Rutledge

better how to

peak; 'tis ch

arden, I now knew it thoroughly. Delightful days those were, saving the occurrence of a little loneliness and ennui that would creep over me as evening approached; delightful days, when, without a thought of care for present or future, I wandered unchecked over the loveliest spot I had as yet seen. A long avenue led from the house to the gate; the lawn on the right sloped down to the lake, a lovely sheet of water surrounded on three sides by woods; and around as far as the eye could reach, stretched wide fields, rich with cultivation, and woodl

eyond, Rutledge seemed to me the realization of all I had ever dreamed or read, of beauty and of stateliness. I walked slowly down the garden; the faint smell of some lingering grapes on the arbor overhead perfumed the air; the dead leaves rustled under my feet, alone breaking the stillness peculiar to an autumn afternoon, unprofaned

n the path, followed closely by a little terrier, who had introduced himself to my notice at the barn, and not being unfavorably received, had attended my movements ever since. It was not till I was within a few yards of Mr. Rutledge, that the recollection of that unlucky "hero" business brought me to a sudden st

tter as industriously as I have been getting worse. You begin to l

possible, sir.

the responsibility of it. I do not think, however, it could

a moment that he was looking very muc

ut, sir, if you st

ath; "but to tell you the truth, I was tired of the house, a

the library not many days ago, and giving him

by showing a little firmness at the risk of putting me

uld have been in her element on such an occasion.

and Mrs. Roberts get on? You weren't very muc

r, but I don't think she's

son. Absurd as it was, I could not help feeling dreadfully sorry for you; and ought to f

," I said a little nettled. "I am as contented as

e Rutled

y so, after the way in which Mrs. Robert

he asked, with

eceived my admiration of it, and ended by asking

. She has had a great deal of trouble, and is naturally of a nervous and irritable dispos

and shaking it with unspeakable go?t. I made a motion to take it from him, whereon the rascal darted away down the path, then paused an instant, and before I could reach him, was away again toward the barn. I could not surrender so, and forgetting everything but the chase, tore after him at the top of my speed. To see the way in which th

brake, and we stop

love. This goading thought sustained my flagging energy in the same proportion that the nearness of the goal reanimated that of Tigre. On, on, with desperate resolve! Stephen leaned on his spade to witness the issue of the race, Michael paused, the currycomb in his suspended hand, to see the result; and both involuntarily ejaculated, "Pretty well done!" as on the very thres

rouble; Mr. Rutledge did not take any more notice of me than if I had been Tigre's four-legged and shaggy compatriot. Passing through the barn, he called up one of the men, and gave him orders about the storing of some grain; sent for another upo

have been ten times less hateful of him to have been angry and done with it, than to have taken no notice of me in any way, just as if he had at once dropped me out of his esteem, consideration and recollection altogether. Angry, humbled, but rebellious, I lingered a long while near him, with a hope that he would say something that I could resent, but no such chance was afforded me. Mr. Rutledge's whole mind was given t

the steps of the piazza. The sound of Mr. Rutledge's approaching footsteps, far from checking my walk, quickened it considerably, and calling to Tigre, just as he reached the terrace, I started

u speak

r you to be out; y

r, I shall soon be i

voice I could not mistake. "You must excuse my int

ed back, ran up the steps, and passed through the doorway without raising my eyes, and never stopped till I had gained the second story, and locked myself into my own room. Most bitter and most extravagant tears I shed of course, very angry and very implacable resolves I made; and finished off by a violent fit of contrition and humility under the

and I com

e; tea was on the table. He looked

oubt; tea

sight; I could never tell him how ashamed and sorry I felt, while he looked so. He did not look any otherwise, however, all through the uncomfortable meal, that I thought

nk to the capricious child again. He had just begun to treat me like a reasonable creature, and to talk to me for something besides the kindne

iews that had come that day, saying, perhaps I might find something amusing in them. That meant I wa

sir!" made him withdraw abashed, and, standing on the rug between us, he gazed wonderingly from one to the other. If it had not been for the precedent of "the dog in the manger," and the proverbial comparison of all cross people to "Hall's dog," I should have been certain that such scenes were entirely new to Tigre, and that in the bosom of his family bad tempers were unknown. As it was, he looked v

t," I looked furtively toward my companion. He had closed the book, and leaning his face on his hand sat looking into the fire. Just so he had looked the other night wh

early

forgot to ask you, sir," I said, turning back, "wheth

e of any importance

r me; making three steps back into the room, and swallow

oo old to be willing to acknowledge it. I am very well aware that I have been ru

iliation; though I am not sure that my attitude implied so much of humiliation as it did of det

t you allude, nor how I come to be entitled t

ed to my temple

to you I owed respect, attention, and courtesy, which I failed to show. I owed th

oroughly, I must acknowledge! You have stricte

sarcasm, sir; I know

u have shown a habit of mind, that, if persevered

ere, sir, have been too conspicuous

rely; I cannot recall an

ion on you as on me; with me they were matters of conscience; with you they were, I h

you attentively since you came here, and have taken

ne than the words. "Then I shall have to be doubly

ard me: "It has appeared to me

efer your summary till I am in a better frame of mind to bear it. Just

y you have taken such pains to get in order for the oc

ou see it, sir?" I could not

t could be taught in regard to it. But I have since discovered that there is more spurious coin bearing that stamp than almost any ot

, I think. May I retire, sir, if

eal more to say." And, taking my hand, he drew me down into the chair bes

an absurd child, it is impossible to be angry with you, or tired of you

d though I turned my face awa

you were angry, then you were pleased, now you are frightened, and I s

not any retort ready, so I onl

y it all. Sometimes you amuse yourself with Tigre, sometimes with me. And," he continued, after a pause, "sometimes you talk too much, and sometimes, as at present, for instance, too little. Well?" he went on, interrogat

ckly, and retreat

nd standing by the fire. "You are g

I answered, lighting my candle. "It's ra

complaint to make of me, after a

and putting my French and my temper to the hardest tests you could think of; and then, after I've vexed you by a little inattention, pushing me aside, as i

eath with all that catalogue. I tea

and now, if you p

l spoil you if I keep you here much longer. You are

I said, with a little sigh; "I do

to do better for the future, and instead of trifling and

as one-sided a friendship

not willing to

thing, and the power to help each other. Now, you know the absurdity of

re laughing at you?"

you, and would do anything in the world to serve you, bu

answered. "There are a hundred ways in

d incred

much that is sad to remember of the past. By your youth and cheerfulness you can brighten the one; by your gentleness and sympathy you can soothe the recollections of the other. Youth is gone from me forever, but you can be the link between it and me, and keep it in sight a little lo

he words wouldn't come,

not forget the indulgence due to youth. I must be just and unflattering, and when my maturer judgment suggests amendment, it is my duty, is it not, to point it out? For having been over the same ground that you are to travel, I can give you many hints that will make you

t is fair

riends henceforth! Stay, what shall we have as a reminder of this promise? Some pled

cting one, replaced the others, turned the key, and came back to the table. The box contained a bracelet of curious foreign coins, handsomely mounted-a

wear it always," he

es

oticed in the clasp, and took it out. I must confess to a feeling not unlike bon

I want to t

said coolly, fastening the key upon his watch-chain

said obeying him nevertheless, and a

ession. "You forgot, when you made it, what a solemn thing a promise was; but now you'll have something to remind you of its weight, and of the impos

t's a very pretty thing, but I shall hate it if I feel that I mu

many little obstacles in the way of oceans, mountains, and other imbecile contrivances of Nature for the separation of friends, intervene, I shall feel as if I had a check upon your conduct, a guardian of my place in your affections that will make me quite easy about it. For you know of course, the legends th

case I changed my mind, would free me from

shook his h

ld; but I hope we shall not have to

anage so well with one, that I should feel encouraged by

rom the case on the top of that étagère, which cannot be reached down without two hands, your temper would be severely tried in having to ring for Tho

igar," I said as standing in a chair I

halantly as I handed it to him. I brought the matche

ing mo

r, which you interrupted me i

ur hand since tea," I said, hunting among the piles of boo

ess suggest your stay

k up my long neglected candle. "It suggests 'good-night,' s

Ah! how hateful it would be to leave this quiet place, and go among strangers again! The idea of city life had never been altogether attractive, but now seemed most distasteful. Altogether, my new home in New York did not to-night attract my errant