Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 1

ugs, and self-reproaches, had penetrated her dreams, and when the morning came she had scarcely to learn that Dahlia loved some one. The confession was

a was impressed by a mystical veneration for this man, and readily believed him to be above all other men, if not superhuman: for she was of an age and an imagination to conceive a spiritual pre-eminence over the weakness of mortality. She thought that one who

an oath?" said R

replied; "he only ment

t strange, and she surrendered her judgemen

y that it stood yet. "Father shall not always want money," she said. She was particular in prescribing books for Rhoda to read; good authors, she emphasized, and named books of history, and poets, and quoted their verses. "For my darling will

e letters from London placed her beyond dull days and nights. The letters struck many chords. A less subservient reader would have set them down as variations of the language of infatuation; but Rhoda was responsive to every word and change of mood, from the, "

a letter was brought in at the breakfast-table, marked "urgent and private," she opened it, and the first line dazzled her eyes-the surp

ter ran

mense my love is for him, so that anything-everything he thinks right is right to me. I am not afraid to think so. If I were to try, a cloud would come over me-it does, if only I fancy for half a moment I am rash, and a straw. I cannot exist except through him. So I must belong to him, and his will is my law. My

see Edward by-and-by. Oh! may heaven spare him from any grief. Rhoda will co

uching his hand. There is France opposite. I shut my eyes and see the whole country, but it is like what I feel for Edward-all in dark moonlight. Oh! I trust him so! I bleed for him. I could make all my veins bleed out at a

is my chief prayer now. I shall thin

en! bless them all! bl

mer at the pier. Here is Edward.

dre

Edward

e Res

usa

tzer

-bye and God bless my innocent at home, my dear sister. I love her. I never can forget her. The day is so lovely. It seems on purpose for us. Be sure y

hli

ugh a multiplicity of shifting scenes, opal landscapes, full of fire and dreams, and in all of them a great bell towered. "Oh, my sweet! my own beauty!" she cried in Dahlia's language. Meeting Mrs. S

responded with no remarkable flash of his eyes, and merely opened his mouth and

to you, Mulberry; and you, Dap

l to a meditative walk of demurer joy, and had a regret. It was simply that Dahlia's hurry in signing the letter, had robbed

icious and mournful, how terrible and sweet with meaning would "Dahlia Ayrton," the new name in the dear handwriting, have looked! "And I have a brother-in-law," she thought, and her cheeks tingled. The banks of fern and foxglove, and the green young oaks fringing the copse, grew rich in

mitten with the virtue of his wife's opinion of Ro

two girls?" he put the question blunt

ick breath, and

to go about his business, but hung near Robert in th

a blade of whe

ave her to tell tha

ich one you prefer to

em

er she prefers to ch

rmer s

ctly reckon about

ss;" seeing that Robert had not had m

've our pride somewhere down. Anyhow, you can't look on my girls and not own they're superior girls. I've no notion of forcing them to clean, and dish up, and do dairying, if it's not to their turn. They're handy with th' needle. They dress confo

med her and excused her, but as Robert appeared indifferent about her

diately recognized as the voice of Anthony Hackbut was heard in the fron

rs. Sumfit, "h

sweet and fair, and her favourite. It is the insincerity of persons of their class; but one need not lay stress on the wilfulness of uneducated minds. Robert walked across the fields, walking like a man with an object in view. As he dropped into one of the close lanes which led up to Wrexby Hall, he saw Rhoda standing under an oak, her white morning-dress covered with sun-spots. His

said, with a queer sense of shame at

o happy to eat,

she gave no heed to this indicat

u expec

ht he wo

s made y

hear fro

and hear w

tter had he spoken out. Rhoda's face, from a ligh

her by telling her that her contempt would hurt him shrewdly now. The foolishness of a man having much to say to a woman, and not knowing how or where the beginni

r, father?" said Rhoda, gaily, b

might have been," said Anthony, with a spe

d to him, but kept he

d the knot of his brows

is from a daught

ntuating the first syll

Fat

me to see you when I

aled nothing, I know.

all always think of

a

with r

rly lovin

hli

he farmer, turning his

his voice was uneven. Of this, no sign was given by his inexpressive features. The round b

her husband? Has he got a name? And a blank envelope to her uncle here, who's kept her in co

reat haste, fath

know," returned the farmer. "I

have a letter from her, and I have only '

ect no harm o

n I imagine any

wait for to hear? I give you my word, Robert, I'm feeling for you as I am for myself. Or, wasn't it that one? Is it this one?" He levelled his finger at Rhoda. "In any case, Robert, you'll feel for me as a father. I'm shut in a dark room with the candle blown out

this scornful one, this jilt, this brazen girl who could make appointments with gentlemen,

ou as much as a man can," he said, une

n of his own suspicions to see the fact built up. "Robert, does this look like the letter of a married

face was like an eager flower straining for light; the very beauty of it swelled his jealous

ied. We're bound to a

as his

been and disgraced her mother in her grave? What

there be of Dahlia? You have forgotten that she is always truthful.

face of ashes

r own. She is my sister. A do

already half distracted from his suspicions. "

self to doubt any

cast us o

the farm," said Rob

of us, poor lad! It's a blow to him." With whic

his heart on a sa

as visible as she put her mout