Abbeychurch

ost as soon as it was light, to fulfil their promise of attending to all the small nondescript matters of

ember of the family, made herself very busy in the store-room; Helen, arranged the fruit with much taste; and Elizabeth was up-stair

om the garden, 'I wonder whether Rupert will come in time. I shall be v

with an air that expressed, '

much trouble Rupert took to find a pattern for the kneeling-stools, and what a beautiful drawing he sen

ed,' said Helen; 'but perhaps he did

ver heard Rupert accused of

en; 'he is not lazy; but I do not think he chooses to put himself out of

ver liked Rupert,'

ave heard him say that he is a spoiled

ed that beautiful waistcoat for him,' sai

gh already of smart waistcoats,' said Hele

st,' said Elizabeth, 'and I am sure no o

im has a-kind of-what shall I say?-recherche air, that seems as if he thought a gr

think why you should be determined to say

ade no

he beautiful work-box Uncle Edward sent you, was a case of surgical instruments for Mr. Turner, to shew his gratitude for his attendance upon Rupert when he had the fever, and for setting his mouth to rights when hi

eep to the truth with

that he ever says what is untrue. You are letting

t what is not true, he often mak

joke,' said Elizabeth; 'he never deceived me with

u are, can defend the slightest departur

, and old spite against Rupert because he used to joke you, that puts these fancies into your head. Now I must go to the

t the disregard of her arguments, at the reproach, and perhaps a little at Elizabeth's having

reer at school, and so far at college, had not been everything that could be wished, and most people had nearly as high an opinion of him as he had of himself; but Helen, who had almost always been made a laughing-stock when he was with her, ha

re of admiration, and Mrs. Woodbourne was much pleased by the girls' fo

dy to go to church. It was pleasant to see the smiling courtesying row of girls, each with her Prayer-book in her hand, replying to Elizabeth's nods, greetings, and qu

Austin's. Winifred and Edward were watching for her at the door, in great dread of being forgotten, for they said, 'Papa had come for Mamma, and fetched her away in a great hurry, and then Harriet and Lucy set off after them, and Uncle Edward had taken Aunt Anne long before to look at the church.' Elizabeth was rejoicing in the prospect of a quie

h, while she caught hold of Winifred's hand, or, more pro

t the school,'

school to-day?' a

but the children are go

med Mrs. Hazleby; 'how will

older ones only those who are tolerably good; and I should think they coul

ch meant, 'What nonsense!' 'How steep the hill is!'

r side,' replied Elizabeth, 'and the p

ituation?' continued Mrs. Hazleby; 'so

tradition said that there had once been a little chapel dedicated in the name of St. Augustine, on the site of the new church. Mrs. Hazleby was silent for a

the new curate,

ht Mr. Walker might have been

hink so,' said

year out of Mr. Woodbourne's pocket,' sai

row angry, 'Papa had rather do his duty as

'besides, it is nothing to you, you three elder ones

me, but her bonnet concealed them, and she attempted no reply. Mrs. Hazleby began talking to Winifred about her new sash, and criticizing Elizabeth's dress; and though Elizabeth could hav

looked into little Edward's wondering eyes, as the name of their father was read, the first among those who petitioned the Bishop to set that building apart from all ordinary and common uses; can feel, or perhaps have known, the exultation with which she joined in the Psalms, and the swelling of heart as she followed the prayer for a blessing on the families of

arly enough to her thoughts, in carving cold chicken, and doing the honours of Merton Hall peaches, at the side-table; a

and here tables were spread, around which were to be seen the merry faces of all the children of the two schools-the boys, a uniform rank arrayed in King Edward's blue coats and yellow stockings, with but a smal

d, although he pretended to be very exclusive, and offer his services to none but the children of St. Austin's, to whom Winifred introduced him. The rest of the company walked round the cloisters, which w

o stay and dine at the Vicarage. She was tolerably well acquainted with Mr. Woodbourne, but she had not seen the girls since th

rs. Hazleby, 'th

y fine countenance,'

o remarkably handsome in Lizzie Woodbourne. Too thin, too sharp, too high-c

id Mrs. Bouverie, 'but I think her brow and ey

astly clever, I assure you, though for my part

ir of being pert,'

Hazleby; 'my poor sister-in-law has had trouble

at Elizabeth, who was stooping down to a little s

at she had gone too far, and recollected that it was possible that Mrs. Bouverie might have known the fi

Mrs. Bouverie, in a

gh. Full of spirits, you see-rather too, much

sket of balls; I have been to the house to fetch them, and now the boys are goi

French; Lizzie taught her all her lessons, Mamma only heard her music; Lizzie had shewn her where to look in her Consecration-book, so that she should not be puzzled at Church to-day; Lizzie said she had behaved very well, and that she should tell Papa so; she had a red ribbon with a medal with Winchester Cathedral upon it, which Lizzie let her wear to shew Papa and Mamma when she was good at her lessons; s

consolation, which, with the best intention, have generally the effect of making matters worse. As soon as Elizabeth appeared, Dora sprang towards her, exclaiming, 'Lizzie,

le sister, said, gently, 'Yes, Dora, it is really true, my

asked Dora, holding firmly by t

n, 'we are your sisters, only n

a looking frightened, although soothed by Elizabeth's m

eally was our mother,' said. Elizabeth, leading the little girl away,

her. No one was in the room but Mrs. Hazleby, who looked more disconcerted than Helen had ever seen her before. She seemed to think,

as possible,' said Helen, rather indignantly; but recollecting herself, she added, 'I th

aid Mrs. Hazleby; 'it was folly

and enter into it as much

er,' said Mrs. Hazleby. 'Do you know where Fido i

she had brought him to his mistress, she followed Anne to Elizabeth's room, where in a short time they we

as the first question

ared, so I took her to Mamma, who kissed us both, told Dora she l

onate creature!' exc

h her Mrs. Hazleby

ame to me in her distress, and wou

said Elizabeth; 'was it from her instinc

ot there at first; I rather think-' but h

hat do y

an Helen, with a good deal of hesitation, 'saying that he was his godfather, and-and she-she

said Elizabeth,

d Anne, laughing, 'do

ghing too; 'but I hope you quite give

t sweeping style of censuring. You do not mean to say t

ected,' said Elizabeth; 'who could

ure that Lucy is a most amiable, sensible, gentle creature;

ur presence, Helen, I think that if Lucy had all the sense you

to blame poor Lucy for her misfortunes; but I kn

point, but I do not give her such hyperbolical praise as you do; I may s

aimed Helen; 'but you will always wrest m

Helen,' said Elizabeth, more k

think why you argued against this poo

ded manner,' said Elizabeth; 'and she exaggerat

erate the exaggeration, and so put

o a paragon of perfection,' said Elizabeth; 'I cert

have helped it, but she thought she had s

busing Helen and the Hazlebys, instead of talking over such wonderful happiness as it is t

not know whether you feel as I do, that it is too great, too overwhelming, to talk o

ious time to look back to, when it is alone on the horizon, and we have lost sight of all that blemishes it now. I will tell you what it will be like. I once saw the Church, on a misty day, from a great distance. It was about the middle of the d

time will conceal all blemishes as w

Anne, in thirty years time, if we both live so long, we may meet and talk over this

I am too happy, for I am afraid to look forward;

frame of mind to be that which resigns itself to anything that may be appo

e my present condition is, I do believe, happier than any I could imagine upon earth. I do not think that is resign

ith what I meant to say before-that bright visions are my great delight. I like to fancy what Horace and Edward may be, I like to imagine my own mind grown older, I like to consider what I s

dear Lizzie,' cried A

n half your life, and what Mrs. Hazleby has taken good care that I should not forget. I am perfectly well now, and have nothing th

and Lady Merton's maid appeared, ready to dress her you

on as the company were gone into the dining-room; and Anne a

d nature. As soon as the lace had been sufficiently discussed, Harriet turned round to Elizabeth, exclaiming, 'Why, Lizzie, why in the world have you taken to that fash

saved time,' said Elizabeth; 'bu

have no notion how thin it

m thin,' said Elizabeth, a good de

ed it; conscious perhaps, that however thin the arm might look, her own broad ruddy hand would hardly bear a comparison

gives a terrible dowdy look. Only that does not signify wh

enteen these three

it,' pursued Harriet; 'but I always di

rs. Woodbourne had already settled that matter with Mrs. Hazleby; but Katharine, who, though younger, had more idea of manner,

not mind it a bit, I would just as soon drink tea

tes being out, I generally am,' said

ed, to go without your dinner.-Capital, is not it, Kate?

now,' repli

nothing without the Major's daughter, and I must open the ball. Such nonsense he talked-didn't he, Lucy? Well, Mamma gave way, and said she'd persuade the Major. Papa was rather grumpy at first, you know, Lucy, but we coaxed him over at last. Oh, it was such fun! I danced first with

and broke in, 'And pray, Harriet, did y

good humour; 'I did very nearly, though, when I was mak

e quite out of patience; 'I think society a nuisanc

gravely, 'you are t

hat, unless you can find real friends, minds that suit you, you sh

nteresting tribe of bears, or p

l you are!' cried Harr

ome of the world if there wa

iously, 'do not you know that it is

ould decree that wits should be measured by one standard, like the ruffs and rapiers in Queen Elizabeth's time, so that those

d?' said Anne; 'everyone would take th

es like the bolters in a mill, one for the pastry-flour, on

ter the bread,' said Anne; 'the

e continued, 'Sir Walter Scott says in one of his letters, that he wishes there could be a whole vi

meant what he said

favourite brown bread is made of all those

ld turn idiots if there were not a fe

es du Chateau says, there is a village where

Anne, 'you had better take care, since Liz

f the discussion by a joke, and continued, 'And you forget how usef

eople would be raised by the wise, ins

, they will not let themse

e, and smiled in a way which almost compensated for

ubject of conversation, which they had almost entirely to themselves, and which occupied them u

nne went to fetch the children. Elizabeth let loose her

ar anything so v

ous,' said Anne, beginning

d with things that enra

rt, as you do, my poor Lizzie,' said

s if she thought it must be so delectable. Really, Kate is quite spoiled betw

not you think that perhaps if you could be a little more companionable to Kate, and not say

I fancy I was outrageously rude; but when people talk such stuff, I do not

f wrong is not alway

which little children are often made an excuse by great ones, and which was only concluded by the entrance of the ladies from the drawing-room, which caused Harriet hastily to

resemblance between Mrs. Woodbourne and Elizabeth, certainly at the expense of a considerable stretch of imagination, as Mrs. Woodbourne was a very little and very elegant looking person, very fair and pale

than Sir Walter Scott's, and with no fault, except that not above half the couplets professed to rhyme, and most of those that did were deficient in metre. Another time she had composed three quarters of a story of a Saxon hero, oppressed by a Norman baron, and going to the Crusades; and at another time she had sent back the whole party to the times of Queen Elizabeth, and fancied what they might be saying about the Spanish Armada. But now, whether beca

air brown; her features were well formed and animated; and though by no means remarkable, everyone called her nice-looking; some said she was pretty, and a few thought and felt that her countenance was lovely. So much had lately been said about dress-about Elizabeth's curls, and Helen's tails, and Anne's lace-that, wonderful to say, it was the readiest subject Elizabeth could find to meditate upon. As she looked at her cousin's white muslin frock, with its border of handsome Moravian w

while Winifred buried her hand in her pocket-handkerchief, screaming and sobbing violently. Fido slunk away u

zleby reproachfully to Edward; who answered in a

ll the handkerchief in which Winifred had wound up her han

me, be a brave woman,' said poor Mrs. Wo

Dale, 'she bears it like a little a

ter come up-stairs with me. Do not you come, Mamma; I

wed by Mrs. Dale, Miss Maynard, Harriet, Katherine, and

rning round at the foot of the stai

Dale and Miss Maynard retreated, and Harriet and Katherine follo

om, where she shut the door, and set Winifred on her feet again. 'We

d Winifred, with

by this time been diverted from the contemplation of her misfortunes by the fitting on of the sticking-plaster, and by admiration of Anne's bright rose-wood dressing-box, and was full of the delight of discovering that A. K. M., engraven in silver upon the lid, stood for Anne Katherine Merton, when her mamma came in. It appeared that the little girl and her brother had been playing rather too roughly with Fido, and that he had revenged himself after the usual fashion of little dogs, especially

departed hand in hand; 'it puts me out of all patience to see her first made silly

and not speak so hastily,' said gentle

d Elizabeth, as she open

ith inquiries for 'the sweet little

fear of the dog's being

th, knowing how such a terror would dwell on M

had accompanied the coffee, and was consoling the offend

water that mad dogs re

s I am, I fancy; it was quite enough to make h

ake him bite Winifred,' vociferated Edward; 'I told

Dale, quite loud enough for Edward to

Edward my dear,

Fido bite Winifred, Mamma,' said Edward

id Mrs. Woodbourne imploringly; and Edward, who was reall

bourne's mind, listened also, sometimes not very courteously correcting evident exaggerations, and at others contradicting certain statements. At last, just as the subject, fertile as it was,

ay, Miss W

, who particularly disliked this

music?' continu

d any I liked,' sai

,' said Mrs. Bouverie; 'but perha

d criminal examined in sight of the rack; 'I am sick of all the Ab

o obtain something like an answer. 'Y

does not make a great fuss about it, she plays when she thinks people like

ple ask in that manner

olate damsel sitting in a corner with nothing to say, and only longing to be

so?' said Mrs.

mine yet; but if ever it was, there would be a h

Bouverie. 'Perhaps,' said she, 'you are not a fair judge of o

ld see in people's faces whether they meant what they said

nd then said, 'Well, I must say, I am di

lied, 'Both my sisters are musical, and Helen is said to be likely to sing very well. I believe the history of my want of music to be,' added she, with a bright smile, 'that I

your school-children to sing the sixty-fifth Psalm as nicely as they

rom home so long, she might have helped the girls, but when she came home three weeks ago, it was

had found her way below it. Elizabeth was as sincere and open as the day, although from seldom meeting with anyone who could comprehend or sympathize with her ideas, her manners had acquired a degree of roughness and reserve, difficult to penetrate, and anything but attractive, suiting ill with her sweet smile and beaming

ward Merton approached Mrs. Bouverie, and took the p

o you, as I see you have been so kind

aid Mrs. Bouverie; 'I have seldom seen so yo

r Edward, 'for she is apt to be rather more

le child of four or five years old,' said Mrs. Bouverie; 'and now I hope our acquaintance will continue. Sha

rather too large a number without the girls,

oodbourne together,' said Mrs. Bouverie

riendship between them: Anne has a wholesome feeling of inferio

ike her mother?' said Mrs. Bouverie. 'I

said Sir Edward, 'but she reminds me of her con

ng her mamma that Winifred had been as playful as ever all

e and delicate a creature,' said Mr

st people about here are in the habit of lamenting over her as in a most dangerous state; but I believe the fact

ks less delicate than she does

d not let her rest on such a day as this.-Come here, Miss Lizzie,' said he, beckoning to her, 'I w

in a good cause, Un

han necessary?' said Sir Edward; 'pray have y

was at tea,' s

bed and asleep at this m

sing to depart, as soon as I can make my escape; so good night, Uncle Edward-good night,'

Edward; 'and if you can carry off my girl w

wo cousins flitted away together, and soon forgot the