Evan Harrington -- Volume 4

erratic propensities. The particular point of instruction which now made poor Pat hang out his tongue, and agitate his crisp brown curls, was the performance of the 'down-charge'

her elbow. Laxley was her assistant dog- breaker. Rose would not abandon her friends because she had accepted a lover. On the contrary, Rose was very kind to Ferdinand, and perhaps felt bound to be so to-day. To-day, also, her face was lighted; a readiness to colour,

oke particularly well to-day, though she did not see so much in his eyes as in Pat's. The subject concerned his departure, and he asked Rose if she should be sorry. Rose, to make him sure of it, threw a

a whine. As no attention was paid to this amount of plain-speaking, Pat made a bolt. He got no farther than the length of the whip, and all he gained was to bring on himself the terrible word of drill once more. But Pat had tasted liberty. Irish rebellion against constituted authorit

, Pat! Pat! You'll have to obey

n to Pat, Ferdinand slipped in a soft word

and I will

u had better not,' sai

, laughing, 'you don'

to prostrate on

up, Ferdinand. You'll be

re, he caught her hand, and s

ur knees! and to me, Ferdina

, Rose?' was thi

e, and he lost his opportunity, which was pretty. However, he spoke plain English. The interview ended by Rose releasing Pat from drill, an

th Caroline

ere not unlike both in organization and character, and they had not sat together long before they found each other out. Now, to further Evan's love-suit, the Countess had induced

stupid men who earn their bread, and would not have been ashamed of us! And, my dearest, it is not only that. None can tell what our temptations are. Louisa has strength, but I feel I have none; and though, dear, for yo

l excitement. He attributed it to her recent attack of i

hat? Desp

esire to breathe it to him, and have his loving aid: the fear of forfeiting it, evil as it was to her, and at the bottom of all, that doubt we choose to encou

o you love h

shutting her own theme with iron cla

n endless carol with Evan. Carol

on't you?' he said, after a br

r. I think I have never love

me to Rose's love for him his blood thickened, and his tong

, do tell her. Trust a woman utterly if s

began to think it was for the sake

she is cold to you, let us go. Let us go. I shall be glad to. Ah, Van! I love you so.' Caroline's voice

ht be sure, wha

ve me, Van, if

well, he s

ing I should ever disgrace you in any way, and not tur

n for her sex and pride in himself and those of his blood, would be wicked and unpardonable, and that no earthly pleasure could drown it. Thinking this, with her hands joined in pale dejection, Caroline sat silent, and Evan left her to lay bare his heart to Rose. On his way to find Rose he was stopped by the announcement

e deuce he was to do for money he did not know. From the impressive manner in which he put it, it appeared to be one of Nature's great problems that the whole human race were bound to set their heads together to solve. A hundred pounds-Harry wanted no more, and he could not get it. His uncles? they were as poor as

f money-matters now,

subject, I conf

etween them. 'You can't think how it bothers one to ha

ested, he would not continue, but for a whole hour Ha

a fix. I want to help that poo

?' cried Evan, brightening

to accommodate you; but we are always astonished, nevertheless; and Harry was, when notes to the amount

and paper, and write down a memorandum of the loan: but Evan insisted upon sparing him the trouble, though Harry, with

e doubted whether you were one of us-rather your own

melancholy beggar, you'd be the jolliest fellow I know! There, go after Rosey. Dashed if I

tar-like figure up the length of it, between the swelling tall dark pillars, and was hurrying to her, resolute not to let one minute of deception blacken further the soul that loved so true a soul. She saw him, and stood smiling, when the Countess issued, shadow-like,

rtune, and had no doubt that at least he would amuse the company. Then she asked her brother the superfluous question

g Rose vanish, 'what do y

t this will be di

nce. I promis

world, and win, unknown to himself, her cheerful thanks, by lending Evan to len

thing you might ask him y

; and inasmuch as she had already drawn on Andrew in her own person

had sunk on a sudden; or it may have been that it was worst for this young man to ask for a loan of money, than to tell his beloved that he was basely born, vile, and unworthy, and had snared her into loving him; for when he and Andrew were together,

at for me?' sai

down to their dinners without an upset. I thank God I'm a Radical, Van; one man's the same as another to me, how he's born, as long as he's honest and

's quivering flesh. He did it as delicately as possible, half begging pardon, and perspiring

d. 'Louisa wishes to stay -there 's a pic-nic.

e in a whirl, you're an automaton, a teetotum! I haven't a notion of what I've been doing or saying since I came here. My belief is, I 've been lying right and left. I shall be found out to a certainty: Oh! if she's made her

ose acrid pleasantries which console u

sed with his hated self for being able to jest on t

g! nonsense! won't hear a word. Don't know anything about it. Van, you're going to be a brewer. I say you are. You're afraid you can't? I tell you, sir, I've got a bet on it. You're not going to make me lose, are you-eh? I have, and a stiff bet, too. You must and sha

sacrificed so much for him? 'There, there!' cried Evan, and her hand closed on the delicious golden whisp

m, considering the cloud on his fortunes. This enigma might mean, that by submitting to a temporary humiliation, for a trial of him-in fact, by his acknowledgement of the fact, loathed though it was, -he won a secret overlooker's

It was Polly Wheedle. Polly had put her young mistress to bed, and was retiring to her own slumbers. He made her take the letter and promise to deliver it immediately. Would not to-morrow morning do, she asked, as Miss Rose

for God's sake!' he cried, as one who bursts the spell of an

Mr. Nicholas Frim. Nicholas had never written her a letter; but she was determined that he should, some day. She wondered what love-letters were like? Like valentines without the Cup

. She had merely called her in to extract daily gossip. The corner of the letter sticking up under Polly's neck attracted her strangely, and beginning with the familiar, 'Well, child,' she talked of things interesting to Polly, and

aced, adoring the lady who made her look adorable, Polly tried it on, and the Countess compli

ly, child! and you a

exalted schemers are to be excused for riding down their few thousands. Mo

felt in her pockets, and at her bosom

extremely fatigued, and had to dismiss Polly, in spite of her eager

. There stood Rose. She turned to him,

ot changed

what could

ts bless her! He cou

Rose I knew

u-you look as if y

the work of an angel-nothing less! I have been a coward. And my beloved! to feel vile is agony to m

last words, and th

us? Shall I speak to M

l be right t

hy, but supposing a scrupulous honesty i

n, you will ne

mother. To take the hands of such a pair and be lifted out of the slough, he thought no shame: and all through the hours of the mo

led him out across the lawn into the pa

, 'shall I reall

not yet?'

. 'Mama did that when I was a little girl, because I told lies. I never could distinguish between truth and falsehood; and Mama set that mark on me, and I have never told a lie since. She forgives anyt

ou have only to tell her what I h

ook of pain: 'Everything

you compel me

ought: 'Have I slep

t grieved interrogat

signedly: 'I am yours

er, and quarrell

make you sa

ot make me sad. No; b

justify myself; and ind

why can you not open yo

trus

ust you more?' He spoke of th

last night? and all was written in

n, and he saw no hurtful beasts or lurking snakes in

w why I must

e contrary, you must st

e have to fi

the same thing. I heard it this morning: you wrote it last night. It's you I love, Evan. Your birth, and what you were obliged to do-that's nothing. Of course I'm sorry for it, dear. But I'm more sorry for the pain I must have sometimes put you to. It ha

d to him

hat my birth is, y

spite in it,

he had snared this bird of heaven in a net! Rose gave him no time for refl

letter to Poll

es

r. 'You might have divided us for ever. Well, we shall have t

t risk his

fended with Drummond. He does it out of pure affection for us, and I can see he's right-or, at least, not quite wrong. He ought, I think, to know that he cannot change me. Very well, we shall win Mama by what we do. My mother has ten times my wits, and yet I manage her like a feather. I have only to be honest an

en from her prattle, s

hem that at their time of life a change of any kind is very unwise and bad for them. Then there is Grandmama Bonner. She can hurt us really, if she pleases. Oh, my dear Evan! if you had only been a curate! Why isn't your name Parsley? Then my Grandmama

it of pouring secrets into any bosom,

it lasts, but we shall gain the day. Uncle Mel

you can know what I shall have to endure-not in confessing w

t raise me?

ok his

t from mere appearances-in

how different you make me. Up to this hour I have been

new. And-did you really think that, Evan? And-Oh, Rose! was that your dream? And the meaning of that by-gone look: was it what they fancied? And such

she came to know, and how much the 'all' that she knew comprised. In his letter he had told all; the condition of his parents, and his own. Honestly, now, what with his dazzle

ed: 'Are you ready?' And Evan nodded; and Rose, to make him thin

hey walked to the house, not quite

ining how heart and heart the two had grown, and that Evan woul

nswered, and to

walk. Poor Drummo

o his eyes calm

oing, Rose?' sai

livered to me last night,' said Rose, in a loud voice, looking at Drummond. 'And

ers rather scornful

ITOR'S B

ples of an inv

eature enough

rybody at table he

y inspired by evi

ung men have

some solid foundat

o himself, 'to-m

for a thing

ee anythi

contagio

the good opinion

f folly will lurk and

outsiders the onus

he Countess because

nge himself on the

ing a

woman to speak con

thers evoked v