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

sed aroun

turn essa

merits of

hat ne'er

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int's honour

ot

ght by a telegram with tidings that their mother had been struck by a paralysis. They knew what to expect when Felix, with one of the little ones on his arm, came quietly down the stairs and admitted them. All they had to ask, was 'when,' and 'how;' and to hear, that the long living death had ended in peaceful insensibility at last. Then they followed him upstairs to the r

d many deaths, in especial Clement's chief friend, Harry Lamb. Nobody, excepting the invalid mother, throughout the Underwood household, had escaped one or other disorder; and both fell to the lot of the four little ones, and likewise of Mr. Audley, who was infinitely disgusted at himself, and at the guarded childhood for which he thus paid the penalty pretty severely. When matters were at the worst, and Felix was laid up, and Wilmet found herself succumbing, she had written in desperation to Sister Constance, whose presence in the house had made the next three weeks a time of very pleasant recollections. Finally she had carried off Ge

and Alda should make some stay at home; but the brother and sister were both so useful and ornamental that their adopted home could not spare them until after a series of Christmas entertainments

faculties revive. She had even talked to Mr. Audley and Geraldine at different times as though she had some such presentiment herself, and had made some exertions which proved much increased activity of brain. Alas! tho

eparated from them as not to miss the gentle countenance, or the 'sweet toils, sweet cares, for ever gone.' Indeed Wilmet was physically much exhausted by her long hours of anxiety, and went about pale-cheeked and tear-stained, quietly

rd and elfin-like than when she had been three inches shorter, and dressed more childishly. As Edgar said, she was less Riquet with a tuft than the good fairy godmother, and her twin sisters might have been her princess-wards, so far did they tower above her-straight as fir-trees, oval faced, regular featured, fair skinned, blue eyed, and bright haired. During those long dreary hours, Edgar often beguiled the time with sketches of them, and the outlines-whether of chiselled profiles, shapely heads, or Cupid's-bow lips-were still almost exactly similar; yet it had become impossible to mistake one twin for the other, even when Alda had dressed the tresses on Wil

the progeny served for almost all the rest. The differences were only in degree, and the prime speci

perceived that Felix seemed to have almost ceased growing for the last three years, and that his in-door occupations had given his broad square shoulders a kind of slouch, and kept his colouring as pink and white as that of his sisters. Like Wilmet, he had something staid and responsible about him, that, even more than his fringe of light brown whiskers, gave the appearance of full-grown manhood; so that the first impression of all the new-comers was how completely he had left the boy behind h

ourteen, and therewith he was lank and thin, not yet accustomed to the length of his own legs and arms, and seeming as if he was not meant to be seen undraped by his surplice. His features and face were of the family type, but a little smaller, and with much less of the bright rosy tinting; indeed, when not exc

red of all; for her plump cherub cheeks had melted away under the glow of measles, and the whooping process had lengthened and narrowed her small person into a demure little thread-paper of six years old, omnivorous of books, a pet and pickle at school, and a romp at home-the sworn ally, offensive and defensive, of stout, rough-pated, unruly Bernard. Stella was the loveliest little bit of painted porcelain imaginable, quite capable of being his companion, and a perfect little fairy, for beauty, gracefulness, and quickness of all kinds. Alda was delighted with her pretty caressing ways and admiration of the wonderful new sister. She was of quieter, more docile mood than these two, though aspiring to their companionship; for it was startling to see how far she had left T

rless moan went to his sister's heart, for the poor little fellow had been wont to lie day and night in his mother's bosom, and she had been as uneasy without him as he now was without her. All

back for his mother's sake, and likewise by his having been more reduced by measles and whooping-cough than Stella had been; but to fresh obs

I suppose nothing can be done, and I s

erstand such

his back for life. Heigh-ho! a stout old Atlas we have in Blunderbore; I w

s Atlas that gat

a merchant's office! I wonder how many years it will take to get out of the drudgery, and have some power of enjoying lif

rs may get off hi

their fault if little Lance does not follow in his wake. Then if Ful has any brains, he is not come to the use of the

brought Angela and Bernard to disgrace, and disturbed the hush of those four sad days; but the actual loss had been so long previous, that the pressure of p

ways of St. Matthew's; but, unfortunately, there was something about him that always incited the other boys to sparring

to defend, till the very names of Gregorians and Anglicans became terrible to Cherry as the watchwords of a wrangling match. Fulbert, meantime, made no secret of his contempt for both brothers as mere choristers instead of

hile Clement as often, though with less design, offended by disparagement of his choir; nor could Edgar refuse himself the diversion of tormenting Clement by ironical questions and remarks on his standard of perfection, which mode o

elf of it less than might have been expected. Whether from inclination to his brothers' society, desire to do them good, or innate pugnacit

chaffing you

ow!' said

gh to provoke a saint, you bore so

etired into himself, but Fel

Communion Feast of the living and departed. Each felt the disappointment when they found themselves onl

u been confi

shoul

foreign Confirmations. I see

one,' said Edgar; and t

y trouble,' per

out committing an act of schism by encouraging an intruding bishop performing episcopal fun

ny rate, the Lent Confirmations are coming on in London, and if I wer

answere

I?' eagerly

resent, t

nd Fulbert laughed, secure that the jok

ant you to speak for him, Clem; he has got a to

which Edgar might be relegated, and finally exclaimed, 'Yes, he is not much amiss. He has some not

I had rather

iss another C

, especially when no one can tell

tinacity, was undecided, for Wilmet came in, looking so sad and depressed

ore; and after a few words had passed between him and Edgar, the latte

urry from the house of mourning, 'but we have had very little of you; Clement must go on

see her in greater peace, but I must buckl

t it was impossible not to think that the strange things reported of him were not first evoked and then exaggerated by the zeal of the model

, my White-heart, I am not going back to Belgium, you know: I

ven stay over

th that light of the church, Tina, he will get me into everybody's black books. Neve

y; I must try to make him r

n that child A

it, and it s

r memory! If children could but be

surrection of the body as well

as put me in the humour in which there is nothing he could not make me dispute-even my Cherry being the sweetest morsel in the world. Ther

rs come for thankfulness. The real sorrow came

me. It is the conventionalities that are needlessly distressing. What earthly purpose can it serve, save the amusement of the maids and

not know how it jars, though I

to end by drowning or blowing up

asure that dear shattered earthen vessel has held. What

lution must have been that carried her through those years, never murmuring. What

x came in to fetch him, and, stooping down, kissed her, and said in his low

ay ache, but

t leave thee,

ng and distress, while Felix's very tone gave support. How could Edgar

sband; and then she was laid beside him in the hill-side cemetery, the graves marked by the simple cross, for which there had been long anxious saving,

ODE, UN

ULBERT U

Curate of t

any,

ED

d Thy Staff

at the base of the Rood, that Cross which they had borne, the one so vali

had turned away, Mr. Audley saw a slender lad standing by, waiting till the grave was smoothed to lay on it a wreath of delicate white roses and ferns. There was no mistaking the clear olive face; and indeed Mr. Audley had kept up a regul

inand,' he said; 'i

y of them?' t

ance will be

g. Dr. White forwarded it to me in London, an

with your

o write to you. O Mr. Audley, if you are not in haste,

of the town. I think you will have to go to Mr. Macna

d tender weak voice. She was very kind to me;' and he raised his hat reverently, as he placed the flowers upon t

d downcast, but all are calm and cheerful. The l

on as they a

to the family consultation.

said Ferdinand, looking rather blank. '

e, or shall I send Lanc

ance, pray let

walk. Is your lam

it is the old jar to the spine, and that it will wear off when I have done growing, if I get plenty of air

here

is very kind; he seems very fairly satisfied with me; and he w

ife Gu

ty, fancies it too old-world or something; and, honestly, I cannot wish it myself. I can't ta

Guards, my brother mig

erdinand, 'but I can ride anything; I always

some other cav

the Life Guards, who has persuaded him that

ed for the ex

le shame; 'but if you really see reason for some other choice perhaps y

itively no ch

e chance of seeing you and other friends sometimes. I do know that it is not all my father

es do not become your tem

'that I do not want to go counter to my father if I can help it. I have not been able to avo

e and write to you before the application is made. Wait, and I

nd gesture had always been natural in him. His tone rather than his words were conclusive to the Curate that his heart had never swerved from the purpose with which he had stood at the Font; but the languor and indolence of the v

ith Thomas Underwood, who, on coming in, had assumed the management of affairs, and on calling for the will, was rather displeased with Felix's protest against doing anything without Mr. Audley, whom he knew to have been named guardian by his fath

ley, clerk, to the guardianship in case of the death of the mother, while they should all, or any of them, be under twenty-one, and directing that in that contingency the property should be placed in his hands as trustee, the interest to be e

dward, he ought to have trusted,' he said. There was genuine kindness of heart in the desire to confer benefits, though perhaps in rather an overbearing spirit, as well as disappointment and hurt feeling that his cousin had acquiesced in his neglect without an appeal. However, after asking whether Mr. Audley meant to act, and hearing of his decided intention of doing so, he proceeded to state his own plans for them. The present state of things could no

he lad was always more himself when not interfered with, and allowed to act for himsel

ible!' began

erstand, that a lot of children like you should keep house t

s only what we have been doing, except for the name of

at you have kept things going

ver let a bill run,' said

know what the women are and what they tell us

ss, but glowing hotly. 'I help my sister make up her b

still only half convinced. 'L

lain a little, Feli

ny article I write. Wilmet has ￡25 a year and her dinner, and Angela's at school, so there are only

you lod

ow that?' said

was not considered as so very much older than eighteen. Edgar understood and smiled, but Felix only thought he was suspected o

ler house would be better for them; but I think the children should keep together. Inde

acquired the nameless air and style that he was losing, how even Clement viewed him as left behind; and, on the other hand, he knew that with his own trained and tested ability and application, and his kinsman's patronage, there was every reasonable chance of his regaining a gentleman's position, away from that half-jealous, half-conceited foreman, who made every day a trial to him, and looked at him with an evil eye as a supplanter in the post of confidence. But therewith he thought of his

or nothing else, would not that Sisterhood at Dearport take her on reasonable t

ed us not to br

impossible that you and your sister, mere children as you are, should set up housekeeping by yoursel

uld speak, Felix said, 'Of course we are in Mr. Audley's power, but he knows that we have made some trial, and except in name, we have really stood alone for these three years. Wilmet can quite manage the house, and i

nces,' said Mr. Audley,

can take charge of a house and a dozen children, you must have it your own way. Only, when they have all gone

ly wish for our good; but I do not think anything would be so bad for the children as to be all cast about the world, with no

er struck Mr. Underwood, a

le, in a foolish spirit of independence. Do not interrupt. I warn you that I am not to be appealed to for getting you out of the difficulties you are plunging into; but of course

o return cold but respectful thanks; and Mr. Underwood did not manifest any more displeasure, but showed himself very kind at the meal that was spread in Mr. Audley's s

was a chorus of persuasions and promises; and the thought of being a

ood's carriage came round; and, nothing loth, he gave a lift to the Mexican millionaire to the