Rachel Ray

smal joy when the proposition was first made to her. “Oh, yes; it was very dreadful. She would do anything — of course she would give up the front bedroom upstairs to Mrs Prime, and get

r all her boxes in the small room behind the shop. Mrs Ray’s daughter go to a ball!” And then som

lemnly whether she still persisted in bringing perdition upon herself and her mother. “You have no right to ask me such a question,” Rachel had answered, and taking herself upstairs had secluded herself till the old man with the donkey, followed by Mrs Prime, had taken himself away from Bragg’s End. Mrs Ray, as her eldest daughter was leaving her, stood at the door of her house with her handkerchief to her eyes. “It m

companion after breakfast, an idea did come into her head that Miss Pucker would not be a pleasant companion for life. She would talk incessantly of the wickednesses of the cottage, and ask repeated questions about Rachel and the young man. Mrs Prime was undoubtedly very angry with her mother, and much shocked at her sister, but she did not relish the outspoken sympathy of her confidential friend. “He’ll never marry her, you know. He don’t think of such a thing,” said Miss Pucker over and

r advice? He would tell her in what way she had better live. He would tell her also whether it was impossible that she should ever return to the cottage, for already her heart was becoming somewhat

ces. I also am specially anxious to see you. Will nine be too early — or,

to see her. He might probably desire to claim her services for some woman’s work in his sheepfold. He should have them willingly, for she had begun to feel that she would sooner co-operate with Mr Prong than with Miss Pucker. As she returned down the High Street, and came near to her own doo

tand,” sa

ow to take them rou

ung Rowan was ordering the champagne for Mrs Tappitt’s supper, and that it was t

Prong’s house punctually at nine o’clock. Mr Prong, it seemed, had not been quite so steadfast to his purpose, for his teapot was still upon the

hen he picked up the stray shell of a shrimp, and in order that he might get rid of it, put it into his mouth. Mrs Prime said she hoped she didn’t trouble him, and that of course she didn’t expect him to be thinking about her particularly. Then Mr Prong looked at her in a way that was

ll quite do for me,” said Mrs P

friend,” said Mr Prong, with

cellent woman, and her heart is

riend. She is not in all thi

re that I shall wa

aking his head, but still

I do not return to them at the cottag

n the open air,’— why worse in the open air than in a close little parlour in a back street, Mr Prong did not say —“and loud revellings, and the absence of all good works, and rebellion against the spirit.” Mr Prong was becoming energetic in his language, and at one time ha

for myself in one of the quiet stre

erhaps so —

to mother. It’s a sad thing fam

ss it tends to the doi

, I know, is obstinate, but mother means well, Mr Prong. She

Mrs Prime, my friend, if you are prepared to hear me with attention, I have a proposition to make which I think you will acknowledge to be one of importance.” Then sudden

tonished, said in a low voice

r in reaching your intelligence — whatever effect I might poss

you certain

hould I be! The words of men, when taken at the best, how weak they are! They often tell a tale quite different from that which the creature means wh

id he. “There is so much of seeming in this deceitful world. But you will believe this of me, that whatever I do, I do as tending to the strengthening of my hands in the ministry.” Mrs Prime said that she would believe so much; and t

, are in many things alike. We are both alone. We both of us have our hands full of work, and of work which in many respects is the same. We are devoted to the same cause: is it not so?

equal to that of a ministe

assure you of this; that in making this proposition to you, I am not self-seekin

ot.” Perhaps there was in her voic

And you — do you not desire the same? Are we not alike in that, and would it not be well that we should come together?” Mr Prong, as he spoke had put out his hand, and rested it on the table with the palm upwards, as though expecting that she w

t it expedient that he should be required to speak a little further before she answered him. She want

’s creatures entertains for another — not, I can assure you, because I do not feel it, but because I think that you

ery deceitful,”

not deceitful. I entertain for you all that deep love which

Mr P

I am marrying you for — for your money, in short. It is an insinuation which would give me much pain, but I have resolved within my own mind, that it is my duty to bear it. If my motives are pure,’— here he

of assent towards the major proposition. Mr Prong had enjoyed the advantage of thinking over his matrimonial prospects in undisturbed solitude, but

rds money,”

upon the ground, for Mr Prong had not at once

ed that it was very hard work. By this time Mr Prong had withdrawn his hand from the table, finding that attempt to be hopeless, and had resettled his chair upon its four feet. He had commenced by requesting Mrs Prime to hear him patiently, but he had probably not calcula

know,” sai

e. But w

dear

Who feels that more s

er all, but two hundred a year, out of which she gave very much in charity. But this giving in charity was her luxury. Fine raiment and dainty food tempted her not at all; but nevertheless she was not free from temptations, and did not perhaps always resist them. To be mistress of her money, and to superintend the gifts, not only of herself but of others; to be great among the poor, and esteemed as a personage in her district — that was her ambition. When Mr Prong told her that money in

ine language had got itself lost in the struggle. I doubt whether this made much difference with Mrs Prime; or it may be, that he had sustained the propriety of his words as long as such propriety was needful and salutary to his purpose. Had he spoken of the “like of that” at the opening of th

eeping I will endeavour, with God’s assistance, to do my duty by you. I have said but

te so,”

ke together in sweet companionship, if you will, consent to —

ich guise, if the young ladies themselves be pretty, the battered hats and bonnets are often more becoming than ever they were in the proper shapes — but so as closely to fit her head, and almost hide her face. Her dress was so made, and so put on, as t

all the world’s vanities and ca

re is work in it for him or her to do. The monks an

am a

part. But do you not know that you could be more active and more

rt is burie

ime shook her head; but in an anatomical point of view, Mr Prong was no doubt strictly correct. “

ding to a small family, and agai

ay probably have ta

, Mr Prong —

would wish time for considerati

t will be be

l Friday suit you? If I come to you on Frida

she

the af

at the Dorc

trouble you to

uld become her own peculiar property, but she could never again regard it in a simply clerical light. It had become as it were a bower of love, and she could not take her steps thither with the express object of assenting to the proposition made to her — or even with that of dissenting from it. “Perhaps”, said she, “you could call at ten on Saturday.

nd as she went she gave her hand

do so. If you believe that you will be more useful as m

t would be m

the matter before you. But, pray, understand this; money need b

n she had been very young. As that memory came upon her, she looked back to her early life, and thought of the hopes which had been hers as she stood at the altar, now so many years ago. How different had everything been with her then! She remembered the sort of love she had felt in her heart, and told herself that there could be no repetition of such love on Mr Prong’s behalf. She had come round in her walk to that very churchyard stile at which she had seen Rachel standing with Luke Rowan, and as she remembered some passages in her own girlish days, she almost felt inclined to forgive her sister. But then, on a sudden, she drew herself up almost with a gasp, and went on quickly with her walk. Had she not herself in those days walked in

cumstances. There was no one to whom she could go for advice. But we may say this of her — let her have asked whom she would, she would at least have b