all seem alike; and then

What did you do last

back to

el

had grown

l me? Would yo

d rathe

voice was heard calling, in

r mother gave a sharp glance from her to me, and wished me good-night rather curtly. I stood at the door to watch them on thei

another winter like the last, I suppose.

ther, nothin

t catch, as they went farther away. But I wondered w