Esther

ief is addicted to restlessness-it is only the old who can sit so silently and weep; it w

s were held here, on which occasion the large white portico of the Red Lion was never empty. Milnthorpe woke with brief spasms of life on Monday morning; broad-shouldered men jostled each other on the grass-grown pavements; large country wagons, sweet-smelling in haymaking seasons, blocked up the central spaces; country women, with gay-colored handkerchiefs, sold eggs, and butter, and poultry In the square; and two or three farmers, with their dogs at their

detestation, were absolutely necessary, as the street door opened directly on the street. There was one smooth, long step, and that was all. It had rather a du

children. Behind was a wonderful intricacy of slim, oddly-shaped flower-beds, intersected by miniature walks, where two people could with difficulty walk abreast; and beyond this

e never called them anything but parlors, for the shabby wainscoted walls an

of ponderous tomes, a pipe-rack filled with fantastic pipes, deep old cupboards full of hetereogeneous rubbish, a

Uncle Geoffrey's opinion that Jumbles understood all one said to him. He would sit with his head slightly on one side, thumping his tail against the floor, with a sort of glimmer of fun in his eyes, as though he comprehended our c

rather disdainfully condescending to the small dogs of Milnthorpe. Jumbles always accompanied Uncle Geoffrey in his rounds. He used to take his place in the gig with undeviating punctuality; nothing induced

s on the first floor-Uncle Geoffrey's, with its huge four-post bed; a large front room, that we both decided woul

ne would by-and-by be Allan's. I confess my heart sank a little when I thought of Jack's noisiness and thriftless ways; but when I remembered how fond she was of good boo

be my mission to train Jack to more orderly habits. I would set her a good example, and coax her to follow it. She was good-tempered and affectionate, and perhaps I should find her suf

y after the dear old rooms at Combe Manor. Could we not furbish it up a little?" And Allan looked discontentedly at the ugly

d Dot down to the sea for a week, while you and I and Jack make things comfortable for them? Now, why should we not help ourselves to the best of the furniture at Combe Manor, and make Uncle Geoff turn out all these ugly things? We mig

unded our views to Uncle Geoffrey at dinner-time

rned, rather dubiously; "but I wanted to sell the rest of the

might retain, if I liked, the pretty striped curtains from our drawing-room at Combe Manor, and mother's couch, and a few of the easy-chairs, and the little cabinet with the purple china; and then there was mother's inla

arrangements; but an interview

course it was Deborah; no one else's knuckles sounded as though they were iron. Deborah was a tall, angular woman, very spare and erect of figure, with a severe cast of countenance, and heavy

my hour had come. Deborah was standing so very erect, with the ba

was to go to Miss Esther for orders. Five-and-twenty years have I cooked master's dinners for him, and received

d to Uncle Geoffrey's bachelor ways, to have a houseful of young people turned on her hands? She and Martha would have to w

And then there was Dot and mother so ailing." And at the thought of all our helplessness, and Uncle Geoffrey's goodness a great tear rolled down my cheek. It was very babyish and undignified; but, after

kind-hearted that he would have sheltered the whole parish if he could. I am not blaming him, though it goes hard with Martha and me, who have led peace

mance. The romance of middle-aged people always came with a faint, far-away odor to us young ones, like some old garment laid up

e. We don't see her sort every day, I can tell you that, Miss Esther; a pretty-spoken

then?" I hazard

he and master would sit under that mulberry tree. I can see her now walking over the grass in her white gown, with some apple blossoms in her hand, talking and laughing with him. It wa

! But he is cheerful

terrupting herself. "I have only brought you the keys, and wis

the key-basket, but of the ha

le as possible, and we are all going to put our shoulders to the wheel and help ourse

rned herself round abruptly, and walked out of the room without another word. But I was quite well satisfied and triump

he regarded them. "Deb is in a first-rate humor, then. You have

nd its two windows looked out on the stable-yard; but in the evening, when the fire burned clear and the blinds were drawn, it was a pleasant place. Deborah and Martha us

o her justice, her chief care seemed to be that her master should not be interfered with in any of his ways. "He will

. I felt the battle was over. I was only a "bit thing" as Deborah herself

dragged the big easy-chair to the window, and sat the

wn and take myself to pieces. Oh no, that was Carrie's way. Such introspection bored me and did me little good, for it only made me think more of myself and less of the Master; but I wanted

t, which must go on, under some form or other, until we die. And now, on my shrinking shoulders lay the weight of a woman's work. I was to tea

ad to me out of one of her innumerable books, a

Sales, "if I could rid myself of my imperfections

water to try and see one's own miserable reflection, when one could look up into the serene blue of Divine Providence? If

ys; "small beginnings make great endings." And when I had