Christian's Mistake

o feel for

the faul

I to oth

rcy sho

ing the soirée at the vice chancellor's. Chri

not know him, and in the crowded party Dr. Grey might not have chanced to recognize him. Indeed, most likely the young man would take every means of avoiding recognition from the master of his own college, whence he had been ignom

him-she, who knew what she did know about him, and who, though there had been no absolute engagement between them, had suffered him to address her as a lover for four

, why wound him by what is the sharpest pain to a loving heart, the sudden discovery of things hitherto concealed, but which ought to have been told long ago? He might feel it thus-or thus-she could not tell; she did not, even yet, know him well enough to be quite sure. The misfortune of all hasty unions had been hers-she ha

ancy, which she had to confess to her husband, she shrank from c

had troubled her through the dark hours; and she sat at the head of her breakfast-table with her own little circle arou

honest brow of an honest man-it was with a trembling gratitude that made religious every throb of Christian's once half-heathen heart. The other man, with his bold eyes that ma

is pillows and playthings, and gave him a kiss or two, taking about a dozen in return-she felt that the hardest duty, the most unrequited toil, in this her

nd remembered, with sudden compunction, that this was Miss Bennett's hour, and th

his business was far more important, and might involve most serious consequences to the young governess if obliged to be dismissed u

did!"-she sighed-"in letting myself be made love to, and believing it all true, and sweet, and sacred, when it was all-But that is over now. And perhaps she

as Miss Gascoigne probably expected, for she sat in great state, determined to "come to

om my sister-in-law

every body knew every thing in Avonsbridge, no doubt Miss Bennett was perfectly w

y room? I wanted a word

y instruction of Miss Grey. Indeed, my recommendations-as I

r, the showy style of dress, and the air, at once subservient and forward; in truth, something which, desp

no wish to investigate; what I have to

e seemed to think nothing could be seriously wrong. She sat down composedly on the crimson sofa, and began inv

his is! How you must enjoy it! It'

I know, for I was onc

surprised Miss Bennett. With still greater curiosity than the fine room, she reg

you have been very luck

wish I might

npleasant subject-"no, not exactly, but partly, what I wished to speak to you about. Excuse a plain, almost rude quest

by Miss G

ged to be

le, looked much annoyed, and answered

we may come to a right understanding-but the gentleman you were walking with yesterday, whe

d the child tell?-the horrid little-but of course she did. And then you s

t; and as I can not allow the child to do the same thing again, I thought it the most h

ave a perfect right to w

s these sort of proceedings must be to a little girl, who ought to know nothing about love at all-(pardon my concluding this is a love affair)-till she comes to it seriously, earnestly, and at a fitt

mother, Mrs. Grey,

who appeared well able to hold her own under any circumstances, "it does affect me so much that, deeply as I shall regret it, I must of

e; the offensive tone sank into

t, and father has a large family of us, and the shop isn't as thriving as

the girl's manner, and when she took out a coarse but elaborately laced p

d; but what can I do? Will you tell me ca

but I am sure I sh

to be, if, as Letitia says, you

ess but my own, I suppose; and it's ver

d deceived no one, only been herself deceived-in a very harmless fashion, just because, in her foolish, innocent heart, which knew nothing of the world and the

woman, and wh

ut those days yet, enough to make her cast the halo

of yours, and why does he not at once ask you for his

oor man, Bless you! he has a title and an estate t

to her companion as something between Sir Launcelot and the Angel Gabriel-and this girl, carrying on a clandestine flirtation, which she hoped would-and was determined to make-end in a marriage, with a young man m

alf-educated shopkeeper's daughter-no good could come of the acquaintance-perhaps fatal harm. On

rvice. You must perceive, Miss Bennett, that your proceedings are not quite right-not quite safe. Are you sure you k

re his estate is, and all about him. He has the prettiest property, and is perfectly independent, and a baronet likewise. Only think"-and the g

f in the mirrors she must have seen the start Mrs. Gre

haracter here is well

acquaintance with him

s sown his wild oats, and got a title and estate, which makes a very great difference. Besides, I

is girl, who, knowing all a man's antecedents, which she evidently did-bad as he was, set herself deliberately to marry him-a well-planned, mercen

aided and abetted by most prudent, respectable, and decorous fathers and mothers?

and did not know the ways of it, the sensation

never agree. It only proves to me more and more the impossibility of your remain

which came over the girl's f

ave hardly a thing to put on-and I'm in debt awfully. You are cruel to me, Mrs. Grey-you

ually true that I dare not recommend you. If I could find any thing else-not with ch

rn me out of doors. And except this check, which is owed nearly all, I haven't one halfpenny-I really haven't. Mrs. Grey. It's all very well for you to talk-yo

ristian, solemn

rated every feeling about the girl except the desire to help her, blamewor

nt from Avonsbridge. If she spoke to her about Miss Bennett, and explained, without any special particulars, that, though unfit to be trusted with chi

said Christian, as earnestly as if she had been asking instead of c

to me; and perhaps

t this situation for you, w

doz

t you will give up

o you

communication with him for three months. If he want

her head. "He's a

ugh one is a baronet and the other a daily governess. And, if love is worth

ch she believed with her whole heart-Christian f

mprehending way. "Would you have trusted your love

fanity to talk to this women, who knew about as much of it as an African fetish-worshipper knows of the Eternal-of that love which counts f

ay will bring him to the point," was th

and explain as much of the matter to honest Mrs. Ferguson as might put the girl in a safe position, where

, close at her very doors; meeting her at evening parties; making acquaintance with her children, for

Grey's wife, than that she herself should have any feeling-except pity- in knowing of his love-affair with Miss Bennett. She was wholly and absolutely indifferent with regard to him and all things concern

managed Miss Bennett, you

t I am certain of one thing. She does no

" said Dr. Grey, smiling. "And yo

ld thin

le woman of mine could be if she chose. And so she absolutely believes

laughin

, God forbid. I

Do you think I can make you s

sure o

from out of his close arms