Mildred Arkell, (Vol 3 of 3)

that the winter weather had gone, and the college boys, penned up in their large schoolroom, gazed aloft through the high windows at the blue sky and th

s walk up," cried

nged itself in front of the master's de

he gentleman who own

s 'me

, s

ted the master, his spectacles be

l, sir," returned t

o the bottom fo

d the master was proceeding to work, when the cathedra

abruptly ejacul

the up class, simultaneously, Van Brummel exc

re all the thanks they got. "But what

" echoed

ed the master-the bishop and the dean he knew we

rofane vulgar. The Royal Family, the bishop, dean, and prebendaries, were the only

"go into college, and ask the b

he came back he walked very softl

Wilberforce-for Le

g for Henry

. "Is he really dead? Are you ill,

ing,

Wilberforce, revolving the news. "The old bedesmen must be making some mistake. Half of them are deaf, and the

s,

repeated the master, sharply. "Don

sat down. He appea

of the bedesmen whether they have received orders; and, if so, from

ered down the stairs, as Lewis junior

the orders by his servant. And they think

been a sudden and melancholy ending. Boys, if you want to do well, you should imitate Henry Arkell. I can

posed Aultane junior, as if fearing the master mi

ll make," scornfully re

cloisters on his way to Hall-street, when he saw in the distance Mrs. and Miss Beauclerc, just as the cathedral bell rang out. Mrs. Beauclerc was startled, as the head master had been: her

"Won't the boys crow? He has got the influenza, and was s

-bell for Henry

t should be apparent to Mr. St. John, and would hav

die? Did he

twenty minutes ago. And he did not suffer

ellow, I hope

He died in perfect peace. May you and I be as

it must be to

hat she would not grieve his loss too deeply. She raised her beautiful eyes to me, and I cannot describ

St. John. She was gazing through her glistening eyes

I thought," she added, with a spice of satire in her tone, "that there was an old curfew law, or some

you his forgiveness for any unkindness that may have passed. He sent you his love: and he hopes you

he wilfully ignored the first part of the sen

re we are now standing. There appears to be a vacant space here," cried Mr. S

o be buried in the cloiste

course. Henry cr

tell me! What a singu

his last resting-place to be amidst old associations,

a pouting, wilful tone. "You are going to accuse me of breaking

hear this. I have delivered his me

fanciful as he was,"

ts; I am not. And never shall be," he added, in a tone of signific

lling upon her, and she burst into hysterical tears. At that moment, Lewis junior passed them, and

d Georgina to Mr. St. John, as she d

olling for him. I wonder the dean ordered the bell to toll for him: it

here, in the cloiste

ll the dean

n has de

ver understand ha

ege with his information. But Lewis never answered: and though he touched his forehead (he had no cap on)

a straightforward manner, that she should like to see Henry Arkell now he lay dead; and the dean saw no reason for refusi

Georgina?" said the dean, in some inde

at him; a frightful old yellow scarecrow he looked. Henry Arkell won't look like

ned the dean. "He did not wish it

ere so

ought too vividly the past before her, and she rushed away to her own

fe: the marble lids were closed over the brilliant eyes, never to open again in this life; the once warm hands lay cold and useless now. Some one-perhaps his mother-had placed in one of the hands a sprig of pink hyacinth; some was also strewed on the breast

fully. The trestles were very low, so that it was much benea

-as few can love in this world. Y

t St. John could not forgive her for the past, whatever Henry ha

in it. You had become part of his very being; his whole heart was bound up in you. Better, therefore, that he

ailed, amid he

or she motioned to him to pass out first. Then-alone-she bent down her lips to the face tha

el to you! Forgive-forgive me! But I

you, Georgina. Mrs. Arkell mentioned it to me this morning; but they are overwhelmed with grief. It has been so unexpected, you

re appointed to do. Mrs. Beauclerc, her daughter, and the families of the prebendaries were already in the cathedral; with some other spectators, who had got in under the pretext of attending morning prayers, and who, when the prayers were over, had refused to quit their seats again: of course the sextons could not decently turn them out. Half a dozen ladies took up their station in the organ-loft, to the inward wrath of the organist, who, however, had to submit

and the masters of the college school. The dean and one of the canons walked next before the coffin, which was borne by eight of the king's scholars, and the pall by eight more. Four mourners followed the coffin-Peter Ar

at believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live

e earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I

rgina Beauclerc's eyes-she had now come round to the front of the organ-being blinded with tears as she looked down upon it. Mr. St. John glanced up, from his place by the coffin, and saw her. Both the psalms were sung, and the dean himself read

y felt all the worth of Henry Arkell now that he was gone. The grave was made close to the cloister entrance to the cathedral, in the spot where had stood Mr. St. John and Georgina Beauclerc; where had once stood Georgina and Henry Arkell, the day that wretched Lewis had wished him buried there. An awful sort of feel

k to the vestry now, but to come

they found the king's scholars ranged in a semicircle, and they fell in with them according to their resp

to the other. "For show? What does Wilberforce want

, whose teeth were chattering. "Unless

rnered cap. Mr. Wilberforce rose to bow the dean into his own seat, but the dean preferred to stand. He looked

stopped; and the boys lifted their he

oing brings contentment and inward satisfaction; but ill-doing as certainly brings its day of retribution. The present day mu

avice Arkell. They took off their hats; and their streaming hat

in the dark and lonely night? Aultane junior, does yours sting you for your insubordination to him on Assize Sunday, when you exposed yourself so disgracefully to two of the judges of the

red ears: to judge by their looks, their c

, in a sudden manner, "of what d

stood on end. He could not have replied

inued the dean, in a low but distinct accent, which penetrated the

es and face, burying his forehead on the ground, and sticking u

ll," said the dean, looking round the hall; "that is, he has died fro

master, wondering on his own account, and answ

ully thrown down. And that is the one who did

r scarlet faces; the rest wore a look of timid curiosity; while Mr. Wilberforce's a

looks, "the author of Henry Arkell's death i

his back as if it had been a feather-bed,

ried the de

imself. A pretty object he looked, for the dye from

; he said he had never told any one, and never w

is injuries, bore them without retaliation. Is th

is not," put in

telling me of a far worse misdemeanour, which you had been guilty of? Did he ever inform against any who injured him? No; insults, annoyances, he bore all in

choked Lewis junior, "and now he ha

ad wilfully thrown him down, and I went back to Arkell and taxed him with its being the fact. He could not deny it, but the whole burden of his admission was, 'Oh, sir, forgiv

y howled

you hear? his full and free forgiveness. And I believe you have also that of

enry died, it came to Mr.

im," interrup

ccidental. But-as he had prayed the dean, so he prayed his father, to forgive the culp

hat I or Mr. Wilberforce could command, is adequate to the crime, but that his dying request, for your pardon, shall be complied with. If

he shoulder nearest to him, a

capable of acting as Henry Arkell did, in returning good for evil. The ruling principle of his life, and he strove to carr

obtained

rove to do His will: and now God has taken him to his reward. Do you know that his death was a remarkably peaceful one? Yes, I think you have heard so. Holy livin

e day to another," a senior ventured to remark in the general desperation. "Of c

I hope," he added, turning round to the boys, as he and the other two gentlemen left the hall, "that you will, every one, go home, not to riot on this sole

beauty, and his goodness, was gone; and nothing of him rem

heveley

rch 24t

ed

, but go