The Two Sides of the Shield

e did not mind it so much in the broad road and in the midst of a large party, with Hal among them, and no dogs; but alone with only one companion, and in the easy path whi

creatures! Can't w

ere's no time. They won't hurt. The farmer en

can he

e it,' said Gillian, impatiently.

y on the side furthest from the formidable animals. And Gillian really was forbearing. She did make allowances for the London-bred girl's fears; and the only thing she did was, that when

s, because the good ladies pitied her so much; and then while Miss Hacket and Gillian went off to their class, Constance too

not let me alone. I was o

ing her father mention him as 'that mad fellow Rotherwood,' while her mother always spoke with contempt of people who ran aft

matter on which sh

one's letters first? I mean t

been reading

spoke to her about that. She took a letter of mine the other day, and never

imed Constance. 'Was it a

ight be. And I want to know

lways did, the old cat! where I went to school,' said Constance. 'We did hate it so! She looked over ev

s, solemnly. 'I do not see w

en a lot of us went to a shop with one of the governesses, one would slip out and post a letter. Fraulein was so short-sighted, she never guessed. We used to call her the jolly old Kaf

was an equ

There was a young man in the town whom she had met at a picnic in the holidays-a clerk, he was, at the bank-and he used to put notes to her under the cushions at church; but one unlucky Sunday, Lou

ather vulgar?'

burn hair, you know. And he sang! We used to go to the Choral Society c

ing of that sort,' said Dolo

ollecting the fun of the thing, and what one was driven to in t

ing with my letters; and there's a poor uncle of mine that I kn

's brother?' cried Const

fidence. You must n

may trust me!'

ther had been used to assist him out of her own earnings, and how he had met her at Exeter station, and was so disappointed to have missed h

unt Lilias will have the letter and read it, and the Mohuns are all so stuck up

with my things, and tell him how it is,

you are! Yes, that woul

the G.F.S. class, and before Constance had cleared a space on the table for

thought you would have had tea

g that it would spare her the black oxen in the cross

mma always liked to have all together for the Catechism, and that

uld be very sorry to do anything against Lady Merrif

to a leisurely tea before starting for evensong; in the first place, Constance detailed all she had discovered as to the connection with Lord Rotherwood, in which subject, it must be confessed, good Miss Hacket took

d as an orphan,' said Miss Hacket, who, if not the cleverest of women, was one of the best and most warm-

never see more than the outside, but

Connie?' said Mis

r elder sister, who had grown up while her father was a curate of very straitened means, and th

ink of Lady Merrifield sending her to b

ie too. It was all my own thoughtlessness for detainin

the same way, but in the afternoon Mysie was allowed to go and make messes

and nipped in the bud a flirtation with Harry, besides calling off some of the curates to be hel

r, without knowing all. Perhaps

ld! But what do you say, then, to her prying

visable to have some check on young girl's l

'I am sure he never would. Men don't. It is always w

ld not think a child like Dolores Mo

as!' cried

d Miss Hacket, looking very much sh

that sort. Don't thi

o improper and so vulgar,' said Miss Hacket, and Constance did not think it necessary to reveal he

r of a professor, a very learned man, very distinguished, and all that, but not a high family

t. 'She lamented to me herself that she had been out of England

alist, a very clever man, and the Mohuns have always regularly persecuted him. He has been very unfortunate, and Mrs. Maurice Mohun has done her utmost to help him, writing i

en enough of life to have some inkling of wha

uld never withhold from the child any letter it was

it come, and she saw a glance pass between her and Miss Mohun, and she is quite sure, she says, her Aunt Jane ha

little reflection, 'Connie, my dear, I really think you had better not interfere. There may

er mother

I am quite sure that you will use your influence-and you have a great deal of influence, you know-most

Merrifield,' muttered Consta

ly, had always been of the dull, grown-up, authoritative faction of the elders, while she herself was still one of the sweet junior party, full of antagonism to them, and ready to elude them in any way. Beside

, if she had been eager about the matter; but she was not, except under the influence of making a grievance. She had never written to Uncle Alfred in her life, nor he to her; and his visits to her mother had a

as the best part of the day. But she had not drawn in the least nearer to any of the family. She absolutely disliked, almost hated, the quarter of an hour which Aunt Lily devoted to her religious teaching every morning, though nobody was present, not even Primrose. She nearly refused to learn, and said as badly as possible the very small portions she was bidden to learn by heart, and she closed her mind up against taking in the sense of the very short readings and he

rebuffs, and went her own way as before, pleased and honoured when Gill

ot many opportunities of tormenting her, for in the house there was a perpetual quiet supervision and influence. Mrs. Halfpenny was sure to detect traps in the passage, or bounces at the door. Miss Vincent looked daggers if other people's lesson books were interfered with. Mamma had eyes all round, and nobody dar

at least the little ones could not have done so, and it was decided that it would be very cruel t

bears all over the house, but even devoted herself to keeping Mrs. Halfpenny quiet by shutting herself into the nursery to look over all the wardrobes, and decide what was to 'go down' in the family, and what was to be given away, and what must be abs

by that afflicted child, who had just been nearly drowned in rescuing her wickedest cousin, and was being carried into he

ed it by way of precaution. Once there was a bounce against it, but G

last had rolled down three steps, and been caught by Wilfred, who, in his character of bear, hugged and mauled him till his screams grew violent. Harry had come to the rescue, and it was decided that there had been

and ancient pairs of shoes, to be added to the bundle for Miss Hac

sked, as she looked at the

a donkey,' said Wilfred, the

and gave her the choice betwee

is bear without c

paws in a hollow t

seemed very terrible to a poor only child like that. We, who had the luc

l play at anyt

know how to

e taught,' a

rifield. 'Fancy a poor child of thirteen not k

ap at the closed door, t

ng it a treacherous ruse of the enemy to

, my dear? Won't you let me i

ter,' she allowed. 'Only I w

t been rude t

allowed that no one had been rude to her, but she hated romping, which

Lily only sm

ite pale. I can't allow you to stay stuffed up there, poking over a book all the afternoon. It is very bad for you. We are going to h

re to say she did not choose to make herself ridiculous, and she

drugget, and pulling it up gradually over his feet, but these, Mysie explained, were only for the little ones. Rollo and his substitute doing homage to Charles the Simple, were much more effective; as Gillian in tha

ike being dressed up with one of the boy's caps with three ostrich feathers, to accompany her aunt in hood and cloak, and be challenged by Hal, who had, together with the bow and papa's old regiment

g in as many as possible, and a series from the li

t sons, and fascinated King Edward on the rocking-horse, which was much too vivant, for it reared

sat desolate on the hearth, surrounded by as many daughters as could be spared from being spectators, as her youngest son w

ing actually suffocated, began to struggle, setting off Wilfred, and the adventure was having a conclusion, which would have accounted for the authentic existence of Perkin Warbeck, when-oh horror! there was a peal at the door-bell, and before there was a mo

of the Vicar than any one else, as he was a rather stiff, old-fashioned gentleman. Lady Merrifield only laughed, said she had been beguiled into wet day sports with the children, begged him to excuse her for a moment or two, and tripped away,

nd Gillian being both off guard-Valetta had not e

be spoilt the instant

er and all but smothered me,' cried Fergus, thr

mustn't,' screamed valiant

t be done for,' shouted W

,' bellowed Valetta, hurl

er mother, pulled Valetta off Wilfred, Wilfred off Mysie, Mysie off Fergus, and Fergus off Dolores

illian. 'It was very naughty. Go up to the nurse

lain of, but she had fallen on the prince's cushions, and there really was none. So she only said, 'No, I'm not hurt,

Constance's sympathizing ears on Sunday, especially as i

er for which he worked in London, to tell him that if he wished to write to her as he had promised he must address u