Mabel, Vol. II (of 3)

asks and trials;

time, and glor

spirit to th

ad, but to th

ab

every attention, Mr. Ware was busy enough. Mr. Clifford brought with him different plans for the improvement of the estate, and the re-building of the village, on a different scale; and the greater part of the evening was generally occupied in talking these over, or drawing fresh ones. In this occupation Mr. Ware would gladly have interested Mabel; but she was scarcely equal to the exertion, and he well knew he could expect nothing, reasonably, beyond the unmurmuring resignation, which characterised her g

alk round the garden. It was one of those days, which, in England, so often surprise us in the midst of winter, with their balmy air and spring-like feeling.

"it must be very easy to accept the kindness whi

, with a sigh, "how shall

not otherwise have secured, and willingly would I have kept you still; but I feel that Aston would, at least for the present, be full of too many regrets for you to make me urge it. Besides, our natural rel

said Mabel, sadly,

t subject, your heart will best dictate your conduct-only be firm, an

I see that. Do you not think his strange appearance on that awful night-the delic

seemed immediately to understand that look, for turn

e of selfishness-must they always be so inseparable; but you, at least, understand

I began to fear-I do understand you,

enew the subject, she skilfully evaded it, and when that pained him, s

y aware of her presence, and joining him, she walked by his side, for a few minutes, in silence. He was moodily musing, and she seemed, for a time, watchful how best to interrupt him. She had never yet alluded to his letter, and spite of the af

offended

ed, Mis

many times I have tried to speak to you without

n pleasure, but she saw the lo

ou knew something o

ment appearing ready to sink back into his dejection, the nex

on the ground; "that the heart which has been once g

said Clair

t which I must carry with me always. I dare not trifle with a feeling whose intensity I know too well; but, yet, I hope, so earnestly do I hope, that you have mistaken yourself, and, that pity for my sorrows, and the unhap

affection, even, for the pleasure of your society-even if

on such holy duties with such feelings only; and, even if I did, cruelly should I be taking advantag

"can you forgive me f

you some pain now. But you do forgive me," she said, ex

orgive," said Clair, turning his pal

thdrawing it from his grasp, glided

-but she knew that such a parting, though so trying was one expected of her, and she would not deny them the pleasure of seeing her, perhaps, for the last time. When, however, t

ght of my eyes to see you go a

hen I am gone," said Mabel, "but I want to know what you mean to do-I want

aster or mistress," said old John, deci

nnot be; and I have been thinking, that if you had a garden of

eased expression at finding his wants divined-"and if-but I don'

hat if it would not hurt your feelings, he should like to keep on the old garden still-

rising emotion, an

garden-how glad should I be to think that it wa

walks and the hot beds as they used to be-and 'twouldn't be quite such a breaki

t something of what I loved so well remained still. I will speak to Mr. Clif

his head with an air of consideratio

etsy, what

ike to leave poor missis. Now, I was thinking, if you approve, that, as I am getting old, I shall want some one to help me, and as he's a clever man at a garden, I might as we

;" she said, more hurriedly. "In the mean while, to secure its success, I shall place twenty pounds, a piece, for you, in Mr. Ware's hands; which you can draw upon, as you want mone

he reluctance which they would have felt, had they guessed the real nature of her circumstances. They could not fancy that the mistress, whose noble qualities had ever received their genuine respect, wa

ed with her on giving away a sum so large in proportion to w

hem enough. The thought that I have shewn them something of my gratitude for the past, will be better to me than th

ilt for the old servants; and he readily took the opportunity of interesting her by making her choose and alter the pl

tudiously attentive in every imaginable kindness, but she was not suffered to enjoy their society very long-fo

it right to depart as soon as possible. But, in leaving Aston, she began more and more to realise the true nature of her recent loss; and when M

g charge; "you will remember, though not yet, that

Mr. Ware turned musingly away. As he drove home by himself, the road seemed unusually long, and the large flakes of snow, as they lazily fell through the freezing air, seemed even more cold and comfortless than they usually do: h