Beatrice

back towards it. So it happened that nobody heard Elizabeth's rather cat-like step, and for some seconds she stood in the doorway without being perceived. She stood quite still, taking in the whole

ted expression upon Geoffrey's countenance-she could see that in the little gilt-edged looking-glass whic

inded Welsh farmer, with strong views on the subject of tithe, it had not been entirely forgotten. The farmer was a tenant of Owen Davies, and when he called her a "parson in petticoats, and wus," and went on, in delicate reference to her powers of extracting cash, to liken her to a "two-legged corkscrew only screwier,"

dea, which, like ideas in general, had many side issues. At any rate a look of quick intelligence shone for a moment in her light e

said in her clear thin voice; "you see

which in his bruised condition really hurt him very much. Beatrice t

ou move, Eliza

have been wondering when anybody was going t

conversation had been innocent enough, but it was not one that she would wish Eli

he rescue, "both our brains are still rather water

our hair? You look like a crazy Jane. Not but what you have very nice

answered gallantly, "

e said; "I must apologise for appearing in such a state. I would have done it up af

ke, and Mr. Bingham will excuse it, I can tie it back for you," and without waiting for an answer she passed behind Beatrice, and gathering up t

fforts, and increased in a surprising manner, to the number of fifteen indeed. Elizabeth thereon produced the two pounds odd sh

e. There is old Jones who lives out towards the Bell Rock, he owes three years' tithe-thirty-four pounds eleven and fourpence. He can pay and he

ceed against him,

ell about his eyes. "I will have the law of him and the others too. You are a lawyer and you can help me. I tell you there's a spirit abroad which just comes to just-no man isn't to pay his lawful debts, except o

y. He was clearly very strong about that-as strong as Lady Honoria indeed, but with m

l pay after all. It is bad to take the law if you ca

ist about property, as you are about everything else. You want to pull everything down, from the Queen to the laws of marriage, all for the good of humanity, and I tell

's attack, which was all the sharper beca

e why you should attribute them to me. I only said that lega

eethinker and everything else that is bad and mad, and contrary to that state of life in which it has pleased God to call you. The end of it will be that you will lose the mistressh

asped, stood fronting her beautiful sister, and breathing spite at every pore. But it was easy for Geoffrey who was watching her to see that it was not her sister's views she was attacking; it was her sister. It was that soft strong loveliness and the glory of that face; it was the deep gentle mind, erring fr

ned; clearly he was afraid of Elizabeth, and dreaded a scene. He stood fidgeting his feet about, and trying

eyes shone out beneath their dark lashes. She had risen, drawing herself to her full height, which her exquisite propo

zabe

hesitated, and changed her mind. There was so

gth, "you should not ir

y turned towards Geoffrey, and

this scene. The fact is, we all slept badly la

r. Granger took a hurried and

u written, I mean written out, that sermon for next Sunday? My daughter," he added, addre

a?ve way of describing them, and Beatrice also smiled faintly as she answered that the sermon was ready. Just then

t. Elizabeth, see if there isn't some tea ready," and the old gentleman, who had all the traditio

en, that became her tall figure exceedingly well. For to do Lady Honoria justice, she was one of the most ladylike wom

hat he was thankful for it. This was not wonderful, for it is observable that the more ari

determined that you should not get yourself drowned a second time on your

out the soul of Beatrice, with one of the most penetrating and comprehensive glances that young lady had ever enjoyed the honour of receiving. Th

it shows the shape of her head so well, and she is tall enough to stand it. That blue wrapper suits her too. Very few women could show such a

es, and she knew that Beatrice liked her no better than she did Beatrice. Those eyes were a trifle too ho

eatrice. "I wonder how a man like that co

nce, each finding the other wanting by her standard.

e words we summon answer on our lips. The next, Lady Honoria was swe

I have heard all about how you saved him; it is the most wonderful thing-Grace Darling

g, except what it was my duty to do. If I had let Mr. Bingham go while I had the strength to

h beauty," answered Lady Honoria graciously. "Well, I will do as you wish, but I warn you your fame will fin

that, Honoria?"

arsington, and he mentions i

these smiles," thought he. "I sup

ittle injured. The old boatman-Edward, I think they call him-has found it; and your gun in it too, Geoffrey. It

t such weather as last night's, and canoeing is very pleasant. Every sw

hind leg of an elephant, and a most unpleasing habit of snorting audibly as she moved, shuffled

till Lady Honoria, feeling that things were ge

said in her well-trained and monotonously modulated voice. "I am

looked up

aying the part of the undutiful wife and running away from him, for exactly three weeks. It i

behind the shelter of his cup. "She does

go with you, Lady Hon

But I think she would be so bored where I am going to stay, for there are no other children there; and besi

vive it, I am sure," s

is going to stay on at Mrs.

ht children of her own, poor old dear. And I must take Anne with me; she is Effie's French nurse, you know, a perfect treasure. I am going to stay in a big house, and my experience of those big houses is, that one nev

oria," he answered. "I daresay tha

across Elizabeth's face. She was sitting next her father, and bending, whispered to him. Beatri

put you up for nothing you know, and living rough and ready. You'd have to take us as you find us; but there is a dressing-room

ut closed them without speaking. Thus do our opportu

work was hard, and he did not wish to put extra trouble upon her, for he guessed that the burden of looking after Effie

go away from Bryngelly just at present, and it would be a good plan in s

as to her appropriation of Anne's services; "how lucky that I happened to mention it. There will be no tr

ve preferred to take time to consider. Something warned him that Bryngelly Vicarage would prove a fateful abode for

ed and went off, followed by M

ill be a little dull here,

Why should I be dull? I cannot be

curious family, Mr. Bingham; you may have seen as mu

me, I won't," he said rather bluntly, and

er. The fact is that we are poor, and let lodgings-that is what it come

himself open to the smallest rebuff from a woman, and he

er if you do come. I do not meet so many people with whom I care to as

aid; "I only meant that perhaps you would not

t will be a great pleasure to me to l

turned, and their conve

ng in the world that Lady Honoria hated, it was an old-fashioned room.) "Well, and now we must be going. O

ed a clerical hat (Mr. Granger's concession to custom, for in most other re

rey's first day at