Phantom Fortune

icated beauty of the Fellside gardens below him, and climbed higher and higher up the Fell, till he was able to command a bird's-eye view of the lake and village, and just under his feet, a

were formed by the dead walls of servants' rooms and coach-houses, which had no windows upon this inner enclosed side. The old buildings were low and irregular, one portion of the roof thatched, another tiled. In the quadrangle there was an old-fashioned garden, with geometrical flower-beds, a yew tree hedge, and a stone sun-dial in the centre. A peacock stalked about in t

istling to the peacock. It was not the manner of a servant who had duties to perform - r

I suppose," thought Hammond,

, which brought him to a wooden gate leading into the stable-yard, just in time to meet Maulevr

muzzle,' said Maulevrier; 'we

most perfect darling, and laughs so

ly marked little creature, all thew and sinew, palpitating w

It was a gown of Maulevrier's ordering, made at his own tailor's. Her splendid chestnut hair was uncovered, the short crisp curls about

with a carelessness which was not complimentary, looking at him absently,

g brow, rugged, gloomy looking, was Nab Scar; yonder green slope of sunny pasture, stretching wide its two arms as if to enfold the valley, was Fairfield; and here, close on the left, as he faced the lake, were Silver Howe and H

ht show them to you before breakfast,' said Maulevri

d Hammond, who did not wish to face the dowager and Lady Lesbia in disordered apparel. Lady M

ary clinging to her brother's arm, as if she wante

s beautiful had been done - the rarest conifers, the loveliest flowering shrubs grew and flourished there, and the flowers bloomed as they bloom only in Lakeland, where every cottage garden can show a wealth of luxurious bloom, unknown in more exposed and a

say to the gray-headed old gardener, who firs

me,' she said afterwards, when the gray head was at rest under the sod, and gove

Sunday mornings for the sake of example; but she read all the newest scientific books, subscribed to the Anthropological Society, and thought as the newest scientific people think. She rarely communic

event my grandson going to the dogs, and then my mission on this insignificant planet will be accomplished. What new form that part

ss, Fr?ulein Müller, who had become a staunch Anglican before entering the families of the English nobility, and by the kind Vicar of Grasmere, who took a warm interest in the orphan girls

re still in a state of transition,' she told Lesbia; and Lesbia, w

People in the village talked of him, and envied him so good a berth. He had a gentleman's house to live in, and to all appearance lived as a gentleman. This tranquil retirement, free from care or labour, was a rich reward for the faithful service of his youth. And it was known by the better informed among the Grasmere people that Mr. Steadman was saving money, and had shares in the North–Western Railway. These facts had oozed out, of themselves, as

, but in her ladyship's absence Miss Müller was guardian of the proprieties. She was a stout, kindly creature, and by no means a formid

ness' or 'companion' in the la

e walk,' she said. 'I saw

one of the few windows which look

er ladyship's orders, to keep out the cold winds which sweep down from the hills in winter and early spring, when the edge o

elaborate toilette of last evening; such purity of complexion, such lustrous eyes; the untarnished beauty of youth, breathing the delicate freshness of a newly-opened flower. She might be as scor

and people she had never seen. She brightened and became quite friendly, deigned to invite the expression of Mr. Hammond's opinions upon music and art, and after breakfast allowed him to follow her into the dr

self this morning?' asked Maulevrie

ere is one pilgrimage I am eager to make. I must

a shilling from a pocketful of loose cash, always ready for moments of hesitation. 'Heads, house; tails, grave. Tails it is. Come and have a smoke, and see the poet

ed, and looked

rier from the lawn. 'It was a fair

swered the other, wit

show him the poet's grave. He could no

, Lady Lesbia? We'll s

ecoming suddenly frigid.

he morning - on such a

very

m for a little while. She had reminded herself of the inferior social position

aulevrier from be

nt to be intrusive; so she went off to the kennels to see the terri