The Curate in Charge

the form of an annuity-the magnificent income of two hundred and fifty pounds a year. To think that this old lady, with only herself to think of, should have fifty pounds more yearly than a clergy

ntburn, and all that directly and indirectly followed it. She had not seen the St. Johns since Hester's death, though they were her nearest relatives, the natural heirs of the fortune she had accumulated. And the summer was warming into June, and everything spoke of the country. Miss Maydew lived in Great Coram Street, Russell Square. She had two charming large rooms, her bedroom at the back, her sitting-room at the front, the two drawing-rooms in better days of the comfortable Bloomsbury mansion. But even when your rooms are airy and cool, it is hard to fight against that sense of summer which drops into a London street in the warm long days, waking recollections of all kinds, making eyelids drowsy, and the imagination work. Even the cries in the street, the "flowers a blowing and a growing" of the costermongers, the first vegetables, the "groundsel for your birds," and the very sight of the greengrocer opposite with his groves of young cabbages and baskets of young potatoes awoke this sensation of summer in the heart of the solitary woman at her window. Her youth, which was so full of summer, stirred in her once more, and old scenes all framed in waving fo

white pocket-handkerchief to fan herself in the other, her ears and her eyes were alike attracted by a little group, under the shadow of a great tree just where the gorse and the pines ended. There were two tall girls in print frocks of the simplest character, and large hats of coarse straw; and seated on the root of the tree slightly raised above them, a plain little woman in a brown gown. Some well worn volumes were lying on the grass, but the book which one of the

. "Why, is it not ladylike? If one is clever, and has a gift,

ways be asking what everything means. A great many thin

s it unladylike?" cried the girl, her eyes sparkling. As for the other one, she shrugged her shoulders, and t

is high position for the more dangerous exercise of reason. "Besides, the more one thinks of it, the more improper it seems. There are drawings of g

here are a great many gentlemen in the

ut to draw them you must look at them; you must study them. Oh!" said Miss Brown with horror, putting up her hands before her eyes, "neve

aid Cicely, with flashing eyes, stepping back, and

aken," said the old lady; "you are so like your poor mother. Are

ing up with a blush, more conscious of the interruptio

s Maydew. "I have come all the way from town to pay you a

de of her big hat. She was doubtful whether she should put up her pretty cheek to kiss the stranger, or wait for that salutation. She pu

were not so fresh as they might have been. "You will excuse their schoolroom dresses," she said, "we were not expecting any one; and

rled more rapidly round than ever in her fingers, and she cast a longing glance at the sketch-book in Cicely's hand. The girls were quite cool, and at their ease under the great beech-tree, which threw broken shadows far over the grass,-shadows which waved about as the big boughs did, and refreshed the mind with soft visionary fanning. Their big hats shadowed two faces, fresh and cool like flowers, with that downy bloom upon them which is the privilege of extreme youth. Miss Brown, who was concerned about their frocks, saw noth

re on the common? Don't you smell the pines, Aunt Jane, and the honey in

ted little person

e shade. But come in this way, the back way, through the garden, which is always cool. Sit down here in the s

"I don't want any strawberries, but you can come and kiss me. You are very like your p

hn's," said Cicely sole

e said. "I'll kiss you, too," she said, "Aunt

le, though I don't so much mind that either; but I like to look at this one, because she is like your p

ed her eyes upon her own bright locks reverentially. It gave them a new strange feeling for their mother to think that she had once been a girl like themselves. Strangest thought for a child's mind to grasp; stranger even

ter had ever been. "Ah, well!" she added with a sigh, "time goes very quickly, girls. Before you know, you will be old, to

people. I should like to draw you, just as you stood under the beech-tree; that was beautiful!" she cried, clapping her hands. Miss Maydew was pleased. She recolle

ay. She could not stand by and laugh faintly at caricatures of herself as some high-minded people are capable of doing. "I hope Miss Maydew will say what she thinks very plainly," she said to Cicely, who flew past her in a great hurry with a fresh clean white napkin out of the linen-press. But Cicely was much too busy to reply. As for Mab, I think she would have escaped too

d Miss Maydew; "and how dared you let that poor

: only a few innocent ones at the beginning. Oh! please g

e her, I

don't hate her at all; we like her rather.

, then?" said Miss Maydew, fixing h

ch fun. I don't mean any harm, but if people will look

self with my pockethandkerchief. I thought I heard you giggle. Go away, you wicked

"It is silly of me. It is always getting me into scrapes; even papa, when I showed him that one of himself!" Here Mab paused to laugh, for it had been very funny-and then blushed violently; for certainly it was wrong, very wr

t time for it, I know," she said, "but I felt sure you would like a cup of tea. Do

le to think what her friends would like best. And what good tea it is, and how nicely served! Was the kettle boiling? Ah! I recognise you

ties of the servant and the governess. Miss Maydew was too clever to tell Cicely what she thought at the conclusion of her inquiry, but she went in thoughtfully to the house, and was somewhat silent as the girls took her all over it-to the best room to take off her bon

ctor's, it is not papa's," cried

not come back till it was time for the early dinner; and it was late in the afternoon when Miss Maydew, knocking at his study door, went in alone to "have a talk" with him, with the intention of "giving him her mind" on several subjects, written fully in her face. The study was a we

ohn; exceedingly well furnished; to rub it up and keep

ster's, my rector," said the curate;

uch housemaiding to do, I suppose," said Miss Maydew sharply. "To tell the truth, that

e well," said Mr. St. John meekly. He was not

that? I don't like the way they are managed. They are nice girls, but that Miss Brown knows just about as much how to manage them as you-as that

artled. "I thought girls

them-a woman like poor Hester; but what are those two

ation: "perhaps it is wrong, but what do I know of girls' e

wn. Not that I've anything against her. She is a good, silly creature enough-but

Mr. St. John, who always yielded to impetuo

hall not want her services any longer. You must give her a mo

think, on the whole, we get on very well as we are? I have always been told that it was bad to send girls to school; and besides it costs a great de

l send them to school. Oh, don't say anything. I don't do it for thanks. To me their impro

Miss M

ually, and I should like to see them in a position to do me credit. Don't say anything, Mr. St. John. Hester's girls!-poor Hester!-no one in the

went to his heart, with a dull pang, perhaps-for he was growing old, and had a calm unimpa

shall have justice, Mr. St. John. I mean to make it my business to find them a school-but till you have heard from me f

erly, "it will be much best

s? But how could he say so to a lady? Had he not always gone upon the amiable ground that she had done him the greatest favour in coming there to teach his daughters, and now to dismiss her-to dismiss her! Mr. St.