Mrs. Dorriman, Volume 3 of 3

nection with those papers which had at one time weighed so heavily upon her, and the affection which had sprung up between her

rking, walking by the burn-side, or gliding along on the sea in a boat, whatever her occupation was there was a subtle indefinable consc

be ubiquitous, flying here and there and everywhere at one and the same moment. He seemed to think so li

was not always the real reason of his visits. It often happened that a letter might have done ju

had met always managed to fall in love with her, that she was afraid now of this being the case, and she p

r own heroine, now she had no Grace to think

hey discovered that she was a "giving" lady their respect and affection rose to enthusiasm. The few outsiders knew that she had faced a tragedy; and th

off, the crofter question had not cropped up, and the soil was fertile. Now and again a sick woman want

hough frequently misleading enough) appeals so forcibly to the chivalrous side of

ye of an artist, so where the poetic faculty exists (more especially when it has been developed by suffering) all the various incidents of life, all the impulses and influences of personal life, become unwritten poems. Margaret had suffere

fferent temperaments. The freshness of a sea-bound coast, the tints of grey and green, the harmony of

very depths. The secret of those forces that carry awe when manifested in their grandest power, has a key-note, which, begun here, is carried upwards. Margaret had the power of expression, and her poems became to her the best and hig

and its incoherent account of having left Paul, broke in

e henceforward were to be her portion; but she could not doubt her sincerity about the money; t

Grace had accepted the money, and she felt th

lusive. "I vowed a vow I could not keep, and the bene

disturbed her, and, opening the door, fo

a moment?" he said

usting that his busine

him about money matters, and his answer is, that he is not in a position to advance

Mrs. Dorriman cannot imag

niless, and can do nothing!

iman knows anything? s

for an explanation; till I hear agai

?" Margaret asked,

ce she had no settlements, and was

so gri

ou also, Mrs. Drayton. It see

p that money; Paul Lyons c

I am going to ask you a g

rgaret, much distresse

onished, and very mu

let us remain friends,

asked, very much astonis

eath and speaking with evident relief;

suspicious

ered as though I was going to ask you to lend me ten thou

she laughed also; she felt she had so n

t you to manage that I shall have a little time alone with Mrs. Dorriman. I have something to

et laughed

manner once again in full force, "how dreadfully sorry I am that I have be

was disappointed to find her manner, capricio

en found Mrs. Dorriman, who was still weighing in her own mind the respe

he will dine here to-night," Margaret said, w

ar?" she asked placidly; "

. He is here, and, by the way, he

ds, and went composedly to meet her fate, with an innocence a

brother. She had not heard from him for some days, and she expected him daily; since the frequent at

news of him?" she asked hastil

ard," he answered; and then a

This power of stillness he counted a great merit. Nothing annoyed him so much as being spoken to in turns, with a

you could think of some one else a

d her eyes, and his

e else," she sai

new to you-but could you not try and like me a little? I cannot tell you how I have learned to lo

se, and went to meet those two who, after the flush of youth and bloom was p

uth; the flush in her face, and the serenit

admired that independence and straight-forwardness that upheld the right without roughness. And this man loved her! How wonderful, s

e charm to Mr. Stevens that lay in Mrs. Dorriman's sweetness and

ntime, she would do her utmost not to mar Mrs. Dorriman's happiness by any repinings about leaving Inchbrae. The place was very dear to her; she had grown to love it; but she knew that there was no scope here for her energies

Dorriman give him a solemn promise-a promise t

ill or good fortune, nothing w

romi

y, and then insisted on

our brother's has gone, if you are left

said, looking at him inquiringly; but he

ppiness?" she asked of Margaret late

you! I was thinking only to-day that it was not good for me to be with you, because y

f you knew how I hate being alone and having to decide things

elp you," said Ma

elt it all the more because of the contras

moved when the n

r," she said to Margaret,

id not com

amusing upon

poor man, was aye fond of you in his way; but he was a crookit stick, with no pith in him. This man's a man to be pr

, in a few words which she found diffic

you than I could ever be." She wound up by saying, "You have been kind, but I have always felt that you were dis

er pen in gall she could not h

or worry. His illness had gained rapidly

rom Margaret which als

d not care about money for its own sake, s

offered to settle money upon me-to give me much that I did not want-will you do something for my sister? will you arrange something to make up to

nd then came

Marg

in my power. I am ill, and I am miserable. When I can I am going to Inchbrae. I

ad taken was the right one. All at once she seemed to see everything differently; for a mo

bjections had had no weight; it was Paul who thought as sh

ot to let Mrs. Dorriman know about Mr. Sandford's illness and his loss of fo

s ready to believe it, but Margaret's countenance was expressive; and the little woman, anxious a

ed as she saw the tremulous han

Stevens what he thinks

n his shoulders who will advise me what is best to be done. It is such

other is seriously ill, and if he advises you to go to him, you would have the answer much sooner. We migh

Mr. Stevens is just now. He told me how he mapped out his day, and at this

lose no time,"

stained by a consciousness of that help she had so recently become possessed of; Margaret silent, wondering a little what her life was really goin

ce, evidently, thought Margaret, not understanding how much she was interested in him as a friend, since it was only natural after what had passed between them. She seemed to herself to have missed happiness all through her life. Had either her father or mother lived, or had she understood what Sir Albert meant about being

Mrs. Dorriman despatched the telegram, Margaret sent the

arity, because it covered so many sins in the shape of old-fashioned garments, telling of a bonnet she had

s long secretly loved. I cannot help feeling angry because, because, because.... I hoped some one I knew had attracted him. Pray do not swear at me or say anything disagreeable, but it is horrid:

. Dorriman's joy and satisfaction on receiving Mr. Stevens's telegram. Her brother was better, but would like them both to go to him towards the end of the week. "You cannot possibly make the troublesome journey alone, but I will go for you and

heerful, and so overflowing with prosperity, that poor Margaret felt her, for the first time, oppressive. She exerted herself on the way hom

ssible to make that troublesome journey alone! What have I don

now shining in all its glory and turning the rippling sea to gold, and then veiling himself behind those fleecy clouds that floated over the various peaks and crags. Margaret, throwing off the bonnet she

ome more in harmony with the glowing, peaceful, and brilliant scene around. But when the soul is deeply wounded the very fairness and serenity o

he thought, was happy but herself; the very bees had a heartless hum as they rejoiced over a bed of golden crowsfoot and wild thyme close at hand; and when from a little fishing-boat came a

h a certain wonder at the intruder, not moving a step, since they knew no fear. Margaret only heard the slight rustle, when some one stood close to

he said, noting with quic

ce, told her that he had come to seek her. Grace's story was true, why had she made herself m

t you would ne

had come ove

ver before known. She moved as in a dream, outwardly quiet, a who

Sir Albert had gone out with his cigar, and the two friends had gone upsta

e is always right). He says we need not question why we are happy, but enjoy it, and be thankful for it. I like Sir Albe

evens," said Margaret, laug

ch puzzled her and bewildered her very nearly as much as the famous letter ha

lso to bring Christie with her. Jean of course would b

ived, Mrs. Dorriman took h

o very remarkable," said she, in somethi

ow her in

on the place, and it was our way to know everybody; but all these years she has been here a

nected with some me

ourse that

hing to prepare the old woman, doubtful as to her consent

her Sunday's clothes-her best mutch[1] on, and all the sm

Christie?" she aske

mend, I wanted to go and see him. I made ready; I h

man sat do

ated. "Oh! Christie, I

would die in the old place; for yo

hopes and wishes, but

ys are fearful things to be sent about the world,

ails with Mrs. Dorriman, even helping her to settle

ndford expressly wishes you to do so." H

ecollection

papers," sh

l I say that all women are full of

ing, I think," sa