The Trial, Or, More Links of the Daisy Chain

is my depar

ae longer

her friend n

shes m

done through

never c

e all my fr

and joy be w

ng's Go

of cloud still cumbered the air, and gusts

ies they had received; and to Averil's representation that it transgressed the system of rigid economy that so much

ference so eagerly and thankfully encouraged by the master of the house. Vainly did she protest against pretension, and quote the example of the Grange; she found herself compelled to sacrifice the children's lessons to learn

Stoneborough perceived excepting herself and Leonard-that this dinner was intended as a step in Henry's courtship, and possibly as an encouragement of Harvey Anderson's liking for herself. Averil held her head so high, and was so little popular, that no one of less assurance than Mrs. Ledwich hers

was invited to join. He gladly came to the early dinner, where he met reduced numbers-the Ernescliffes being at Maplewood, Tom at Cambridge, and Harry in the Channel fleet; and as usual, he felt the difference between the perfect understanding and friendship in the one home, and the dread o

r studies; then proceeded to unpack their treasury of fossils, and endeavour to sort out Leonard's share, as to which doubts arose. Daisy proposed to carry the specimens at once to Bankside, where she

sed from their veils, the gayer cushions taken out of their hiding-places, and the brown holland covers half off. This was the only tranquil spot, and so poor little Mab thought, forbidden ground though it was. Even in her own home, the school-room, a strange man had twice trod upon her toes; so no wonder, when she saw her own master and his friends in the drawing-room, that she ventured in, and leaping on a velvet cushion she had never seen before, and had never been ordered off, she

Ward, coming home to inspect the preparations, beheld the drawing-room bestrewn with the rough stones that he had

mpeded by a barricade of the crowded and disarranged furniture, he grew mad with passion, and launched the stone in his hand, a long sharp-pointed belemnite. It did not strike Henry, but a sound proclaimed the mischief, as it fell

tammered Henry, pointing

at the sounds, 'do you defend this

enry held up the elf-bolt, and he saw its sharp point

he paused. 'I did not know what I was about when you wer

as well as angered, and thought, perhaps

ghtly,' he said, not

t you ha

head,' said Leonard. 'Wha

ned Henry, as he sighed over the long

will only not be sulky about it, Henry. It was u

s no having you in the house; you defy my authority, you insult my friends, you waste and destroy more than you are worth, and you are absolutely dangerous. I

turning to collect the fossils, a

t are you saying?'

nes on the road than live where my keep is grudged, and

ng,' began Henry, in a tone of an

ontinuing quietly to replace the furniture and collect the fossils, as it

h, why don't you explain? Why don't y

ook his he

mean to d

thi

er year before trying

ve no chan

do it! He can

rother cannot forgive a broken glass or a moment's fright,' said Leona

e cooler,

at we cannot live together, and there's an end o

ome down t

have no more about it

'am, the fi

see how I have done up the

d reach me down some calyca

ssistant in the decorations, and the past adventure was only apparent in the shattere

ch and Mrs. Pugh walked in, overflowing with suggestions, she let them have their way, and toiled under them with the sensation of

as she, that she sat with her hair on her shoulders as if spell-bound, till the first ring at the door aroused her to speed and consternation, perhaps a

ladies were not slow to relate all that they knew; and while the aunt dismayed Ethel by her story, the niece, with much anxiety, asked Dr. May how it was that these dear, nice, superior young people should have such unfortunate tempers-was it from any error in manage

incipled, and all that one could wish; but family dissension is so dreadful. I

nearly of an age

s be likely to happen

ot!' said the Doc

confidence which you think

evening, but he could not help observing that she was less gracious than usual to the master of the house; while she summoned

to attend to them, and forgot the dulness of the scene in her anxiety to seek sympathy and counsel in the only quarter where she cared for it. She went mechanically through her duties

er of whatever Mrs. Ledwich or Mrs. Pugh might have said. Ethel had been more hopeful before she heard the true version; she had hitherto a

waited for explanation! And now, will you get Dr. May to speak to him? If he only k

t himself? He said to papa last year that your father would

would care about having that cast up ag

threat. Leonard surely h

refused, and cannot ask again. No, the only difficulty is whether he ought

say he

h it, and talked of the burden of his maintenanc

n the spirit of repentan

s it not hard that I cannot get at my own money, and send him a

do a better part by trying to

ympathizing Mary rather than Miss May, who was sure to take the part of the elder and the authority. Repentance! Forgiveness! If Miss May should work on Leonard to sue for pardon an

she watched his stern determined face, and the elaborately quiet motions that spoke of a fixed resentful purpose; but to her disa

t were holidays. Aubrey, whom she desired to bring him in after the rifle drill, reported that he pronounced himself sor

ays anxiously thought over Leonard's prospects. His remaining at home was evidently too great a trial for both brothers, and without a scholarship he cou

ion much farther. Had his personal character been otherwise, Dr. May thought a young man could not have a better opening than a seat in his office, and the futur

igher aspirations that she had foste

earful evil that befalls great schemes intrusted to people who cannot deal with money matters; and see, on the oth

he man

lay things before Henry, such as perhaps he may be t

t his sins had left him off.' His great-nephew, who lived with him and assisted in his business, was a dashing sporting young man of no good character, known to be often intoxicated, and concerned in much low dissipation, and as dangerous an associate as could be conceived for a high-spirited lad like Leonard. Dr. May could not believe that any provocation of t

opened for the middle classes, where he was meeting with great success, and was considered a capital judge of boys' characters. He was the guest of the M

rhaps this had made the mere learning by rote even more difficult to an active mind full of inquiry. He was a whole year younger than any other who touched the foremost ranks, two years younger than several; and though he now and then showed a feverish spark of genius, reminding Mr. Cheviot of Norman in his famous examination, it was not sustained-there were will and force, but not scholarship-and besides, there was a wide blurred spot in his memory, as though all the brain-work of the quarter before his illness had been confused, and had not yet become clear. There was every likelihood that a few years would make him su

to bring Leonard to talk it over, and Dr. May undertook to propound it to Henry on meeting him at the hospital; but Aubrey came back lookin

ve. She said that not a word had passed on the subject since the dinner-party, and there had not been a shadow of a dispute between the brothers; in fact, s

willing consent, and felt that Leonard's triumph and independence were secured without the s

phew had he known them better, he would not accept the opinion of a stranger against people of his own family, and he had always understood the position of an usher to be most wretched, nor would he perceive the vast difference b

bility that Henry's consent might be wrung out or dispensed with, and plans of attack were be

ear A

have quite settled with Mr. Axworthy, and I enter on my new duties next week. I am

ou

A. W

th pride and tempe

has made him s

e and tell him it is all bos

,' said Ethel. 'Perhaps they will all be tamer by to-morrow,

if he is so wrong-headed, I begin

s been galled and irritate

h thinks of it,' presen

Mrs. Pugh is readin

ing into that quarter. Master Henry does not know his own

Pugh to speak for him?' sai

not know that her interposition is the only thing

s place of temptation, and that was in the exertion of her personal influence. His avoidance of her showed that he dreaded it, but one attempt must be made. All night was spent in broken dreams of just failing to

eril she must speak to Leonard. Ave was on her side now, and answered with tears in her eyes that she should be most grateful to have L

blow sparks without thinkin

s fossils. He met them with a face resolutely bent on brightness. 'I a

lready falling out of hearing, she added, 'I thou

with her in the paths; 'I am leaving the p

r-great trial, I know,' said Ethel,

onard, snapping little boughs

d ought not

d rigid, and h

ut you, for I see you doing wilfully wrong, and en

my word,' re

hat is speaking, not the l

end myself,'

ride of these answers; her eyes fill

over, and I cannot go back. I know I was carried away by passion at the first moment, and I was wi

k you to liv

ned me with the mill if I lost the scholarship, which he knew I cou

uld you give up all your best and highest ho

e such aims. Henry has taken care to make them sacrilege f

mig

t on in the world; I must take care of my sisters; I don't trust one moment to Henry's affection for any of them. This is no home for m

she felt herself nearer her friend of Coombe. 'I am glad you have some better

is true what they say about Henry and Mrs. Pugh-then they could have a co

ish for your sisters to be with their relations there. The other

e, I will tell you that I had resolved the last thing to ask Henry's pardon for my share in thi

es ever so sour, or the nightshade below so sweet, as whe

ade! Why

; I know he thinks your c

ady, but I can ke

ing only half justified in going so far, 'the

red him. 'I can't help it,' he said, as if he would have recalled his former hardness; but t

God has placed him; but how

when one must jud

you are acting for the best, and not to gratify your pride, then I can only

take your advice-' he hesitate

e you let me

is something to keep my head above water,

thinks,'

not go back,' said Leona

ning patiently,' sai

wing her back to the house, 'you do

as long as you do your duty-for-for the highest reason, they will o

nd so had her test; her influence had not succeeded, but it had not snapped; the boy, in all

ts and wrongs of this wor