The Squire of Sandal-Side

lves in every p

icity we ma

oh, catch the

ch moment

rt summer, m

as! how soo

. It was Christmas-time, but the squire felt none of the elation of the season. He was conscious that the old festal preparations were going on, but there was no response to them in his heart. Julius had arrived, and was helping Sophia to hang the holly and mistletoe. But

too simple-hearted to reflect that it is seldom a great fault which destroys liking for a person. A great fault can be forgiven. It is small personal offences constantly repeated; little acts of meanness, and, above

hter of gay hearts well contented with the time and the circumstances. Outside, the mesmerizing snow was falling with a soft, silent persistence. T

rt. He remembered the impromptu lunch, which they had enjoyed so much while at work. He could see the mother come smiling in, with constant samples of the Christmas cheer fresh out of the oven. He had printed the verses and mottoes himself, spent all the afternoon over them, and been rather proud of his efforts. Charlotte had said, "they

x in a pathetic complaint, "I never thought Charlotte would have given me the go-

woollen wraps in her hand. Before he could speak, she had reached his chair, and put her arm across his shoulder, and said in her bri

; you do so, my dear. Whe

. Some of the servants are down from Up-Hill. Ducie has se

ie ever since I knew myself. Could we cl

go and wish her 'a merry Christmas.' You never misse

hat. Is Ste

wasn't planning about Steve, father. D

l and of any thing underhand at the same time. I'm a

oot of every bitter moment. For Harry had not taken the five hundred pounds with the creditable contrite humiliation of the repenting prodigal. It was even yet doubtful whether he would respond to his parents' urgent request to sp

stood still, and looked in Charlotte's face. "You are sure

ok her head very positively. "They do

ed some distance; then he asked meani

has come

m nettled at myself for ever showing

d me, father, I gave it; for he asked me

pleasure I would have given a matter of five pounds to have known a d

Who has been

wns I have given William Sandal. Do you mind tel

o had never given them the least encouragement; and I said I did not love him, and never, never could love him. I was ve

y himself;" and then, as if he thought it was his duty not to show too much gratification, he added, "I hope you were very civil, Ch

t you. At the long end you alw

ll for Sophia now, is he? Well, I shouldn't wonder if Sophia will 'best' him a little on every side. You have given me a turn, Charlotte. I didn't think of a son-in-law yet,-not just yet. Dear me! How life does go on! Ever since the sheep-shearin

been. When a thing is done, if it is only the ta

d the squire said it again very solemnly. "Eternity! How dreadful to spend it in repentance

rd. "It is mizzling already, Charlotte; the snow will turn into

ey would be sure to get there, that the squire could not resist the temptation. "For all will be at sixes a

nice dinner, and a quiet smoke, and an hour's nap will help you through to-night."

busy preparing his room with her own hands. The brightest fire, the gayest gre

for his declaration rested in the main with herself. When the Christmas bells were ringing, when the house was bright with light and evergreens, and the very atmosphere full of happiness, she had determined to give him the necessary encourage

ith leaves and berries, in a little affected distress. Julius seated himself on the sofa beside her. She trembled, but he looked at her almost triumphantly. Over Sophia's heart

e in lives lo

Jul

overed in others, but bringing into every li

it. "Look into them both, Sophia, and see how closely our line of fortune is alike. That is somethin

in Charlotte's p

oul mark upon the body. Every educated Hindoo can trace it; and all will tell you, that, if two

plain it to

know best just what they have never been told. Sophia, this hand of yours fits

t it was likely to be the first encroachment of a tyranny she did not intend to bow to. But Sophia was easily deceived on

through the phantom visions of the past. And they were so charmed with the occupation, that they quite forgot the exigencies and cla

d Sophia. "I must

ered him without a word. Love knows how such speech may be. Even when she had escaped from her lover, she was not very sorry to find that Harry had gone at once to his own room; for he had driven through the approaching storm, and been thoroughly drenched.

squire, and then she reached the real solution of the position in a moment. "They have gone to Up-Hill, of course. Father always goes the day before Christmas; and Charlotte, no doubt, expected t

and she was not in any particular flurry to tell her success. Indeed, she was rather inclined to revel for an hour in the sense of it belonging

elvet. A spray of mistletoe-berries was in her black hair, and a glittering necklace of fine sapphires enhanced the beauty and whiteness of her exquisite neck and shoulders. She was delighted with the effect of her own br

er head, her feet comfortably extended upon the fender, her eyes closed. She had been a little tired with buffeting the storm; and

f an hour, and you have to dress

re, Sophia! I never saw you look so well.

es me. He says he used to dream

do that. I dare say he dreams about you no

ve to hurry,

n ten minutes

of her "no-matter-every-thing-right" moods, and knew she would take the important news without the proper surprise and enthusiasm. In fact, she perceive

ce in your eyes, you will dress decently to m

out of the way. Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! I hope Harry will have a

't pretend to be blind to Harry's faults. Remember how many disagreeable hours he has given us lately. And I must say t

paid you fifteen pounds of it back already, and I shall not buy a single

ves to-night. One likes to keep the peace at Yule-tide, and so

the room, arranged the glass at the proper angle to give her a last comprehensive review of herself; and this being quite satisfactory, she went away with a smiling

subsequently unbound her hair, and pulled the comb through it, and from the irritability of all her movements, that she felt the omission to be a

arlotte, specially; it will make her of too much importance. I don't approve of Charlotte in many ways.' Oh, I know you, sir!" and with the thought sh

she had stood a moment at the open door for their recognition. So she passed on without troubling them. She heard her mother's happy laugh in the large dining-room, and she guessed from its tone that Harry was with her. Mrs. Sandal was beautifully dressed in black s

there was a sudden and wonderful transformation in his face. It grew in a moment much finer, more thoughtful, wistful, human. He sprang forward, took her in his arms, and kissed her. The

it been my all, it been f

and Charlotte understood each other, and Ha

ndal of the Brahminical cast

e me, Harry; so ho

im in the fundamentals; a natural-born ina

as that, Harry. I am sure th

ather l

lius is a Sandal,

be my fault, Charley, if he does not stand a l

and there is little Emily Beverley. She is so

I used to love Em

me too. And the Beverleys are related to moth

ess was gone like a flash. Harry's arm was round his sister's waist, her head against his shoulder; but in a moment he gently released himself, and w

oks. Up-sitting and down-sitting, you are my son. You come of a good kind; you have a kind heart and plenty of dint;[4] now, then, make a fresh start, Harry. Oh, my dear, dear son!" Th

Julius first saw what a desirable estate and fine old "seat" Harry's existence deprived him of. And in half an hour this general aversion began to particularize itself. The slim, suave youth, with his black eyes and soft speech, and small hands and feet, seemed to Harry Sandal in every respect an interloper. The Saxo

squire. Sophia was inclined to the first course, because of the presence of the rector. She felt that his blessing on her betrothal would add a religious grace to the event, but Julius was averse to speak on any matter so private to himself before Harry Sandal. He felt that

had gone, it became very difficult to avoid a feeling of ennui and restraint, although it was Christmas Eve. Mrs. Sandal soon went into the housekeeper's room to assist in the preparation of the Yule hampers for the families of the men who

e soon evident through all the conventional efforts to be "merry." It was the squire who finally hit upon the circumstance which tided over the evening, and sent every one to bed in a ripple of laughter. For, when the piano was closed, he opened his eyes, and said, "Sophia, your

here are her last letters? I am sure father wo

ound here to laugh a bit at Joe; but Joe aims to do right, and he i

and Harry will enjoy them I know.

was the one to find plovers' eggs, and to spot a blaeberry patch. Joe has some sense

gwick really. Joe has been on

ading would exhibit her in an entirely new r?le to Julius, and she entered upon the task with all the confidence and enthusiasm which insured the entertainment. And as both Professor Sedgwick and Joe Bulteel were well kno

it would be to sell all the stones on their fell at five shillings a little bagful," Mrs. Sandal entered. A servant followed with spi

ame home; nay, she hadn't so much as looked at him after the one hard glower that she gave him at first; but when he said he'd been at Skeàl-Hill, she gave a grunt, and said, as if she spoke to nobody but herself, "Ay, a blind body might see that."-"I was speaking to Joe," said father. "Joe," said he again, "I was at Skeàl-Hill,"-mother gave another grunt then,-"and they to

me back laughing, and said, "Come this way, Joe." Well, our Joe followed him till he stopped before a room door; and he gave a little knock, and then opened it, and says he, "Joe, sir." Joe wasn't going to stand that; and he said, "'Joe, sir,' he'll ken i

and grunted out something about wondering how Joe durst show his face again. Well, that put the cap on all for poor Joe. He had thought over what father said, and how he said it, on his road down till he found himself getting rather mad about it; and the way they all snorted and laughed when he came to Skeàl-Hill made hi

variety of merry peals. Sophia was calmer. She sat by the lamp, pleasantly conscious of the amusement she was giving; and, considering that she had already laughed the circumstance out in her

their face to a king, let alone an old noodles that calls himself a jolly-jist. And I defy the face of clay," said Joe, "to show that any of us ever did aught he need to be ashamed of, wherever we show our faces. Dare to show my face, eh?" said Joe again, "My song! but this is a bonnie welcome to give a fellow

uire, "as independent as never was. They are a man

say. The Bulteels are as good stock as the Sandals; a fine old family, and, like the Sandals, at home he

think shame of shouting and bellering so at an old man, and him as whisht as a trout through it al

against me? If you have, speak it out like a man; and don't sit there twiddling your thumbs, and calling folks out of their names in this road." Then it came out plain enough. All this ill-natur

ctacles, and glowered at Joe without them. Then he put them on again, and glowered at Joe with them; and then he laughed, and asked Joe, if he thought there could be no difference in stones. "Why!" answered Joe, "you hardly have the face to tell me tha

but it made no matter what I thought, so long as you paid me so well for going with you." As Joe said this, it came into his head that it was better to flatter a fool than to fight him; and after all, that there might be something in the old man liking stones of his own breaking better than those of other fo

up, and said Joe must have something to eat and drink. Then Joe thought to himself, "Come, come, we are getting back to our own menseful way again." But he would not stir a peg till he heard what he was to have for getting the stones again; for Joe knew he would never he

here the stones were all lying just as Joe had turned them out of the bags, only rather grown over with grass. And as Joe picked them up one by one, and handed them to the old jolly-jist, it did Joe's heart good to see how pleased he loo

to the parlor; and the first thing he did was to call for some red wax and a light, and he clapped a great splatch of a seal on either bag; and then he looked at Joe, and gave a little grunt of a laugh, and a smartish wag of the head, as much as

fessor, and it was like Joe Bulteel. The story does them both credit. I am glad I hear

is house, and on all

ren, a merry Ch

ng hands, a merry