The Pillars of the House; Or, Under Wode, Under Rode, Vol. 1 (of 2)

um-cake, and a f

-fellows, co

nice, and we'll

than enough

Tay

e! Felix,

ir shoulders. They set up a responsive yell of 'Jolly! Jolly!' which being caught up and re-echoed by at least five voices within, ca

lest of the four arrivals, a

niversal cry from two fine complexioned, handsome girls, from a much smaller girl and boy

was the further questi

or-'don't open the letter there. Get Cher

've a stunn

mise to do

buy me some Tu

want the big

ut with the baby on her knee, and looking as if care and toil had brought her to skin and bone, though still with sweet eyes and a lovely smile; the father, tall and picturesque, with straight handsome features, but with a hectic colour, wasted cheek, and lustrous eye, that were sad earnests of the future. He was still under forty, his wife some years

haps a little clumsy with the clumsiness of sixteen, especially when conscience required tearing spirits to be subdued to the endurance of the

a merry laugh. 'Here are the galleons, you boy named in a

x Chester Underwood, No. 8, St. Oswald's Buildings, Bex

ide, Mamma!-Come, White-heart

ook up her small crutch, Felix disappeared with her, the mother looking wi

nst speaking to him,'

t deal more good than the pound would do to us. The drops t

d; 'and at least we are sure the dear boy will never spend it selfishly. It only struck me

s the rabble. Even if this one pound would provide all the shoes and port wine that are p

r you,' sai

doubt, my sweet Enid. Has not our long honeymoon at Vale Leston helped us all this time?' Her name was Mary,

elieve that nine years only had passed since that seven-years' honeymoon. She was a woman of

wner for the dangerous position of 'squarson,' as no doubt many a clerical Underwood had been ever since their branch had grown out from the stem of the elder line, which had now disappeared. These comfortable quarters had seemed a matter of certainty, until the uncle died suddenly and with a flaw in his will, so that the undesirable nephew and heir-at-law whom he had desi

esident Rector and three Curates. Daily Prayers. Choral Service on Sundays an

he restored church, and the exquisite services, were so generally talked of, that Mr. Underwood thought himself fortunate in obtaining the appointment. Mr. Bevan too, the Rector, was an exceedingly courteous, kindly-mannered man, talking in a soft low voice in the most affectionate and considerate manner, and with good taste and judgment that exceedingly struck and pleased the new curate. It was the more surpr

iscourses he heard from his rector were in one point of view faultless, but the old Scottish word 'fushionless' would rise into his thoughts whenever they ended, and something of effect and p

and was the last person to perceive that Mr. Bevan, though objecting to nothing, let all the rough and tough work lapse upon his curates, and took nothing but the graceful representative part. Even the

s bachelor, to the general surprise, married a certain Lady Price,

omings at the Rectory, there had been free-handed expenditure, and no stint either in charity or the expenses connected with the service; but Lady Price had no notion of taking on her uncalled-for outlay. The parish must do its part, and it was called on to do so in modes that did not add to the Rector's popularity. Moreover, the arrangements were

dignation at wastefulness, and at the unauthorised demands on the Rector; he had to feel what it was to have no longer unlimited resources of broth and wine to fall back upo

e, the quiet sweep of the worn garments, were a constant vexation to my Lady, who having once pronounced the curate's wife affected, held to her opinion. With Mr. Underwood she had had a fight or two, and had not conquered, and now they were on terms of perfect respect and civility on his side, and of distance and politeness on hers

while making the second be always a neophyte, who received his

ached himself warmly to him. The young man was the son of a family of rank and connection, and Lady Price's vanity was flattered by obtaining his assistance; but her vexation was proportio

Mr. Underwood's toil, that he was undoubtedly getting through this summer better than the last, for his bodily frame had long been affected by the increased amount of toil in an ungenial atmosphere, and every access of cold weather had told on him in throat and chest attacks, which, with characteristic buoyancy, he wou

poor little lame Geraldine, who was permanently established there; and that afterwards, even on strong compulsion, they should only come in one by one, as quietly as pos

ent and elasticity, and were as happy in nooks and corners in bed-room, nursery,

odfather to Felix, was wont to send the boy on his birth-day-that third of July, which had seemed so bright, w

was unequal to anything else. Her dark eyebrows frowned with anxiety as she lifted up her little pointed chin to watch sturdy frank-faced Felix, who with elaborate slowness dealt with the envelope, tasting slowly of the excitement it created, and edging away from the baluster, on which, causing it to contribute frightful creaks to the general Babel, were perched numbers 4, 6, 7, and 8, to wit, Edgar, Clement, Fulbert, and Lancelot, all three handsome, blue-eyed, fair-faced lads. Indeed Edgar was remarkable, even among this decidedly fine-looking family. He had a peculiarly delicate contour of feature and complexion, though perfect

mily features in their prettiest development-the chiseled straight profile, the clear white roseately tinted skin, the large well-opened azure eyes, the profuse glossy hair, the long, slender, graceful limbs, and that pretty head leant against the knees of her own very counterpart; for these were Wilmet and Alda, the twin girls who had succeeded Felix, and whose beauty had been the marvel of Vale Leston, their shabby dress the scorn of the day school at Bexley. And formi

intolerable boy! don't

letter?' inq

' said Felix. 'Now I s

u'll give me what's

ric thrill of dismay through the audience; Lance nearly toppling over,

be a sell!'

were,' said

'you can disown th

!' interpos

my will on the spo

with quiet certainty into her brother's face

year it was green, and before that red; and this is nast

, and held up

! Why, 'tisn't only five shi

ed Cherry. 'I saw one when Papa

the breath of those who knew what it mea

ly, 'old Chester is a bri

with due vociferation, the cry began,

ny!' crie

horse,' chi

y week,' sh

piece,' sa

' pronounced Clement. 'Now a ha

ears into the bargain, if Tin

e note to mother

et and Cherry, 'that's as b

ty of demeanour that he entered the drawing-room, causing his father

this; and I thought

and kissed the boy's brow, saying, 'Felix, dear, don't show

iture. Is it not so, my boy? Well then, I propose that the sovereign of old prescriptive right should go to

thank you!' crie

o do as you will with your

her wistfully, her desires divided between p

. 'Then, please, let Wilmet and Ald

Alda!' exc

s say they would be the prettiest girls in all Bexley, if they were properly dressed;

urch,' mused Mrs. Underwood; 'and though I have scolded her, I cou

said Felix. 'Wilmet does not mind it, but Alda cries, and the sneaking girls do it th

said Mr. Underwood, unab

it would be no end of a comfort

as far as it can accomplish, the twins shall be resplendent. Now then, back to

, Father; I quite

sonally. Now you may be off.-Nay, Enid, love, your daughters co

ghed the poor mother; 'but I fancied

any of mine. Poor children! the hard appre

the sovereign just as usual; and all the rest is to go to turn

while Cherry cried out, 'That's right! Oh, do get those dear white hats you told m

stupidest sell I ever heard of!' 'Oh, I did

ar infected as to cr

have got something for Papa. Don't you know, Mr. Rugg s

x, looking up; 'and I never thought of it. Besides, I c

ll the world! Now we shall be fit to be seen at the break up. I don't think I co

for Cherry and Bobbie

t into their hea

two fit to be seen

ed Fulbert; 'we have always all gon

elix; 'there's the poun

spent in imagination; and

a can have th

he rockin

ittle cannon to make a jo

says he would sell that big Newfoundland f

g is always eating; but ther

ere's White-heart been wishing her heart o

care for one but you and me; and the

ry of one's life to keep the little ones off them; and baby

e conce

Pun

the

rocking

the c

ohn Harper's van, and all go out to the Castle, with a jolly cold dinner-yes

m, all ecstatic, and rendered mor

will go!'

,' entrea

o, if she wil

Robina, echoed by Clement and

ed Felix. 'I want n

ly late. My Lady would make no end of a ro

r!' cried the th

late, because of Papa and the little on

e of no use,' said Geraldine. 'Oh, how delicious! W

day after school bre

ah! h

h Mr. Underwood opened the door, to ask what hono

s going to take us all out to a pic-nic in

id Felix. And the whole sta

d to be asked! I trust we shall prove to have found the way t

wonder what the van will cost, an

the whole dinner,'

her.' And he carefully helped his father on with his coat;

rt of the choir; and though this was not the case on this evening, Felix kne

in giving the lesser ones their supper, and disposing of them in be

ews in her lower region, though she was sure to

viously husband to another woman. She was tenderly cared for by Mr. Underwood's mother, who was then alive, and keeping house for the whole party at the Rectory; and having come into the Vale Leston nursery, she never left it. Her own child died in teething, and she clung so passionately to her nursling, that Mrs. Underwood h

small scrub under her, got through an amazing amount of work: and though her great deep liquid brown eyes looked as pathetic as ever, she certainly was in far better spirits than when she sat in the nursery. To be sure, she was a much better nurse than she was a cook; but as both could not be had, Mrs. Underwood was content and thankful to have a servant so entirely one with themselves in interests an

ls, and the rich inlaid marble and alabaster of the chancel mellowed by the pure evening light. The east window, done before glass-painting had improved, was tame and ill-executed, and there was, even

children. Mr. Audley read all, save the Absolution and the Lessons; and the responses sounded low and feeble in the great church, t

nguine spirit resisted them, would hang in a heavy boding clou

o the General Thanksgiving, there was another deep heartfelt Amen, which br

an?' darted across the street, with Clement, into a large grocer's shop nearly opposite, where a brisk evening traffic was going on in the long daylight of hot July; and he coul

the prescription,' said Mr. Audley. 'Is th

her original designs; but birth-days are

a home, where the only perplexity was how to deal with an absolute glut of presents, and to his own actual doubts what to send that youngest sister, who would feel slighted if Charlie sent nothing, but really could not want anything; a book she would not read, a jewel could seldom get a turn of being worn, a trinket would only be fresh lumber fo

an't do that: but he would esteem it a great favour if we would go in it, and not pay an

the vehicle in question drew up at the shop door, with Mr. Harper's

instead of Buff, because I knew Mamma would want it to be covered

om for me, Felix,'

'you might, like John Gilpin,

udley. 'I am afraid I was not in his

to have you; but then we thought we should all be obliged t

it,' said Mr. Audley; 'but I can settle that

ctly happy, but unable to help himself; and manifesting quite enough reluctance

and he will get into some Church talk, and then you'll

od; 'large families are apt to get i

t decidedly rejoiced. And Mr. Underwood privately confided the objection to his friend, observing

were squeezed out of the four pounds, with the help of a few shillings out of the intended hire of the

s appearance in the passage, addressed to F. C. Underwood, Esq., and with nothing to pay. Only there was a note fastened to the side, saying, 'D

lay in any provision, except the tea and the bread she had already promised, would be entirely superfluous. The girls were disappointed of their cookery; but derived consolation from the long

there was one half-sovereign; and Mr. Underwood was convinced that it had come fr

nted to tell you-I did grudge it at first,' he said hoarsely. 'I knew it was the tithe; but it seemed so much away from them all. I settled that two shillings was the tenth of my own share, and I would give that to-day; and then

sidering the tithe as not your own, is the safest way of kee

ll the way home; while Mr. Audley was at luncheon at the

ce, 'did you see the U

nough; but when people make a great deal of their povert

tor, rather dreamily, 'and I suppose

ye to the becoming-nothing economical for them! I am sorry for Mr. Underwood, his wife is bringing up a s

very pretty, Mr. Audley?' inquired Miss P

-down tone that was the only thing that ever approached to su

ife to have that painted-doll sort of beauty,' added my

resh air for the family-a day in Centry Park. Felix spend

nds, though they keep it so close. Never

wald's Buildings, did not trouble them much. Yet there was a certain deference to public opinion there, wh

k-up thing like Miss

ings, and Felix hasn't a grain. Why, all the fellows will be asking which of us is pe

ay at home, th

waggonet from the Fort

y money, and

her twin sister; 'how ca

te true; if any of the girls see us,

nough, and they w

making no end of row,' said Edgar; 'and the whole place will know that Mr. Underwoo

on't do any good if those children will make themselves so horridly conspi

r Mamma? Or Baby?-No, no, if you are t