The Curate in Charge

after their return; but youth is naturally impatient, and the excitement of one crisis seems to stimulate the activity of all kinds of

and of doing? When their father had gone out, however, they threw aside their grave thoughts for the moment, and dawdled the morning away, roaming about the garden, out and in a hundred times, as it is so pleasant

nnie, Betsy's sister, who was the nurse, though she was but

et; and what are their little legs go

solemn countenance, and said, "

why they are so pale," cried the impetuous girl; "poor little white-faced

in very stately fashion. And she reproved Mab for her rashness, and led the little boys about, promenading the w

good girls for rememberi

said Cicely, drawing herself to her full height, and looking Miss St.

u want to get rid of them; and you think what 'missis' made them promise is nonsense, ye

aid this inconsistent young woman, with a low voice full of remorse. "It wou

, especially when there is nothing particular to be done. It was too hot to go out; and as for beginning needlework in cold blood the first day you are in a new place, or have come back to an old one, few girls of eighteen and nineteen are so virtuous as that. One thing afforded them a little amusement, and that was to pull things about, a

clean, of cour

w. Come down, you gaudy thing!" she cried. Then with her hand still grasping it, a compunction seized her. "After all, why shouldn't she leave somet

ren-trace enough of her

etached it, and threw it down. Then two offensive cushions met her eye, which she put in the same heap.

luttering over the open windows, shutting out even the garden; and there was nothing to draw. And it was afternoon, which is not a time to begin work. She

an antiquary, and knows about pictures. If it was not for the glass doors, how like a hearse that chiffonier would be. I mean a catafalque. Wh

ad plenty of money, how I should like to furnish this room all over again, with bright young things, not too huge

e!" cri

r with a bloom o

nking of? No; it must be a cool colour-a sort of m

ouldn't fade. But then if one were rich the pleasure would be to let it fade, and then have all

"I like the faded tints-they harmonize. Hush, Cicely!

oming to call so soon?"

ight and expectant on her chair; while Cicely, throwing (I am ashamed to say) her spoils under a sofa, took up her needlew

the same bonnet (but that was impossible), stood before them, her large white handkerchief in her hand. She was too hot to say anything, but dropped down on the first chair she came to, lea

han they had been four years ago. They took off her great shawl for her, and loosed her bonnet strings. "Papa

u were taking it; and what your papa means to do. As soon as I saw it in the paper I

growing grave. "Papa is very composed and kind

o come," said Miss Maydew. "No, no, it was not about Mrs. St. John I was thinking, it was about something

visitor's agitation, it was disagreeable news they were about to hear. Miss Maydew drew with much excitement from her

e my feelings-it was the very first thing I saw

y read with two startled faces close together over the old lady's shoulder. "At Ca

now him," said

d on her lips; but she stopped suddenly and c

kerchief; "now let us consult what is to be done. What is the date? I was so agit

melancholy to her yesterday, and the tons of mahogany which she had just been criticising. How kind,

with sudden apprehension. "Do you mea

are, for a parish is an incomprehensible thing, as your poor dear grandfather always used to say-but they ought to be; I am sure he has trudged about enough, and

ll us, tell us-what

ellor; they might employ all their influence. It is not a rich parish, nor a large parish, but there are always gentry in it.

at her heart. She was almost too much bewildered to realize all that it meant; enough lay on the surface to fi

f that is the man. The parish? I don't see why they should take the trouble. It will not hurt them. They wi

hand. She felt how eloquent she could be, how convincing. She felt herself capable of going down on her knees and asking him whether the father of those two sweet girls was to sta

hat papa was old and that we should have to maintain ourselves and the two babies if-anything happened; but I never remembered that it all hung upon some one else's life. Oh, it does seem hard!" cried

Miss Maydew; "there is six weeks or three

es fixed upon the white blinds which flapped against the open windows. All at once she got up and drew one of them up with a rapid impatient hand.

dache, my dear, and that will

n. "Five of us to provide for now-and that is not the worst; what is papa to do? How can he live with everyt

n so often have to make, to receive her as if nothing had happened, as if their minds were as easy and their circumstances as agreeable as her own. She inquired about their journey, about their school, about how they found their papa looking, about the "sad trials" he had gone through, all in a sweet even tone, with smiles or serious looks, as became her words, and hoped that

er," said Cicely. "Mab sings better than

nterfering, "unless something is done they will not be he

ith the slightest of glances at the stranger; "I

rself forward squarely and

st-for the good woman was not of a patrician appearance, like the girls, who were St. Johns. "

at once-stating how long he had been here, and how much beloved he was, and the whole state of the case. I don't personally know his lordship," said the old lady; "but he can't be a bad man or

w clever of you to have thought of it. I wil

good it should be general-from the whole parish," said Miss

ake her leave, a little frightened by the vehemence of the stranger, and rather elated at

t already since the rector died. If the parish

to her seat breathing a sigh of satisfaction. "There, girls! I have set it agoing at least. I have started it. That was

ng to?" cried the girl alarmed, for there were sounds of commotion in the hall. A silence fell upon even the chief conspirator, when she felt that Mr. St. John was near-the possibility that her tac

eat deal to do? What have you been putting into that good woman's head? She is talking of a petition, an

than Miss Maydew. And the old lady had to get up and stretch out he

," he went on; "she seemed to think it affe

t, and that is what we were talking about. Oh, dear papa, don't be cast down. Perhaps it may not be so bad

have long expected this. His health has been getting worse and worse for years. Poor Chester! has he really gone at last? I remember him at college. He was a

, "it is a great deal more than a lesson. Think what c

hing her elders. Harry will begin soon. Yes, to be sure; we have

? What shall we do? What is t

ou will see that I cannot be expected all at once-- Was this what Mrs. Ascott was talking of? And what did

he girls, Mr. St. John; on the contrary, they were against it. But I thought there was no harm in saying that a petition from the parish-to the Lord Chancellor-a

visited him, and care dwelt in his house-and he had borne these visitations placidly; but there was one flaw in his armour, and this unlooked-for assault found it out. A flame of injured pride blazed up in him, swif

ace; and they were overawed by it. This kind of sentiment too has always a certain fictitious grandeur to the inexperienced. Never to ask for anything; to wait-patie

e been a great deal better for your family. Besides, you have not asked for anything now. I am not responsible for my actions to any one, a

rance. The living is a college living. I don't know what your ideas are on the subject,

ing after risking so much was hard to bear. After this little ebullition, however, the curate fell back into his usual calm. He spoke to them in his ordinary way. His voice resumed its tran

ppiness! Poor Chester was never happy; he might have been very well here. How much I have had to be thankful for here! but it was not his disposition. He

sort of domestic criticism, even though unexpressed, was hard upon Mr. St. John, as upon all such feeble good men. His last wife had adored him at all times, as much when he was foolish as when he was wise. She would have given him the fullest adhesion of her soul now, and echoed every word he said; but the girls did not. They wo

to ask him, looking up into his face with big

s no very immediate hurry. Let us see first who is

y learned man-and if it is a coll

he rest of my days. But I never was distinguished. I never was a Fellow, or anything. I never could push myself forward. No-we must just wait and see what i

Cicely, I know I oughtn't to say anything to you about your papa. But if he has not been anxious, others have been anxious for him. Your poor mo

ried both the

o the world that nobody wanted, and die of it. Yes, she did die of it. You don't understand these things-you are only children. And all because he was what you call kind-hearted, and could not bear to

ought not to s

d I humbly beg your pardons," s

e left him unprotected,"