Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

world, that is, this little world wherein live and

or whom her heart yearned; she became bound more to this dull home; disappointment had wondrously sobered her; when her

artily ashamed. To look back upon that past, note her weakness, and whither it had led her, was to make her cheeks

e not always been correct. She had met deceit face to face; her own presence of mind had only saved her p

e especially serious young people-are inclined to dash headlong at religion, and even neglect home duties, duties to friends, and

she had found a church to her taste, and a minister to her taste-a minister who verged

built for himself in the square at the back. She missed never a service, week-days or Sundays; early prayers, at uncomfortable hours, when the curates were s

ned her faith on decorations, if she thought the world all vanity and vexation of spirit, if she were a little proud of carrying outward and visible signs of her own inward and spiritual grace, if she even neglected her father, at times-poor old Wesden

gs scarcely had power to arrest her steady upward progress. It did not strike her that whilst she r

ould not be a possibility of guile, had supplanted her. From that hour let her set herself apart from them; bear no ill-feeling towards them, but keep to her new world. Her life was not their

den, and spoke for a while of the old times. Harriet's manner puzzled her, but there seemed no chance of an explanation of it. Her quick observation detected Harriet's new ideas of life's duties, and she did not intrude upon them, or utter one word by way of argument

. She was always glad to learn that Sidney was well, and doing well; it had even been a relief to her to know that the business, after a stand-still of some months, had taken a turn in the right direction; but, when all was well, what was there to agitate her? If Sidney were ill, and needed her help, she would have

r the circumstances, when a stranger, who preferred not to give his name, requested an audience of Miss Wesden. Miss

mer. Mr. Wesden was a man of the world, and hard to be imposed upon. A man more nerv

ng," said t

-if it's a subscription for anything, I don

rd-possibly better known to you by th

You haven't come to torment my daughter again?" he said, in

I come to offer every r

of that sort of stu

xplanation of my conduct in the past; but if you would fa

to do," said Mr. Wesd

attempting to analyze the real motives which had actuated his past conduct-motives which had been a little incomprehensible

t the opposite wall, till Maurice looked behind him to see what was nail

uch to blame, sir-that is, that there w

they,

y I have pr

ee it at all. But, then, I haven't so clear a

stand that I am heartily a

to hear t

come a dif

tory, perhaps?" su

my reformatory

y for

mpulse turned your daughter's heart away from me, I have come from abroad with the

you, t

glance over his shoulder, and then commenced a second series of explanations, speaking

; "she never talked to me about her love affairs-girls never do to t

likely

one that has altered her so much. Any nons

-exact

she comes in now," said Mr.

m obliged

need not talk any more just at present. We don't have much tal

will attend to

Wesden sat and smoked his pipe at a little distance from him, and revolved in his own mind the strange incident which had flashed athwart the monotony of daily life, and scared him with its suddenness. In Harriet he had probably been deceived, and it was this young man whom she had loved, and whose eccentric courses had rendered her so difficult to comprehend. All the past morbidity, the past variable moods, the fluctuations in her health, were to be laid to this man's charge, and

o come," said Mr. Wesden, afte

too," was t

mons at the door announce

f, and leave you to expla

to the latter days; the heroine of it was at the threshold waiting for him. Th

d allowed her to proceed half-way down the narr

r waiting for you these

the handle of the door and entered the parlour. Then she stopped transfixed, scarcely believing her sig

e had

arsely; "that possibly this was not the best method of once again seek

nnot see that any valid reason

t has-I ho

ossi

a long story to your father-may I b

, I must ask you to excus

I pray you for an honest hearing. Ah! Mi

d!-no,

ding thereat still, by way of hint as to the length of the interview. She was more beautiful than ever; more grave and statuesque, perhaps, but very beautiful. It wa

poken, but she

ful conduct therein-I have done with that and you. If you be here to apologize, I accept that apology, and request you to withdraw. I

, in the first place

ried Harriet, imperious

yte. He would have thought the change savoured too strongly of the earth from which he and her, and other

or by giving you my name and calling you my wife. I have been a miserable and guil

old days. But the spell was at an end, and there was no power to bring her once more to his arms. She recoiled from him with a

ford, you

not t

inute ago that I forgave you all the evil in the past. I don't forg

n good for evil, and Harriet Wesden had thought how irresistible his words were, and how apposite his illustrations. And fresh from good counsel, this young woman who ha

ow for the past, and take my leave. Forgive at leas

one moment!"

then with a hand pressed heavily upon her bosom,

y, fostered by pernicious teaching of frivolous companions-afterwards there was a foolish romantic incertitude-vanity still perhaps-that led me to trust in you, and to give up one who loved me, and for whom I ought to have died rather than have deserted-but there was no love! I knew it directly that I guessed your cowardice, for I despised you utterly then, and understoo

d away, and went slowly out of the room, defeated at all points, his colours lowered and trailing in the dust. Outside he found Mr. Wesden, standi

?" he asked

nswer; "I see what a fool I have been, Mr. Wesden

ut; the old man watched him for a while, and then r

he entered, and flung

nd look to still. Not