In the Year of Jubilee

savoury meats and ardent beverages which constituted his diet; Stephen resolved upon a change of habits, but the flesh held him in bondage, and medical prophecy was justified by the ev

, made him by turns fretful and furious, disposed him to a sullen solitude. He would accept no tendance but that of Mary Woodruff; to her, as to his children, he kept up the pretence of

berwell Road, but remained at the warehouse only till two or three o'clock, then returned and sat alone in his room. On one of the first days of July, when the weather was oppres

ink,' he said wearily,

ve the lime-

hat yo

and he drank two large

e is

said she would be

an angry

to me. Why doesn't she come back to lunch?

't kno

l voice, looking at her master with e

f I'm to be alone, I might as well have lunch now. I feel hungry, as if

ered it. As he did not speak at once,-he was standing by the

ater, Mary, plai

jug and glass, and h

to talk to you about things.

h, and Mary, with an a

ve in the country. There's no reason why I shouldn't

ing you could do, sir. T

ed with things. I want to make

yes wandered, expressing fretfulness or fear; he spoke with effort,

ll me plainly, what d

of he

; we've known each other so long, and I think of you as a friend, a very good friend.

, no vulgar self-consciousness, but perhaps a just perceptible pleas

know her very well, as I've seen her day by day since she was a little thing. Bu

nd boy. I said that I wouldn't educate them very much; I saw little good that came of it, in our rank of life. I meant them to be simple-minded. I hoped Nancy would marry a plain countryman, like the men I used to know when I was a boy; a farmer, or something of that kind. But see how it's come about. It wasn't that I altered my mind about what was best. But I see

felt satisfied,' said the list

been as good and usef

. Your daughter had a mind given her at her birth, that would never have bee

me to London, I might have lived happily. My place was away there, in the old home. I've known that for many a year. I've thought: wait till I've made a little more money, and I'll go back. But it was never done; and now it looks to me as if I had spoilt the lives of my children, as well as my own. I can't trust Nancy, that's the worst of it. You don't know what she did on Jubilee night. She wasn't

fallen, and sh

e likes. Whether or no it was right to educate Nancy, I am very sure that I ought to have done with him as I meant at first. He hasn't the brains to take a good position. When his schooling went on year after year, I thought at last to make of him something better than his father-a doctor, or a lawyer. But

before they have to act for themselves,' said

er I live much longer or not, I can do something to guard them agai

elf in front o

re left alone, would you be willing to live he

you bid me, Mr. Lord,' answered the w

on, and keep h

they go on

ey have no relatives that could be of any use to them. I should wish Nancy to go on living here, and you with her; and she would only have just a sufficient income, paid by my old friend

't live by hers

ould stay,' he exc

her servant. That w

ould trust her as I could to you. There's no woman I respect so much. For twent

would brook

ekeeper, and our friend. I will have it, I tell you!' he cried angrily. 'You shall sit at table with us, and live with us. Nancy still has sense en

ility shrank from what seemed to her an invidious honou

pretences. Perhaps it isn't too late to set good examples before her. I've never found her ill-natured, though she's wilful; it isn't her heart that's wrong-I hope and think not-only her mind, that

ends,' Mary said at length,

will make her so good a husband as he would. We don't think alike in every way; he's a young man, and has the new ideas; but I've known him since he was a boy, and I respect his character. He has a conscience, which is no common thing now-a-days. He lives a clean, homely life-and you won't find many of his age who do. Nancy

ll ring; that o

. Nancy,' said

ancy, tell her I want to speak

. L

tell you-

. He stood upright, his face stern and dignified. In a few mome

aven't thought of her as a servant, but as a friend, and one of the best possible. It's time now to show our gratitude. Mary will continue to help us as before,

d could not conceal it. But when silence came, she had commanded herself. An instant's pa

Your place is with us.

his daughter, tried vainly