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

walls each f

ured to one

is moaning

bl

being able to spend a week with them. Miss Pearson spared Wilmet that whole afternoon, that she

t clinging tight to her twin in an overflow of confused happiness, even while they stood together to get th

etter for Fernan, and Cherry can go!' sai

in London,' said Alda, with a shiver

walks much bett

r calls it. What do you think she has sent you, Wil

is too much. Fernan wanted to give Lanc

ike Uncle Thomas, and

ver be quite agai

ht down lots of things. Aunt Mary said I might. What i

et; 'he is younger than F

avises are quite millionaires, and that this youth's mother was a prodigious Mexican heiress. Aunt Mary wants to ask him to Kensing

r. Audley, and Lady Price chose to be his

Oh! and I've brought a dress down. I thought some o

s if such a thin

n so long away as to fo

ything like well enough. So when Mamma and the little ones g

, and never could have answered the questions if she had not come to me. She is always asking me what Papa sa

t be ver

d because it would have been just a shilling into her tenth. I'm so glad she is confirmed. I never knew what to do at church before. I couldn't go home by myself, a

Mrs. Underwood looked up at her rather confused, and scarcely knowing the fashionable young lady, and it was only when the plumed hat was laid aside,

Felix, excused from his work two hours earlier. He could only just run up and dress before he convoyed Geraldine to church, she havin

up and Lance held his crutch for him. It was his first entrance into a place of worship. They had intended to have accustomed him a little to the sights and sounds, but the weather and his ailment had prevented them. He was drawn to the porch, a

olouring of the decorations was therefore grave, but all the richer, and the light coming strongly in from the west window immediately over the children's heads, made the contrast of the bright sunlight and of the soft depths of mystery more striking, and, to an eye to which everything ecclesiastical was ab

impression that she was Wilmet very improperly tricked out, and pressed Fernando's hand before going on to her own place. Then came the low swell of the organ, another new sensation to one who had only heard opera music; then the approaching sound of the voices. Geraldine gave him the book open at the processional psalm, and the white-clad choir passed by, one of the first pair of choristers being Lance, singing with all his might, and that merry monkey-face full of a child's beautiful happy reverence. And again

trance, as the echoes of the new home, to which he, with all his heavy sense of past stain and present evil propensity, was gaining admiss

and this was his young godfather's right arm, to which he held tightly, but without any nervous convulsiveness-he was too happy for that now-during the prayers that entreated for his being safely gathered into the Ark, and the Gospel of

made reply, 'I renounce them all!' and as the dark deep eyes gazed far away into the west window, and Felix felt the shudder through the whole frame, he knew the force of that renunciation; and how it gave up that one

finite application to those old habits and tastes that at times exerted their force. The right hand was ready and untrembling when the Rector took it; the stream of water glittered as it f

is father. He had wished much to take the name of Felix, but they were so certain that this would not be approved, that they had persuaded him out of i

way, and the congregation had gone, she ventured

said. 'I should never have hung back one moment.

aldine softly. 'Above all, whe

ad with the hair still wet, gave him his blessing before he spoke further. It was only a word or two of congratulation, but such as to go very deep; and then, seeing that the boy looked not excited, but worn and

th the littleness of the figure; 'but she has been a Commu

smiling to her. 'I have heard of your

too shy to speak; and the Rector and Bi

ry much tir

now,' he h

y to know it,' said Geraldine.

aiting; and he said, 'Thank you,' and held out his hand, while Lance eagerly s

to keep Cherry company, thinking how curiously blind the male se

he found neither-only a perfect placid content, as of one who had found his home and was at rest. The boy was too much tired, after his many

but he could not bring himself to fear or to warn, or do any

t that Felix wore his father's, and Alda knew how an elder girl was scorned at school if she had none; but Wilmet, though very happy with hers, smiled, and would not agree to having met with disrespect for want of it. Then there were drawing-books for Cherry, and a knife of endless blades for Lance, and toys for the little ones; and dresses-a suit for Wilmet like Alda's plainest Sunday one, and Alda's last year's silk for Geraldine, and some charming little cashmere pelisses-Aunt Mary's special pres

s eye-lashes. Alda was a little on her company manners at the first, but all the others were at perfect ease, as they sat in the dim light. Felix on the floor by Cherry, who delighted in a chance of playing fondling tricks with his hair

to the wish that poor

y happy!'

missed being here to-morrow. I

next summer (only she is not quite sure it is not th

ince we have set eyes

es more to Cherry than

otographs to copy. Such a beaut

he drawing-room table, and everybody stands and says how handsome it i

d C

much grown, and looks uncommonly demure, and as m

and afraid they had done Ferdinand harm, and all were secretly very anxious about the night; but, though the wakeful habit and night feverishness were not at once to be broken through, yet the last impression was the strongest, and the long-drawn aisle, the 'dim religious light,' and the white procession, were now the recurring images, all joyful, all restful, truly as if the bird had escaped out of

before, very early, so that Fernan gazed with the same eager, unsated eyes in

strife. The Bishop came down to the two lame children, and laid his hands on the two bent heads, ere he gave his final brief address, exhorting the young people to gua

m and shop; and he was obliged to hurry off as soon as he came out of church. Now, the Bishop had the evening before asked Lady Price 'whether that son of poor Mr. Underwood's' were present among the numerous smart folk who thronged her dra

nd Travis and the Underwood family, of whom he had only heard, when, immediately after his appointment, his vote for the orphan school had been solicited for the two boys, and he had been asked to subscribe to the Comment on the Philippians. Mr. Audley felt that he had a sympathizing listener, and was not slow to tell the whole story of the family-what the father had been, what Felix now was, and how his influence and

nights by having both dropped asleep, one on his chair, the other on the sofa, there came a ring to the door, and Lance, who had a strong turn for opening

he Bishop, kindly taking Lance's paw, which might have been clean

moniously to throw wide Mr. Audley's door, and bolt upstairs, leaving his Lordship to usher himself in, whi

t-rate surgeon before going down to the tutor's. The tutor proved to be an old school-fellow and great friend of the Bishop; and what Fernan heard of him from both the friend and pupil would have mu

er as it could be with the old furniture, that all Wilmet's mending could not preserve from the verge of rags. Her widow's cap and soft shawl were as neat as possible, and so were the little ones in their brown-holland, Theodore sitting at

to the drawing-room in Kensington Palace Gardens, and exclaimed, 'Oh!

ke them to her,' whispered Wilmet. 'I sh

r Mrs. Underwood, told her that the Bishop wished to call upon her, and asked her leave to bring him up; and she s

ut his hands to make friends with the lesser ones, whom their sisters led up, Angela submissive and pretty behaved, Bernard trying to hide his face, and Stella in Wilmet's arms staring to the widest extent of eyes. The sisters had their wish-

Bishop. 'I cannot tell you how

pale face. 'He is a v

see him before I g

and Wilmet had, not unblushingly, for she was red with pleasure, but shamelessly

ow me the way,' said the

he liked singing in the choir better than-no, not than anything-anything except-except what? Oh a jolly good snow-balling, or a game at hockey. Did he like the school? Pretty well, on the whole; but he did not suppose h

easily able to speak, but he observed tha

'I'm sure some that he calls cads

s your eldest

nd, as long as one does no

d t

so much that one ca

es he pun

es! what a sight of parsons!' (Lance had pretty well forgotten whom he was talking to.) 'There, that's Felix-no, no, not that one serving Mr. Burrowes, that's Redstone; Fel

in myself. Good-bye, my li

urned over the leaves of the little blue morocco book, with its inlaid red cross, he found full in his face, in the first page, the words, 'Lancelot Underwood, March 15th, 1855,' and then followed an initial, and a name that utterly defeated Lance's powers, so that perce

se an assistant whom he had always known to be above his mark, and who was growing more valuable every month; and he was greatly relieved and delighted when the Bishop only rejoiced at his character of Felix, and complimented the Pursuivant by being glad that a paper of such good principles should be likely to have such a youth on its staff; it had been well for the lad to meet with so good a friend. Mr. Fr

ced, for the benefit of all who might be within earshot: 'Mr. Underwood, his Lordship wishes to speak

hyness and embarrassment, but he could only obey; and at his first greeting his hand was taken-

elp my sister, my

shop. 'That is a good work tha

more, not knowi

ish there were more who would understand the true uprightness and dutifulness of thinking no shame of any honest empl

not much. I did at

loss of position. You are in a profession every one respects, and y

d, when he consen

ook of his struck me greatly. But what I wished to say was to ask whether there is any

for my brothers last year for the Clergy Orphan school. Only

Mr. Audley tells me did so muc

us would have got at him but for Lance, who did

ad the first claim. There had been, of course, a period of decay, but an excellent Precentor had been just appointed, who would act as head master; and the singing-boys would be kept on free of expense after their voices became unavailable, provided th

ted from home as was Clement; with no regular holidays, and always most needed at his post at the great

father was not happy about-things here, and ch

very considerate in giving leave of absence, even if he should turn out to have a dangerously good voice for solos. I will let you know when to send him up for examination, wh

terrogated as to what the Bishop had said to him: indeed, he never told the whole of it to any one but Cherry. Somehow, though Wilmet was

n in the thought of having Alda at home; and every moment she was not in sight of her darling seemed a cruel diminution of her one poor fortnight. Indeed it was tête-à-têtes that her exclusive tenderness craved above all; a

Marilda; indeed, she had a good deal more credit with all varieties of teachers, since she learnt rapidly and eagerly; and Marilda, while encouraging her successes, without a shade of jealousy, made no attempt to conqu

r into anything by telling her it was what she calls "comifo." Even when she was going to get the boudoir done with apple-green picked out

too delicate for h

uit the nymph reining in the porpoises. He made a sketch, and Marilda was d

et; 'but surely she ought not

at her for trying to be fine. Old Granny is not a bit by way of being a lady, you know; she lives in a little house in the city with one maid, and I believe she rub

she live in su

he told Clement to drop in on her whenever he likes, and bring any of his friends; and she always gives them a superb piece of plum-cake, and once she took them to the Tower, an

t let her

ng will uproot it; and, after all, they do carry things ve

s on

ed him in his brougham because I was coming home, there

ednesday in Len

't say so. Is Mr. Fulmort really gone over?" "Yes," said Clem. (I know he did it on purpose.) "He is gone over to preach at St. Peter's." And then one of the gentlemen asked if Clem meant Mr. Fulmort of St. Matthew's, Whittingtonia, and when he said "Yes, he lived in the clergy house," he

e given him a hin

e years with Clem without know

ady-hearted little fellow,' said

girl. Fasting was quite a new mind to her, for she never realises what she does not see; and she got Clem into a corner, where I heard him going on, nothing loth, about days of abstinence, out of

id you tell

uld say quite trul

said Wilmet gravely. 'You know it w

id commotion we should have had if Marilda had taken to fasting. And, after

ot you tel

herself, with her own good rough plain sense. I wish she was a man, she would be a capital merchant like her father; but it is hard to be a g

ish they

she likes to have a place for the name of the thing, she does not want to liv

hame,

y foolish of people, but, you see, they will. As to Marilda, I belie

dest and best girl

was any Bible or Prayer-Book besides. I am sure Felix cannot have had more work to teach that youth than I have had w

be to her!' said Wilmet, f

st saint in her calendar, and everything is-"What did Cousin Edward say?" And when once she has mad

to try and learn, and not to b

l would be worse than Marilda floundering her own way. But she really is the best and ki

r, and most thankful for the tokens that she watched among her brothers and sister