A Mere Chance, Vol. 3 of 3

t the engagement between Mr. Kingston and Miss Fetherstonhaugh, which had been unaccountably broken off, was "on" aga

earing all the honours of her position-not shyly as of yore, but with a quiet candour and d

e proper in a young person who was going to e

but Mrs. Reade, far from encouraging anything of the sort, set herself steadily against it, and warned Mr. Kingston of probable conse

o shadow forth in Palladio-gingerbread of the most ambitious pattern, the magnificence

ornment; she fully understood how much they represented for whoever was to possess and enjoy them. But they had not a featherweight of value in her eyes as compared with the hap

s determination, indicating that he was as much bent upon winning the game as upon winning the stakes

portunity; and in the end, opportunity, as

n. It came on to rain, and it was grey and chilly. Dull weather always sent her spirits down sever

absence Rachel did not like to take upon herself to order one. She lay on a sofa with a shawl over

achman, and blessed with few opportunities for the indulgence of a naturally restive temper, brought it in with a protesting nonchalance, a teapotful of nasty liquid, made with water that ha

ich possessed her just now. And while she was in the lowest depths of despondency, in the deepest indigo of blues, Mr. Kingston calling, discovered her solitude and came in, te

body-to anybody-who would love and take care of her, and make the servants treat her with

cept him; but the causes were as distinct as causes usually are. Badly-made tea, and the want of

to say "no," which Mr. Kingston justly took to mean the same thing-Rachel w

once, and the preparations for her

out the arrangements for her honeymoon tour. Then she set herself to do her duty in the state of life to which she imagined herself "called," with a kind of hopeless

ted to the task of making it justifiable to

ent to have her as she was (and he assured her he was quite content), she would do all in her power to prove herself a good and true wife

n the dumb eloquence of the sensitive, truth-telling face. That little person who had such a talent

h she had been powerless to control; but, for the first time in her life, she was afraid to speak to her young cousin of the thoughts that both their minds were full of, lest

e her a distinct intimation if she had wanted it, that the marriage however i

in the preparations that were going on for the great ceremonial, and Mrs. Reade, hunt

aimed. "Why, you must know every stick and stone by

, gazing still at the imposing pile before her, shar

Jenny, m

came to help her. Some men heard her cries, but did not know where she was. As soon as we came home, of course I found it all out; and I got a large bough of wattle and lowered it down, and so she was sa

reatly mystified. "I can't see th

d rush to it in a sort of frenzy. A bricklayer was doing something to it one day, and we had to lock her up, she was in such a frantic state. She would be gentle and quiet at other times, but as soon as she tho

ointing to the house. "And you are immolating yoursel

r of artificial composure; "but somehow Jenny happened to come into

ness you would think like a sensible

or widow, who used to be very kind to me in the old days, and she would let me stay with her until I could get a situation. N

ng her by her wrists and looking imploringly into her face. "Do

few seconds and then s

side to side. "Sometimes I feel one way and sometimes another. I want

ach to impartial judgment as true friendship and human fallibility allowed. And the thought of Rachel's weakness

yourself to Mr. Kingston, and you must try to make yourself happy wit

and she accepted the fate that deprive

d, wiping her eyes. "It is