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

flames resi

g rafters

halloo, "H

ce give

ed Add

ld not be sorry, he was such a little fellow, and the house would be so dull without his unfailing merriment and oddities. And though there had been sore disappointment that Mrs. Thomas Underwood had chosen to go to Brighton instead of coming home, there was the promise of a visit from Alda before Christmas to feed upon. Little Robina had come home for the summer holidays, well, happy, and improved, and crying only in a satisfactory way on returning to school. Moreover, Wilmet's finances had been pleasantly increased by an unexpected present of five pounds at the end of the half year from Miss Pearson, and the promise of the like for the next; increasing as her use

Wilmet, w

nd heard a loud distant hubbub. Hurrying out of bed, she flew to the w

e's nothing to be frightened at Cherry. It is out-out there

she could see the window. 'How plain one can see everything in the room! Oh! the terrib

shook so that she could hardly put them on. They longed for Felix as a pro

mma does not he

ut the other way! but, oh!

al as she wrapped a shawl round Cherry, who sat in a heap on her bed, gazing fascinated at the red sky and roofs

Hush, Lance; take care; the little ones

ndow before they simultaneously rushed away, to the increased dismay of their s

found that Felix and Mr. Audley were in the act of undoing the front door, and this gave her just time to fly

street I must go,

ightened! and if Mamma w

et in her room

f it makes her happier you may dress her. Don't disturb your mother. If n

the little fellow into the throng, and keeping him out of danger, made both Felix and Mr. Audley dash after him; while Wilmet, abashed at the men hurrying by, could not even gaze from

er for the 'poor people,' and the sisters crouched up together shivering in each other's arms as

r, I must go down, they may want me. Indeed, I don't thin

'Let it not be Felix!' she saw that the figure, whatever it was, was carried by Mr. Audley and a strange man. And so great a horror came over her, that, regardless of her toilette, and the hair that had

the doctor. This poor boy has fallen from a window. You can help us, Wil

, and finding that, as usual, there was some water not yet cold. For, as she now saw, it was not yet one o'clock. She durst not go to her mother's room, where ready means of heating food were always to be found. As she brough

believe, which looks out into this street-we saw this poor boy and a black man

re was e

after us. Mr. Audley shouted to them that we would get a ladder, but whether they could not hold on any more, or they t

n from tha

le. 'And there was that good black man, he had got the boy in hi

And

nd he shuddered all over. 'But this boy's head was safe at least, and as there seemed no on

Lance? Did he

s Martha was in attendance, she felt herself obliged to return to Cherry, whom indeed she could not leave again, for though the fire had sunk, and only thick clouds of smoke showed the play of the engines, the effects of the terror were not so quickly over in the tender little frame, which was in a quivering hysterical state, so deadly cold, that Wilmet was frightened, and went once more down to warm some flannel, and get some hot drink

ight,

s called. 'Where did you

dn't Fulbert have given his ears to have seen it? To see the engines pouring

? How could you! Does Mr.

and said he might have known Lance was

gamin?'

said Wilmet. 'But really, Lance,

n and that big old coal-heaver who was so impudent about the blanket-club, hang

int you? A rare honest gentleman of the right sort war he-he war!" and he pulled down another boy and put me up instead, and told me all about the great fire

d?' whispered Cherr

e said, 'Weren't they?' and Ch

Wilme

nly devote themselves to soothing her, till at last she lay still again in Wilmet's arms, with only a few long gasps coming quivering up through her frame. Then Wilmet implored Felix to go away and make Lance go to bed, and finding this the only means of reducing the little exci

bby went to mass. It was so late that she could only listen in vain at the top of the stairs before she went into the room, where she found Sibby very indignant at having missed all the

ard much. Felix and Lance had just come downstairs, rather ashamed of havi

e kind, he thought, named Travis, and they had gone on business to Dearport the day before, meaning to dine there

omentarily expected to arrive. The patient was only half conscious, and though he knew his father, continued to murmur for Diego. Martha was sitting

udley, whenever he was not at church, was obliged to be in attendance on his strange guests. All that reached the anxious and excited young people was the tidings of the pa

ways on Monday morning, not to be all collected again and free to speak

ing into the little back room where W

o hear about the fire. So many people have c

w is th

he keeps on talking of Diego, and se

came to the inquest, and talked just as if it had been an old Newfou

Felix,' said Lance. 'I wish

to see poor Mr. Jones hardly able to speak for grief, and the mother

fire, do they?' asked Cherry. '

ed to rush out at him. I suppose a draught was all it wanted. He saw this poor Diego safe downstairs once, but he must have gone back to save his young master, and got cut off

a slave in England,

the boy: he did not know how to get rid of him, he

ad been he!'

ave to go to the bu

e was so, as much as a nigger was anything; and the Papists were welcome to his black carcase, only they would not be charged for any flummery. "I won't be made a fool of ab

ey!' cried Lance. 'W

ix; at which Lance made a face, since of

e his mother or somebody, and only came back this morning; and Mr. Froggatt himself was "out at his box," as he calls it, so h

d have yo

tter I began to Edgar yesterday night, and by following that,

what they were?' cried Lance; 'and the jolly smash the jugs and basins made, and when their

he windows with more precipitation than attention to the fragility of the articles. And, after all, that intolerable ass, Redstone, has correcte

, Fe

king rather blue, "you and I may know what good taste and simplicity is, but if we sent out the Pursuivant with no

y Mr. Redstone?

Redstone's getting offended and saying that I am no use, as he w

a cup of tea?

lway Hotel at eight, but I wanted to speak to you first, Wilmet

is th

o-day, only he was dreadfully upset about poor Diego-about whom his father

t father,' observed Felix, drivi

uch a bad fellow,' said

n American

told me the whole story of how they had knocked about everywhere, last evening, but I was too sleepy to enter into it much, though I daresay it was curious enough; successful speculations and hair's-breadth escapes seemed to come very thick one upon another, but all I am clear about is that this poor boy, Fernando's mother was a Mexican heiress, they-one of them, I mean-managed to marry; her father English, but her mother old Spanish blood allied to the old Caciques, he says; whether it is a boast I don't know, but the boy looks like it-such a handsome fellow; delicate straight profile, slender limbs, beautifully made, inky-black hair and brows, pure olive skin-the two doctors were both in raptures. Well, they thought affairs in Me

lessing. Bu

ar of the fall. He may get quite over it, but must lie quite still on

met. 'But can his father really mean to

he Travis mind seems rather impressed by finding an Audley here, I am to be left in cha

?' asked Wilmet. 'The nurse h

ed; 'and I have been representing the inconvenience to the house o

m horrid miser

money about with both hands; so I hope I have made a good bargain for you, Wilmet. You are to

Wilmet, quite overpower

as far as you expect, for he will w

hould be deducte

ders on his London banker, and they say here at the bank that they are all right. It is a strange charge,' he added thoughtfully; 'we little thought what we were taking on ours

ley came in from church, Felix followed him to his sitting-room, and

s the

n there. I have had suc

ho

oir, wanted to know what we were paid, then why we did it at all; and so it turned out that he thinks churches only meant for women and

d you te

g all we had to get us through life; but I know I made a dreadful mess of it, and the bell

oor lad has been brought up with no religion a

is father

and in return heard a burst of exultation that he had never let a priest into his house. His father-in-law had warned him against it, and he had carried his wif

g that it was his house after all, and that Mr. Audley should not have turned t

him. And, to my surprise, he said he left it to me. Fernando was old enough to judge, and if he were to be an English squire, he must conform to old-countr

rn religion to m

enough to find

begun?' asked

hoping he would remark on it. But you know the pain is still very absorbing at times, and it leaves him exhausted; and besides

here by himself, if I had known,'

e told you, Felix; but I did not like denouncing my poor sick guest among the children, or its getting round all

collected the desire to take his brothers away from Mr. Ryder, he felt as if

must not forget the duties of hospitality and kindness; and I hope you will not roughly fo

ice, was very near to his heart. 'A young Pagan,' as he thought to himself, 'teaching him all the blackguard tricks and words he has learnt at all the low schools in north or south!' and all the most objectionable scenes he had met

and he went on upstairs. There he found all the doors open, and heard a murmuring sound of voices in Geraldine's room. In a mood to be glad of any excuse for finding fault, he strode across the nursery, where Angel

ur lessons in proper time, you must wake early, or take

hing! Only would you tell us where to find about the king and his priest

as if sure it was a blunde

and read it out in the sermon. Don't you remember, Fee, a hot day in the summer, when he preached all about t

' cried

God in the beauty of holiness, and singing, "His mercy endureth for ever." I saw him read that, though he told us all the rest without book; how all

'It was Jehoshaphat, Lancey boy. I'll find it for you

an uneasy

said Cherry; and as Lance wriggled again, she ad

out Lance, 'I told yo

ow-seat and lifting Lance on his knee, as he said, in a tone very unlik

s prayers, nor sing hymns, nor chant, and he thinks it is only good for niggers. So I told him that singing psalms

told me not,' sa

talking to me about that poor boy. He really is as untaught

broke in Lance; 'he has seen an

Lance; I dare say he

ing to him,' broke in th

'you can be quite sure my

ears. 'Papa would not let him lie dull and moped all day long,' he said. 'O Fee, I can't keep away; I a

ort of

aid to him. They weren't a bit of good. No, not t

e thought that sacred possession of

not let out a bit of a cry, only now and then a groan; and so I ran to get the verse Papa used to say over and over to you when your foot was bad. And I'm sure it was the right one

telling him, La

and his father said that there would be no parsons if men we

hly softened. 'Only, Lance, you know I can't be with you; wil

y,' said little Lance, freely; whereat Cherry shuddered somewhat. 'And, Fee

do that,' said

re. He says you are the grandest and most splendiferous fellow he ever did set eyes

ass, he was

for him, and I do so want Papa for him;' and the child cried silently, but Felix felt the long deep sobs, and as Geraldine, much moved, said, 'Dear little Lancey,' he carried him over to her as she sa

dous hug, released himself from his brother's arms, and ran off to bed. Felix re

hen I found out about it. I must go down and tell him. I never thought all

y to teach this

t know how; but I shall not dare to hi

early authority, was in some ways older than her brother, and could see that there was in him a shade of boyish jealousy of his prerogative; and as she sat, in her pretty modest gravity, with her fair hair and her Sunday frock, she was softly but earnestly telling Mr. Audley that she was sure Felix would not mind long, and that

ng me how he sat on his bed saying bits of psalms and verses to him when he had that bad fi

t to make it lame, and with the tearfulness

n him,' said Mr. Audley. ''Tis not quite the end I sho

should have remembered tha

last summer the more I tried to listen, the more I

n thinking about His goodness and thankfulness, was the way to make our adversaries dissolve before u

over his troubles, scarcely seeing them, as if they could not dim the shine of his armour while he went o

m and sigh to think how early care and grief had come to make that joyous buoya

as there are all over his books! Edgar's were bad enough,

nate in Fernando, as far as could be guessed in one so weak and helpless. He seemed very quiet and inanimate, seldom wanting or seeking diversion, but content to lie still, with half-closed eyes; his manner was reserved, and with something of courteous dignity, especially when Lady Price came to visit him; and the Yankeeisms that sometimes

rgive the Curate; he was coldly civil, and accepted the attentions he could not dispense with in a grave formal manner that would have been sulky in an English lad, but had something of the dreary grandeur of the Spanish Don from that dark lordly visage, and made Mr. Audley half provoked, half pitying, speak of him always as his Cacique. He only expanded a little even to Lan

to the erection of the elder brother into the idol of Fernando's fancy; and his briefest visit was the event of the long autumnal days spent in the uncurtained iron bed in the corner of the low room. The worship, silent though it was, was manifest enough to become embarrassing and ridiculous to the subject of it, whose sense of duty and compassion was always at war with his reluctance to expose himself to it. Not another word passed on any religious subject. Mr. Audley was not forgiven enough to venture on the a

and Lance, perched on the table, talking so earnestly as not to perceiv

n. 'O Fee, I am glad you are come; I w

ts of wha

and that it was the very thing our Saviour came for to set us free, only everybo

id Felix; 'but I don't quite kn

erful-Almighty, as he says; but whatever women may tell a little chap like that, nob

know and believe just as I do, as

said Felix with

how it can be,

n incompetence to deal with it; and likewise that Wilmet was keeping the tea waiting for him. He much wished to say, 'K

'but that's no wonder. One cannot explain

tricity,' sa

t's elec

uid t

y, or whatever it is, and when you talk about explaining it, you only get to

hough science goes be

hat He is so infinitely great and wise, that of course we cannot understand why all

ando, 'are content to sa

t?' sai

ing; Lance gazed from one to the other, as if di

nando. 'I mean, what Lance has been telling

startled into indignat

t h

it!' sai

ow

gasped Lanc

ver,' broke in Fernando; 'b

nce, I know, but I never got it up. I can't tell it you, Fernando; I never

ahometan say that

of Mahomet together, and see which must be th

ovement as if he thought the subject concluded, 'I want to know one thing m

said Felix, smiling a little; the

you go and slave away at

essity and my du

s play-hours on a poor fellow with a broken leg? I've been a

such fun!'

s from God first and la

lieve all that Lance tells me you do,

elieving it should make me much bett

t since my father said he'd take the cow-hide to poor

lef

elix; 'what have you be

Fernando. He had been in the worst days of Southern slavery ere its extinction, on the skirts of the deadly warfare with the Red Indians; and the p

owever, to read from his own. Now Lance's reading was at that peculiar school-boy stage which seems calculated to combine the utmost possible noise with the least possible distinctness; and though he had good gifts of ear and voice, and his reciting and singing were both above the average, the moment a book was before him, he roared his sentences between his teeth in

nando, proudly trying

eeing what book the child was holding tight under his arm,

as it,

Bible-he sha'n't have min

g anything w

ve it before he is christened,

nce? I like your guardianship of the Bible, my boy; but it was not give

ing upstairs with his treasure, a little brown sixpenny S. P. C. K. book,

ent himself at Fernando's bedside, observing gladly that ther

rt,' said Mr. Audley, smiling, though f

o quietly, but gazing at the purp

Mr. Audley; 'or can I fi

friendliness under his constant attentions, and Fernando's desire for an answer prevailed at last. 'Felix t

udley, more moved than he could bear to show, bu

as if he must be right, Mr. Audley; can it be really as he s

assu

ecause you are a minister?'

it is the Christian faith that makes al

ristians that were not in the

s they live up to their faith,

ow. He, and little Lance too, seem to belong to something bright and str

r boy,' said Mr. Audley.

a long sigh of relief: but when Mr. Audley put his h