A Peep Behind the Scenes

. So, after satisfying herself that her husband did not intend to favour them with his company, the poor woman

nor-house. I think I can remember nothing worth mentioning, unti

n see Lucy now in her riding-habit-her fair hair hanging down her back, and her cheeks glowing with the air and exercise. She was very pretty, was my sister Lucy. People

ry ill, and the doctor said he was to be perfectly quiet. We asked her what was the matter with him, and she told us that as he had been riding home from the railway station, his horse, which was a young one he had just bought, had thrown him,

uck one hour after another. Then I crept out of bed, and put my head out of the window. It was a close, oppressive night,-not a breath seemed to be stirring. I wondered

o find she was awake, "

red. "I'm so frightened;

but three or four large moths darted into t

t of the candle, and straining our ears for any sound from our father

if you were dying, Norah?"

id, "I'm sur

time; and I thought Lucy had fallen aslee

you would go to heav

I said quickly; "

ld," said Lucy; "I'm a

e door opened, and our mother came in. She was cr

to see you," she s

is face was so altered that it frightened us, and we trembled from head to foot. Bu

r; and don't wait till you come to

back to bed. I never forgot my father's last words

Gerald arrived too late to see him; he was at college

eturned to her novels. I think she thought, Rosalie, that she would be able to return to her old life much as before. But no sooner had Gerald passed his last examination than she received a letter from him to say that he intended to be married in a few months, and to bring his bride to the Hall. Then for the first time the truth flashed

nd counties, where she would have some good society and plent

use, and looked out of the windows on the lovely wooded hills with eyes which were full of tears. I have never seen it since, and I shall never see it again. Sometimes, when we are coming through the country, it brings it back to m

d listened once more. The sun was beginning to set, for Rosalie's mother had only been able to talk at intervals during the day, from her frequent fits of cou

as the pure evening breeze wafted to the l

g round, 'church bells; can't you hear

"Come and pray, come and pray." Oh, Rosalie, it is such a comfort to be able to speak of those days

'it's a pretty little grey church with a tower, an

horses are tired out, and it's so fair to see, that even master can se

nicely now, mammie?' sai

st like the bells of our little church at

es, and gathering round their small fires. Rosalie could see inside many a cheerful little home, where the firel

one and another came out of the small cottages, and took the

old woman entering the church door before the service began. The waggons and caravans were drawn up on this open space for the night. Toby and the other men led the horses awa

ie, as soon as the men ha

peep at t

er; 'only don't make a nois

m, and crept along the side of the church to one of the windows. She could see inside the church quite well, because it was lighted up; but no one could see her as she was standing in the dark churchyard. Her b

. It was a warm evening, and the door was open, and before she knew what she was about, she had crept inside, and was sitting on a low seat just within. No one noticed her, for they were all looking in the

e had ever heard. 'The Son of Man is come to seek and to save t

e gate and was crossing the common to the caravan before the first person had left the church. To Rosalie's joy, her father had no

been all this

ad seen, and told her how she had cr

lergyman say, child

ie-the text that was on

ek and to save th

d he tell yo

mammie; and he said we were all the sheep, and Jesus was lookin

said her mother. 'I shall take a go

t Him find us, He would be sure to do it; He d

this. Rosalie stood at the caravan door, watching the

she said, 'is

, child?' sai

is He up in on

e there, Rosalie; up ab

ny good tellin

Him what,

at you and me want s

ie; you can try,' sa

stars, 'come and seek me and mammie, and find us very qui

o, mammie?'

er mother, 'I

, looking at the stars; but

ht I to have

Rosa

hurch say it. Will it do

much,' said her mother; 'you

Rosalie, looking

Rosalie saw her father and the men crossing the dar