Peter's Mother

m were alive; but now 'ce be dead, 'tis butiv

d rain and gales of wind had swept the Youle valley. Two days' powerful sunshine had excite

heir brief and lovely existence undisturbed. The hawthorn put forth delicate green leaves, a

t was strange to see the dead and wintry aspect of the forest trees; still bare a

waterfall, had been hailed by the roadsi

, zays I, when there be zuch a turble lot to zee arter? and the ladyship oop Barracombe ways, her bain

t his companion, who st

king sharply from the youthful lady to the middle-aged gentleman. "I've knowed her zince her wur

d, Father Jack," s

ip avore yu. I mind her when her was a little maid, and pretty ways her

member how old he is, and nobody can tell him. But he knows he was born in the reign of George the Third, because his mother

lers, that 'a shude." He chuckled and winked. "I du be a turble vunny man," quavered the thin falsetto voice. "They be niver a dune a laughin' along o' my jokes. An' I du reme

mothy's father had a

It's qui

olk did claim. And 'a zays, 'A'll putt a stop tu 'un,' 'a zays. And him zat on a style, long zide the tharn bush, and 'a took 'ee's gun, and 'a zay

own his face, brown as gingerbr

ah. "He's only just arrived from London, a

var tu kip 'ee company," said Happy Jack. "But 'ee'll be in a yurry tu git tu Barracombe,

f beer yourself," said John, p

' it gits into my yead, and makes me proper jolly, zo the young volk make game on me. But I c

e coin; and John, half laughing and ha

an has become a trifle free and easy

rested in the family," said Sarah, "

conne

asked, with wide-open

thy's ow

tant cousin

usin. When I was a little girl, and wanted to tease Peter," she added ingenuously, "I always used to allude to it. It is the sk

re was a story about the second

aughed in spite of himself. "I wonder why there is someth

Sarah, gravely. "But Happy Jack won't leave Youlestone, though he says they tempted him with untold go

all one," said

o us, but I'm sure it

side his own gates if

uckily the cook die

or thing?" said

as a most select person; and little thought when she gave the orders for dinner, and all that, who the old gentleman's next wife would be," said Sarah, giggling. "They always talk of her as the Honourable Rachel, since Lady Crewys, you know, migh

?" said John, looking amusedly down

" said Sarah, colouring all over her clear, fresh face, e

hurry and crookedly; and she looked far more like a village schoolgirl than a young lady who was shortly to make her début in London so

ere better-her expression softer," said John to himsel

throat were white as milk, and though no careless exposure to sun and wind had yet succeeded in dimming the exquisite fairness of her skin, yet the defects and omissions incidental to extreme youth, country breeding, and lack of discipline, rendered M

fond of," said the girl,

ss you, I am sure, when you

after all, when I get better manners, and all that, I shall be more of a companion to her. I'm very glad to go, if it wasn't for leaving her. I like Aunt Elizabeth, whereas mamma and I never did get

n, smiling. He was struck by the half-sly, half-acquiescent look that Sarah stole at him from b

one up to say good-bye to Lady Mary last night," said

ter. I sha'n't be in your way," said John, g

ap, looking over the valley. And she has grown, oh, so much

dly, "and I thought, besides, she would

dark, and large-pupilled, and heavily lashed, that they loo

adies counting every tear she sheds, and adding them up to see if it is enough; and measuring every inch of crape on her gowns; and finding fault with all she does, just as they used when Sir Tim

d John, sharply.

, n

do with Lady M

in his clean-shaven face, and did not escape littl

body, always bothering her for subscriptions; though he is very fond of her, like everyb

ce so much that she had some ado to kee

ur pardon

tically. "It would be dreadful if I grew up like mamma. But I am more like my father, thank goodness, and he is simply a mas

ent when I left Bar

ith all a Londone

s warmly walled and sheltered on the side next the hill by horse-chestnuts, witch-elms, tall, flowering shrubs and

rass slopes stretching down to the orchards and the valley. Violets, white and bl

made a little spring garden, more formal and less varied in its arrangement than the terrace gardens on the south front; but no less ga

y; the window whence Sir Timothy had taken his last look at the western sky, and from which his watchful gaze

ide of the little valley, the young larches rose, newly clothed in that light

rain of a planta-genista, which stood on a table in the western corner of the bow window. She

lly large and clear; the little white hands clasped in her lap were too slender; a few silver threads glistene

r battles for this fading, grieving woman who had been the lovely Mary S

he could smile as he a

e said, in glad tones. "But, oh-you must have walked al

eet me if I let you know. My luggage is at the station. James

say good-bye," sai

Lady Mary's obvious pleasure in John's arrival, an

so eagerly to those dreamy, half-uttered confidences. She knew that Lady Mary wept because her boy had left her; but she understood also that when Peter came home for the holidays he brought

sat and nursed her doll, and liked very much to listen; she often felt awed, as though some one had died; but she

and wheezing lap-dogs. But as her father, on the other hand, resented her banishment from home almost as sincerely as Sarah herself, she was also periodically sent for to

pon her bright, comical face, and which was intended to draw

d-bye," said Sarah, in

ed not to intrude on the parting,

ell," said Lady Mary, drawi

," said Sarah, rathe

adopting me. Mamma sai

o be rid of me. But pap

Elizabeth is going to

nd abroad e

ll be changed when you

a little, with a hand

ary was not thinking v

sa

resh news, Joh

have arranged with the Exchange Telegraph Company to

ways so goo

left the little worshipper to the interview

my respects to my c

ere taking a morning stroll. They had not thought it proper to drive, save in a close carriage, since their bro