Venetia

to which in old days they were constantly recurring, and that was her father. By a process which had often perplexed her, and which she could never succeed in analysing, there ha

exercised over her child a complete and unquestioned control. Venetia was brought up with strictness, which was only not felt to be severe, because the system was founded on

was who avenged himself at these moments for his habitual silence before third persons; it was to Venetia that he poured forth all his soul, and she was never weary of hearing his stories about Morpeth, and all his sorrows, disgusts, and afflictions. There was scarcely an individual

for their journey, quite resounded with his merriment. In vain his mother, harassed with all the mysteries of packing, indulged in a thousand irritable expressions, which at any other time might have produced a broil or even a fray; Cadurcis did nothing but laugh. There was at the bottom of this boy’s heart, with all his habitual gravity and reserve, a fund of humour which would occasionally break out, and which no

the more gay and fluent were his quips and cranks. Puffing, panting, and perspiring, now directing her waiting-woman, now scolding

red passion, and stamping with rage, ‘is that the pla

Cadurcis, ‘how dare

t you, I’ll give it you,’ she bellowed under the united influence of rage and pain, and she pursued her agile

m the abbey, ‘what is to be done with the parrot when we are away? Mr

tation, rushed into the kitchen, seized the surprised Mrs. Brown by the shoulder, and gave her a good shake; and darting at

enet, ‘for it will overhear all our conversation, and

immediately throw it into the lake. Then Mrs. Cadurcis began to cry with rage, and, seating herself on the open steps of the chaise, sobbed h

s, Lord Cadurcis; they are your friends, not mine, and I hope they are satisfied, now that they have robbed me of the affections of my child. I have seen what they have been after all this time. I am not so blind as some people think. No! I see how

always lurked at the bottom of his mother’s heart, and which nothing but the united talent and goodness of Lady Annabel could have hitherto baffled. So he

bout it: but I cannot bear quarrelling; it is

tone, ‘these scenes always happen when people are going

’ said the mother, ‘with all your violence.

r, and just touching her shoulder with his

ith his lip, and then Mrs. Cadurcis jumped up as lively as ever

a trinket made for him in London, according to the newest fashion, as a present for Venetia. The commission was executed; Mrs. Cadurcis, who had been consulted in confidence by her son on th

ER AFFECTIONATE BR

r, and more than a sister,

ed her son, r

net blushed; and yet he wondered why he blushed: he understood his m

aware of its previous existence, even when it was shown, he would fling it instantly away into the snow; and her horror of this catastrophe bridled her tongue. Mrs. Cadurcis, however, was happy, and Lady Annabel was glad to see her so; the Doctor, too, pa

n, holding the brooch reversed, he said, wit

!’ she said, ver

added, leaving it in

el; her eye was dazzle

tle girl, Plantagenet,’ sh

t always be a little girl; and then, if ever we do not live toge

must ask her permission

s. Cadurcis. She had not courage to speak before tha

aid, ‘somethin

nnabel, somewhat surprised a

a!’ said Venetia, g

d authorise its acceptance by her daughter. So she walked up to Cadurcis and gave him a mother’s embrace for his magnificent present to his sister, placed the brooch itself near Venetia’s heart, and then led her daughter to Mrs. Cadurcis, that the gratified mother