Christian's Mistake

griefs-the p

s of dai

f thorns ben

e burns-now c

they ar

ire burns, cl

ering so

ds heal; the c

this shatter

the etern

'at home' as is possible under the circumstances-I wished to

on. Henrietta, but what

st-time, either to or at the little circle, includin

ourse, they will only be too glad to keep up her acquaintance, they will doubtless appear to-day. In that case, much as we should regre

ealed to, answered with

as if he had lived a bachelor all his life. Besides, he did not readily take in the small wrongs-petty offenses-which make half the misery o

understand. Christian,

s trouble about a thing which will never happen. My friends, the Fergusons, may call to-day-I did not invite them, though I shall certa

good taste and proper feeling, and that all my exertions in bringing you-as I

her pride lay too deep below the surface to

ways to welcome them to his house; but if you imply that I am to exclude my own-honest, worthy, honorable p

er mind, and treated with a patronizing consideration, for Aunt Henrietta liked to patronize; it pleased her egotism; besides, she was shrewd enough to see that an elegant, handsome girl, married to the

nderstand clearly that I-and my husband-do not look down upon them; that we respect them, and remember their kindness. We may not ask Mr. Ferguson to dinner-he would find little to say to University dons; and as for his wife"-she could not forbear a secret smile at the thought of the poor dear woman, with her v

a shaky voice and flashing eye, which, the moment it

gently, "If my husb

ter-in-law, "I have invited Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson to dine with us- just ourselves, as you and Maria will be out-at six o'clock to-morrow. And oh!"

fluence could not heal the wounded

mit to such unwarrantable dictation; and if I, or Maria, your own sister (Maria, why don't you speak?), can not offer one word of

at even Christian, who had been reading the note with a gratef

t her own battles-at least she could once-without bringing him into them; but when he stood there, with his hand on her shoulder, simply saying those words, which impl

s Gascoigne, in unutterable wrath and scorn, had turned from her and began talk

with open eyes and ears to what was passing among their elders, now, forgetting it all, crep

ntirely removed from the society of women was that it had saved her from women's smallnesses. Besides, her nature itself was large, like her person-large, and bounteous, and sweet; it refused to take in those petty motives which dist

tting it at the half-hour's end, she called cheerfully to the c

You will walk with nobody but your own proper nurse. It was your poor mamma's custom an

herself to have their company. She had meant to take them out with her the first available day, and begin a regular series of rambles,

ity between their elders. One thing was clear. There must be no bringing them into the cont

had better leave the room. Go, Atty and Titia; your

n heard Arthur whisper to his sister somethin

. Grey, but at her, involving such insinuations, such accusations, that Christ

ren. Besides, she had such an intense craving for their affection, and even their companionship, for there were times when her life felt withering up within her-chilled to death by

ce, were the tears she shed in her own room, alone. For she did not go to Dr. Grey: why should she? Her complaints could only wound him: and somehow she scorned to complain. She had not been a governess f

y learned where to come of forenoons for biscuits to eat or toys to be mended. There was now a one-wheeled cart and a three-legged horse requiring Christian's tenderest attention; and as she sat down on the crimson sofa, and busied herself over them, with the little eager face creeping close to hers, and the little fat arm steadying itself round her neck, her wet eyes soon grew dry and brigh

and criticise her, in that small way in which women do criticise one another, and which she now, for the first time in her life, had experienced. Was it the habit of all University ladies? If so, how would she endure a whole lifetime of that trivial ceremoniousness in outside things, those small back-bitings and fault-findings, such as the two aunts indulged in? It was worse, far worse, than poor Mrs. Ferguson's stream of foolish maternalities-vulgar, but warm

and pressed her cheek wearily against the frosty pane, for she was sitting in a window- seat on the staircase, lingering t

ce of Miss Grey. "Besides, will not the servants think it rather odd, y

y, "no!" and then belied her truthfuln

little over- excitement. But, indeed, you need not mind; our friends-that is, Henrietta's-for you know I seldom v

ined to smile than to be offended at this earnest co

n't know how busy she has been all the morning, arranging every thing. 'For,' says she to me, 'since your brother has married a

touched by the mild deprecation of that foolish, gentl

want in the wide world is to see my brother happy. I hope it isn't wrong of me, but I don't think quite as dear Henrietta does. I always felt t

ndowsill, and stood like a queen-or rather like what she tried to say to herself, so as to keep up her matro

ss Gascoigne was beautifully dressed-quite perfect from top to toe; and she was such a handsome woman still, that it was quite a pleasure to look at her, as she

s you have on; I suppose Dr

es

hoose it

lieve

e paid for them too. She had a little income of her

y good

I scarcely expecte

the pearl brooch and lace collar to weigh like lead on her bosom, "I think that in any true marriage

cool and the angry heart to be still

ughly ladylike in manner, which was very grateful to her innate sense of refinement, all dressed after one fashion, and talked mostly about the same things. To her, ungifted with the blessed faculty of small talk, the conversation appeared somewhat

found herself involuntarily looking toward the door every time it opened. Would he come in? At least his presence would br

not immediately, and pa

shed the text for a w

to talk to a group of l

de

e Christian saw what her

man, to feel and appear at home in any company; to be neither eccentric, nor proud nor shy; to have a pleasant word or smile for every body both; to seem and to be occupied with other people instead of with himself, and with what other people are thinking about

every other; and better than most conversation was it to look at his kindly, earnest, listening face, as, in the pauses of politeness, Christian did look more than once

ny cases poor human hearts are so weak, or strong- which is it?-that we cling to imperfectness, and love it simply because we love it with a sort of passionate pity, ever hoping to have its longings realized, still this kind of love is

en turned toward other people, interested in them and in the ordinary duties of life, which sometimes, when absorbed in a passionate love, a man lets slip for the time. Now she saw him as he was in reality, the head of his family, the master

d wondering if it were real, he

name, repeated in idle convers

was speaking of it only this morning. He is Sir

ce, it was he. He broke his poor mother's heart; she died

very much to themselves. My husband

rupted Dr. Grey. "We were congratulating ourselves on our prospects. We thi

like one whom I was just speaking of-Mr. Uniacke-Sir Edwin he is now.

iefly answer

which the dean had not, mingled with a little nettled

as rusticated. Such a pity! He was a most clever fellow-good at every thing. And quite a genius for

ite a villain at twenty. And if he were, don't you th

he smooth surface of society, which handles so lightly edged tools, and

was seeing the last of the visitors to their car

tiguing day for you, and for us all. Go, and I will tell Ar

l be r

, as passive and as white. Then she rose, dressed herself, and went down to the formal meal, and to the somber, sa