The Squire of Sandal-Side

ethod in man'

up by d

than a serpen

thankles

arlotte remembered their events as little as she did their particular weather. The only circumstance that cast any shadow over them relat

cted, caused some heart-burning and disappointment. Sophia had calculated upon Harry's fine appearance and splendid uniform as a distinct addition to her wedding spectacle. She also felt that t

hough he promised himself "to find out all about Mr. Harry

easily take Florence into our wedding-trip, only we must not let Charlotte know of our intention. C

ed money; and lately his father had begun to understand, and for the first time in his life, what a many-sided need it was. To go to his secretary, and to find no gold pieces in its cash-drawer; and to his bank

regard for Julius; and her knowledge of facts made her read for "sick friend" "fair friend." It was, indeed, very likely that the beautiful girl, whose likeness Harry carried so near his heart, had gon

Its hall-doors stood open all day long, and the August sunshine and the garden scents drifted in with the lights and shadows. Life had settled down into such simple ways, that it seemed to be always at rest. The hou

ously for the last wain. "We have the earliest shearing in Sandal-Side," he said. "The sickle has not been in the upper meadows yet, and if they finish to-night it will be a good thing. It's a fine moon for work. A fine

day that Chr

sheaf of

und, and b

ip, hu

n hedges, and his voice seemed to fall out of mid-air. Charlotte turned, wit

ephen. When did you get home? N

as there is a favor you can do us,

en. What can I

pare us a couple of men? The wheat in L

have too many sickles. Cut wheat while the su

iged to you. I think she has fail

You should stay at home, Stephen Latrigg. A man's

ment that he ought to have let alone. "And I am not going to build the mill, s

inquishment demanded some acknowledgment, and appeared to put him under an obligation which he did not feel he had any right to acknowledge. He

s together. Steve would have forgiven the squire a great deal more for such an opportunity, especially as a still kinder after-thought followed it. For he had not gone far before he turned, and called back, "Bring Steve into the house, Charlotte. He will stay, and have a bit of suppe

. Whether the squire liked to admit the fact or not, he was deeply in

y as well have plenty to trust to. I think of buyin

ng, St

doing things that lighten labor very much. I have been finding out all about them.

arnessing a flock of wild geese for a trip t

le uncomfortably. "Tha

they do what they can and what they may. It is a blessed truth that the mind cannot stay lo

u mean kind

than money,-things that money cannot buy. Let money take a backward place." Then he voluntarily asked about the processes of s

leeces? You would be wonder-struck. There are long staple and short staple; silky wool and woolly wool; black fleeces from the Punjaub, and curly white ones from Bombay; long warps from Russia, short ones from Buenos Ayres; little Spanish fleeces, and our ow

and I don't blame those who like the hurryment of steam and metal. Each

lly recognized; and Stephen had gone in and out of the pleasant "Seat," dayshine and dark, as the acknowledged lover of Charlotte Sandal. The squire, upon the whole, submitted gracefully: he only stipulated that for some time, indefinitely postponed, th

short, and yet so definitely pinned to Julius, that they were but commentaries on that individual. At Paris she had simply asked Julius, "What do you think of Paris?" And the opinion of Julius was then given to Seat-Sandal confidently as th

as he read it. "It is about the usual thing, Alice. Julius likes Florence. It is called 'the beautiful.' Julius thinks that it deserves the title. The wine in Rome did not suit Julius, but he finds the Florence vintage much better. The climate is very delightful, Julius is sure he will derive benefit from it; and so on, and so on, and so on." Then there was a short pause, and a rapid turn

Sophia has. He told us he was going there. He has written to us frequently. Suppose he was with a beautiful girl: is Julius the only young man entitled to such a privilege? Sophia is happy in her own way, and we do not envy nor interfere with her happiness; but w

r. and Mrs. Julius Sandal disagreed as conventionally as the ordinary husband and wife of one existence. The day on which the Florence letter was written had been a very unhappy one for Sophia. Julius had quarrelled with her about some very trivial affair, and had

tisfaction. He had quite forgotten the affair at the breakfast-table, an

can see him also. I am sure I need to see some one.

our own affairs a little. If you are wil

elp you in any thi

rry, and brought him back to dine with them. Julius was particularly pleasant to the unsuspicious soldier. He soon perceived that he was thor

and it, Harry," he s

cer's life, and the admiration of the girls, and the whole éclat of the thing. But when a man's time comes, and he falls so

is the young lady I saw yo

ke a girl as he grav

he live

l for th

go back to y

immedi

bad! Why not l

s I returned to Sandal-Side, my fath

autocrats-quite.

been lurking in my own heart. I am sorry you have given it a voic

mmission. I should think a thousa

k on the sub

; and I am sorry for a young man who is obliged to leave a handsome mistress, and to feel that

easant life at Seat-Sandal. For though the squire pooh-poohed it, and Charlotte professed indifference about it, and Mrs. Sandal kept assuring herself and others that "Harry never, never would do any thing wrong or unkind, especially about a woman," eve

as a heavy snow-storm, and the mail was sent forward with difficulty. So Mrs. Sandal was reading the letter announcing his visit when she heard his voice in the hall, and the joyful cry of Charlotte as she ran to meet him. And that night every one was too happy, too full of

rver, and Sandal-Side peal sent it on to Earlstower and Coniston. After breakfast they all went to church; and Harry saw, as in a dream, the sacred table spread with spotless cloth and silver cups and flagons, and the dim place decked with holly, and the smiling glance of welcome from his old acquaintances in the village. And he fell into a reverie whic

shness. As the day wore on, a sense of weariness and even gloom came with it. Rich food and wine are by no means conducive to cheerfulness. The squire sloomed and slept in his chair; and finally, after a cup of tea, went to bed. The servants had a party in their own hall, and Mrs. Sandal and Charlotte were occupied an hour or two in

s shocked by its expression. "Harry," she said, leaning forwar

tell you,

to do, you may dare to

got ma

? Is it to the lady whos

ld you she

t he had been talking with Squire Beverley. Emily is to have fifteen thousand pounds. Father is fever

Emily? I have been married to Be

e name! Is it

s an I

ndal! Wha

d made Italians as

to themselves. He was angry when they intermarried with others. It always brought harm. What kind of a person is an Italian? They are papists, I know. The Pope of Rom

sh church." He said the words rather defiantly, for Charlotte's attitude offended him; an

mother; he christened and confirmed you; you might be sure, that if yo

e an angel's, and that you

man-Catholic angel. Circumstances alter cases. You, who have been brough

ne over to the

ls got all of their Millom Estate for being good Protestants; for standing by the Hanoverian line instead of those popish Stuarts. Father will think you have committed an act of trea

o lovely,

nglish girls? no good English gir

w what y

it to pl

rlot

and your birth. Suppose you selected some outlandish dress,-an Italian brigand's, for instance,-what would the neighboring gentlemen think of you? It would be an insult to their national costume, and the

pportunity. Beatrice cannot

e woman. Harry Sandal, I wish I had died, ere my ears had heard such a sha

lace of Beatrice the city asso

y! Her triumphs! Is s

nger; one to whom the world has

d her? It is an outrage on your ances

r. Did you wish me to ruin and debase her? That, I suppose, you could hav

n Sandal that would have hesitated between ruin and marriage. If it had to be one or the other, then fath

w of the situation. I could not give up Beat

is to throw a stone at her. You have committed a sort of sacrilege. And you are married. No entreaties can prevent, and no repentance can avail. Oh, what a sorrow to darken all

y, Charley, but I lov

n 'so much,' and Fanny Ulloch 'so much,' and Emily Beverley 'so much.' Why did

alk to you about mon

d for your commission? Do you know how it hampered him to do it? t

not live in this climate? She was very ill when she retur

? Her brother

wrong. He i

, your profession, every thing that other men hold dear and sacred. D

ng how disagreeable y

honest questions

y from the sale

trike you as dishon

her gave

te. When you came of age, father made you a very generous allowance. After a time you preferred that he should invest a large sum in a military commission for you; and you proposed to live upon your pay,-a thing you never have even tri

ance would my father make me, aft

to expect one, and so you keep what is not yours. This sin also for

orn enough abou

love? Certainly I would marry no one else, but I gave father my word that I would wait for his sanction. When people do right, things come right for them. But if father had stood out twenty years

ou to stand by me. I e

elp? What can I do? There is

r at once. The money I have from my commission is all I have. I am going to invest it in

only have found th

ances may

your wife have talked over that probability. Be

you say. But you don't mean to hurt me. Do you imagine that I feel no sorrow in leaving father and my mothe

go away?

mother and every thing for the

k her he

reak the trou

child that has the power to inflict a slow and torturing death! Poor father! Poor mother! An

his chair impatiently away, and w

d him "fey," and been certain that misfortune was at his heels. And Charlotte looked at him in wondering p

is 'cup down' with me. I think we will take Dobbin, and go over to Windermere in the tax-cart. The roads will be a bit sloppery, but Dobbin isn't too old

Sandal this

d all of twenty dozen in the bottom of it. Mr. Wordsworth was there too, and he made a piece of poetry about 'The silvery lights playing over them;' and he took me to see a picture that a London gentleman painted of Kit and his boat. You never saw fish out

d better not go w

tert and cross as never was. Where is your mother? I like m

ry and you, and she is making herself sick over it. She i

se as to be foolish. I believe in some things that are outside of my short wits. Maybe we had better n

a little child smiling and prattling on the road to its mother's funeral. She put Mrs. Sandal's breakfast

arry wants money." That was his first thought, and he began to calculate how far he was able to meet the want. Even then, his only bitter reflection was, that Harry should suppose it necessary to be glu

uire's blue eyes when Harry followed, and he turned them on him. And it was part of his punishm

the

! I see you are wa

e. I am married, and am

hand shook, his long clay pipe fell to the

his father nothing; he appeared to gather a hard courage as he spoke of her failing health, her hatred of England, her devotion to her own faith, and the necessity of his retirement to Italy with her. He seemed determined to put it out of the power of any one to say worse of him than he

give you one

ty; though the wretched father had risen, and was stand

waters. All the waves and the billows were going over him. For a few moments he struggled desperately with the black, advancing tide. His sight

hambers,-all heard it, and were for a moment horrified by the agony and despair it expressed. But ere the awful echo had quite subsided, Charlotte was at her father's side; in

he master's room, which had held for generations nothing but memories of pastoral business and sylvan pleasures, had suddenly become a place of sorrow. The shattered pipe upon the hearthstone made Charlotte utter a low, hopeless cry of pain. Sh

d by a few strong, decided feelings and opinions that struck their roots deep into the very foundations of existence; a generation, also, which was bearing the brunt of the transition between the strong, simple life of the past, and the rapid, complex life of the present. Thus the squire opposed to the indi

her;-a foreigner,-an Italian, of all foreigners most objectionable; a subject of the Papal States; a member of the Romish Church; a woman of obscure birth, poor and portionless, and in ill-health; worse than all, a public woman, who had sung for money, and yet who had made Harry desert his home and country and profession for her. And with this train of thought another ran parallel,-the shame and the wrong of it all. The disgrace to his wife and daught

und it, waiting in silent groups for their verdict. All the afternoon the gentlemen of the Dales were coming and going with offers of help and sympathy

d precious blood hast redeemed us, save us,

people whom thou hast redeeme

es in displeasure; but make h

he enemy. Lift up the light of