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

lieve, he sai

n reach t

e voice and

ve," was the s

u mine un

ut

artly from the shock, and partly from the want of vigour of the tropical constitution: and he still seemed to be a great way from walking, though there was no reason to fea

darkest sides of human life, in the terrible lawlessness of the Mexican frontier, had hitherto made him dull, dreary, and indifferent, with little perception that there could be anything better; but first the kindness and then the faith he saw at Bexley, had awakened new perception

iesced: she used to hop in with her sweet smile, shy greeting, and hand extended to the invalid, who used to lie looking at her through his long eyelashes, and listening to her low voice reading or answering, as if sh

ger.' He avoided the room himself, and kept Lance from it as much as was in his power; and one day Lance appeared with a black eye, of which he concealed the caus

was so cocky about his Yanke

e be kind to a p

Fernando there-Fernando for ever. I shall have him coming up to

speak to you. At any rate, I can't have Lance bullied for his good na

re; and Felix could not help laughing. And that laugh did much to bring him down from

enely happy in her beloved Lance's presence, expecting neither notice nor amusement, only watching their occupation of playing at draughts. Sometimes, however, Lance would fall to pla

dressing, when a bundle of bright sprays was left by some kind friend at No. 8, and Lan

branches, and their tongues going with the description of the night's carols, singing them with their sweet young voices as they moved about the room. Fernando knew

k tea one day,' said Robina. And then she broke out aga

aments, behind and under which, in true man's fashion, a good many papers and letters had accumulated. One of these pa

dear!' wai

etty go,' cr

ur open fires,' o

it?' ask

be, and Wilmet; for she told me never to get on a chair over the

and I'll say so,' said Lance, smothering her in

d Fernando good-naturedly; 'he very

s shoulder, and flashed amazement and wrath at him.

candalized; 'I thought you

, was ignorant of Fern

ld your tongue,' was of c

ad,' was the litt

eld your tongue ab

se's,' said Lance, flushing up a

t told!' ad

nish you?' as

she'll let me have any butter at tea,' Bobbie nearly sobbed. 'M

ter than not telling?' sa

But I couldn't ever have a happy Christmas if I didn't

age, and Lance's assurance that he had been art and part in the disobedience, and Wilmet gravely blaming the child, and Mr. Audley telling her not to think so much about the loss as

m done?' Fer

list made out, and I am afraid I shall n

have not pu

k to church, and she acquiesced with tears in her e

n repentan

taught an

ious goods, and added, 'I must get some tea at the Rectory. I

a moment to wish him good-night, and regret

t of the house, never came in till after early church. The nurse, who still slept in the room, was gone to dress; there was only a flickering

Christmas to y

ere was a so

? have you had a bad ni

Come here; I mu

in a great haste, but

let you know what a frightful, intolerable wre

hoked with indignation,

ems he tried it with another little boy at school, an

mised me to lo

t to stay if I did anything your father would have disapp

ow cou

dull-and it is the only thing

had nothing

s; why, we all do it-women, boys and all!' His voice

id you

d. When I found my dice in my purse; b

whom,

. Now, Felix, don't come on him for it. Come on me as much

uch appalled for immediate forgiving, de

ernando, turning his face in on the pillow, in so broken-hear

th Lance, and you being so sorry will undo it with Fulbert! I d

the rest,' said Fernando, raising his head

ody

l, I

xiously laying hold of one of the hot hands-perceiving that his own Christmas Day must begin

re begin in the ball-ro

waiter saw

in the grate,' cried Fernando, falling back from the attitud

can bl

. He told me I might come down to the coffee-room; but I had never heard of such meddling, and I jawed him well; but he made me give in somehow. Only when I saw that big ball-roo

and horror, that his soul seemed to sink within him. 'Have

did. I've been feeling the kiss he gave me at the window all to-night. And then I've been falling-falling-falling in his bla

ting his arms round him to lay him down, as he raised hims

a shudder. 'Oh! don't go-don't let me go-if

worse to know. You h

thers come near me, or the little angels-your sisters. I'd not have dared lo

re was no great stain of crime, as he had feared; but that the boy had come to open his eyes to the evils of the life in which he had shared according to his a

my advising them to hold their tongues about their bit of mischief-I thought first what fools you all were to be so scrupulous; and then I recollected the lots of things I have concealed, till I began to think, Is this honour-would it seem so to Lance

tenderly, 'you know something else too. You know Whom

nd would not let him go. She opened the shutters, and then both she and Felix were dismayed to see how ill and spent her patient looked; for she had

ounted for by Fernando's appearance, he stepped up at once to the bed, full of solicitude. Felix hardl

see it all now.-Tell him, F

rdly speak the words either-'Fernando is a

It was passion and spi

the Fortinbras Arms,' Fel

se!' exclaime

for interfering, and threw away the end too angry to heed where. There!' he added g

Mr. Audley. 'At least, this is better than t

' repeated

and its nurse. But you must not use harder words than are just, Fern

g round, uneasily said, 'That is not

y and perplexity. 'He has been very unhappy all night. He

resent excitement was mischievous. 'I understand in part,' he said. 'But it seems to me that he is too restless and uncomfortable

nando to a more tranquil state. He slept, too, wearied out, when he was placed on hi

earth, and

inners re

ression elevated by the music, Felix could not help thinking that the boy had verily sung those words of truth and hope into the poor dark lonely heart. Kindness, steadfastness, truth, in that me

al Christmas greeting like mockery, shrinking from the sisters, when they looked in on him, with what they thoug

or boy,' sighed Wilmet. 'He

stmas, and without that Christmas joy that even her mother's dulled spirit coul

Mr. Audley had insisted on having from home, and eating in company with the rest, to whom it was a 'new experience,' being only a

rry would do-for Felix said he would take Fulbert and me out

one. You are be

like your not having one bit of Christmas. Shall I sing you one Christ

lays His

man no mor

ise the so

ve them se

arms, and to little Lance's great amazement, somewh

for?' he asked in a

o. 'Only I think I see wha

is handkerchief over it; and as the young priest stood watching him, what could be

ain,' he sai

w w

al when Lance was singing. What was it-"Born to save the

his mother's race. His father, as a clever man of the world, hated and prohibited the practice; but Fernando had what could easily become a frenzy for that excitement of the lazy south, and even while he had seen it in its consequences, the intense craving for the amusement had mastered him more than once, when loathing the dulness and weariness of his confinement, and shrinking from the doctrines he feared to accept. He knew it was dishonourable-yet he had given way; and he felt like on

as barely beginning to grasp, and the boy promised. He would do anything they would, could he bu

e Baptismal Service; and at length, after a long silence, he said, 'Mr. Au

consent he had secured beforehand, but he thought Fernando ought to write to him; and it w

s within and without, as they; but how far you will have the consciousness, I cannot tell; and it is very probable that your temptations may be harder. Guilt may be forgiven

and said, 'Then you do not thi

you must expect to have to believe rather th

ission he had received, and no letter could be had for several months, he agreed to examine the lad, and write to the

the next day. There was much that was convenient in this, for it gave time for Fernando to make progress in moving about. He had made a start within the last week or two, was trying to use crutches, and had been out on fine days in a chair; and once or twice Lady Price had

olidays, Mr. Audley, while coming down from a visit to Mrs. Underwood, fancied he heard an ominous rattle, and ope

put his arm and hand round as if to hide the who

ence. 'Fernando Travis, if you are to renounce the devil, y

o his pocket-all but three shillings. Fulbert stole out of the room qui

eir usual occupations. Perhaps it would come with Felix, or in the dawn after a troubled night. Alas! no. And moreover, Felix, to whom it was necessary to speak, was exceedingly angry and vexed, and utterly incredulous of there being any good in the character that could be so fickle, if not deceitful and hypocritical. Hi

sign of regret, such as would be any security against his introducing the practice among the clergy orphans, or continuing it all his life. He was not a boy given to confidences, and neither Wilmet nor Cherry could get him beyond his

the manners that were either those of the Spanish Don or of the Indian Cacique, and seemed to shrink from the prospect of the English tutor. Yet he continued his preparation for baptism, and Mr. Bev

itor in the room-namely, Alfred Travis, Fernando's uncle, a more Americanized and rougher person than his brother. He rose as he entered. 'Goo

deprecating look from Fernando

s, and finding him ready to move, I thought, as I had business in England, I'd come and fetch him, and just settle

have any authority

l be glad to see his boy; we don't

m your brother that he wished Fernando to rem

n-Got his lesson very well, he had. And when I came down, a friend in London gave me another hint. It won't do, I can assure you. That style of thing is all very well for you spruce parsons of good family, as you call it in the old country; but we are not goin

he was so far recovered that his health formed no reason for detaining him. If he chose

your uncle sa

wait for a fortnight.' He spoke with

he ladies, and made a greater fool of than ever. No, no, he must be out again by May, and he should just ha

ernando, looking up to Mr. Audley, 'bef

that all depended on that, and trying to hide

pright in his chair, looked up to him and then at h

ll stay,' sai

on that he was keeping his temper. 'A proper fool my brother was to leave him to you. But you do it at your peril. I shall see if t

efore, and that brought the hot colour to his cheek. When he looked round, Fernando's face was covered with hi

in great nervous agitation. 'I have authority from your father, he has none; and you

from the first,

no power to f

he said, 'If I could hav

that?' said Mr. Audley,

now on the lo

it; and going back to books and all, after what I have been used to. If my uncle could wait for my Baptism, or,' more hesitating, 'if I could be baptiz

ble to abstain entirely from giving way to your old passion, when you had little temptati

ndo. 'I said so from the first, but he will not

, a summons from your father could not come for three or four months, and in that

! Must you go, Mr. Aud

, not mine. I shall pray for you, that you well know. Pray for yourself, for this is a real crisis of life. God bless you, my dear boy.' He l

g alone. The little boy was on the stairs with something in his hand.

found it in an old portfol

ed Mr. Audley by its appropriateness. He went out to Evensong, and

him. 'I'm so glad you are come!

the u

ly Mr.

er room, so he was taken into the little back dining-room, and began-'This is a very unpleasant business, Mr. Audley; this gentleman is very much annoyed, and

the letters he had opened for his brother, and had been further prejudiced by some Dearport timber-merchant he had met at Liverpool, who had told him how the parson had got hold of his nephew, and related a farrago of gossip about St. Oswald's. He was furious at the opposition, and could not understand that law in the old country was powerless in this case, because he was neither father nor guardian. In fact he seemed to be master of his brother; and Mr. Bruce told Mr. Audley that it was quite to be considered whether though law was on his side now, the father might not be brought over to the brother's sid

ther ring at the door. The uncle and lawyer were come together now. It was to make a last offer to Fernando; Mr. Alfred Travis offered to take him up to London the next day, and there to have advice as

sofa. 'Thank you, uncle,' he said, 'I cannot. I am obeying my

Fernando look up with burning cheeks and eyes glowing like hot coals; but with the Indian impassibility he did not speak till Alfred Tra

r me I will come.' But there his strength suddenly c

in marching order, so I'm off by the night train; but if you change your mind in the next week, write t

as unprepared for his client's violence, and t

e furniture from the sofa to the fire-place, where, holding by the mantelpiece with one hand, he took his dice from his pocket with the oth

his shoulder, and said, 'If my f

You have given up something for the sake of your new L

out, and his victory was not such as to enliven his spirits. He took up the d

d him this time,

help me to keep the resolution! It is the one thing that I care fo

ou cannot make too strong a resol

s too much tired for talk, and soon went to bed; where after a short sleep feverishness set in, bringing something approaching to delirium. The nu

the door was greeted by 'Don't le

e is no

k of the game at chess, evidently mixing up his

iece of his. He is gone now. Will he come b

ptation and terror. It took different forms. Sometimes it was half in sleep-the acting over again of one or two horrible scenes that he had partly witnessed in the Southern States, when an emancipator had been hunted down, and the slaves who had listened to him savagely punished. In spite of his Spanish blood, the horror had been ineffaceable; and his imagination connected it with the crowd of terrors that ha

g his uncle at once to London while yet it was time, and writing to him the next morning. This state was sure to be followed by a passion of remorse, and sheer delirious terror lest he should be given up to the enemy, who seemed now to assume to his fancy the form of his uncle. A great deal was no doubt delirious, and this betrayed the struggles which he had been for weeks fighting out in silence and apparent impassiveness; but it was impossible not to feel that ther

m to their mother, who was rather interested than annoyed by his presence, and indeed all her gentle motherly instinct was drawn out by his feebleness and lameness; she talked to him kindly and quite rationally, and he was wonderfully impressed and soothed b

nds. She always knew him, cooed at him, and preferred the gold of his watch-chain to all things in nature or art. Then when Wilmet, Angela, and Lance came home, and fa