Basil

my knowledge by pure accident, gave me a little uneasiness and even a little displeasure. Neither of these feelings lasted very long, it is true; for the incidents which gave rise to

, will show that they are not out of

, with a nosegay gathered for her from her own flower-bed. Telling the servant not to announce me, I went round to the back garden, by a gate which opened into it at the side of the house. The progress of my flower-gathering l

and will have the dress, wh

lutely; in such tones as I had

, faltering voice of Mrs. Sherwin; "you know you have

His sister isn't allow

urely there is s

de some day in my carriage, just as his sister does.

ould; but I really couldn't ask your papa for another new dr

wears light blue crape of an evening; and I'll have light blue crape, too-see if I don't! I'll get it somehow from the shop, myself. Papa never takes any notice, I'm sure, what I

so of your papa-it is very wrong, Margaret, in

hand with her wonted grace. I said nothing until we had got into our accustomed corner, and were talking together in whispers as usual. Then I began my remonstrance-very tenderly, and in the lowest possible tones. She took precisely the right way to stop me in full career, in spite of all my resolution. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears directly-the first I had ever seen in them: caused, too, by what I

bore a principal share. On this occasion, as I walked up to the house (in the morning again), I found the front door open. A pail was on the steps-the servant had evidently be

from the dining-room, "for God's sake, put down the p

is!-my poor dear, dear, dear bird!" The voice was Margaret's. At first, it

for it, and for you too, Miss! But, oh! do please to remembe

u wretch! How dare yo

s's cat, recollect-poor missus's, who's always

d for doing it!-it shall!-it shall!!-it shall!!! I'll call in the fir

first, Miss, as sur

ut of harm's way, closely followed by the servant, who stared breathless a

the floor by her side, stood Margaret. Never had I seen her look so beautiful as she now appeared, in the fury of passion which possessed her. Her large black eyes were flashing grandly through her tears-the blood was glowing crimson in her cheeks-her lips were parted as she gasped for breath. One of her hands was clenched, and rested on the m

l violence, and pouring forth a perfect torrent of ejaculations of vengeance against the cat. Mrs. Sherwin came down;

astonishment she had caused me by the extremities to which she had allowed her passion to hurry her, a burst of tears was sure to be her only reply-just the reply, of all others, which was best calculated to silence me. If I had been her husband in fact, as well a

and not a hasty or a hard word passed between us. Neither, after one preliminary difference had been adjusted, did any subsequent disagreement take place between Mr. Sherwin and

my brief but extraordinary experience of my new friend had attracted me towards him, or repelled me from him. I felt an unwillingness to lay myself under an obligation to him, which was not the result of pride, or false delicacy, or sullenness, or suspicion-it was an inexplicable unwillingness, that sprang from the fear of encountering some heavy responsibility; but of what nature I could n

e useful to us both, rather increased than diminished the vague uncertaintie

return from the continent, she had certainly shown some symptoms of interest in his arrival at North Villa, and some appearance of attention to him, when he joined our party. Now, she seemed completely and incomprehensibly changed on this point. Her manner became almost petulant, if I persisted long in m

es decided me as to the course

ng unmarried lady with any young gentlemen who were introduced to her, I had also the strongest possible desire to keep Margaret out of the society of her own class, until my year's probation was over, and I could hope to instal her permanently in the society of my class. I had private

hat she liked parties-that all girls did-that she only pretended to dislike them, to please me-and that he had made no engagement to keep her moping at home

sition, I forgot all doubts and scruples; and privately applied to Mr. Mannion t

written, and informed me that it was an excuse for Margaret's non-appearance at the ball. He never mentioned Mr. Mannion's nam

Mannion, and the next morning I found the permission immediately accorded to me by the ruling power. The same secret machinery enabled me to regulate Mr. Sherwin's incomings and outgoings, just as I chose,

nfluenced his employer, and Mr. Sherwin on his part, never breathed a word of that influence to me. He accorded any extra privilege I mig

the smallest degree. He affected no sudden intimacy with me; his manners never altered; he still persisted in not joining us in the evening, but at my express invitation; and if I referred in any way to the advantage

eat his offers as the offers of a friend; and I had now made good my words, much sooner a