The Heir of Redclyffe

ood shep

is that dances w

times faster than

he had eaten bal

ow to h

TER'

eded with their rakes, the white shirt-sleeves, straw bonnets, and ruddy faces, radiant in the bath of sunshine, while in the shady end of the field were idler haymakers among the fragrant piles, Charles half lying on the grass, with his back against a tall haycock; Mrs. Edmonstone sitting on another, book in hand; Laura sketching the busy scene, the sun gl

ow and then a word, till a cold, black, damp nose was suddenly thrust into Charles's face, a red tongue began licking him; and at the same moment Charlotte, screaming 'There he is!' raced headlong across the swarths of h

e, in his glittering eyes and glowing face, while Bustle escaping from Charles's caressing arm, danced round, wagging his tail in ecstasy, and claiming his share of the welcome. Then Guy was on the ground by Charles, rejoicing to find him out there, and then, some dropping into their for

med Guy, following Philip's example

e to the beauty of th

eserve notice!' said Philip, throwing h

velling in that dee

iest time of all the gla

now,' said Laura, 'after y

ou, Guy?' said Amy. 'Oh! haven't yo

d Charlotte. 'I am glad I

id Guy, catching the dog by his forepaws, a

ll soon teach you,'

I real

hink it serious

imed Guy, looking as if

dancing being a healthful recreati

' said Philip. 'It is mu

exclaimed Charles. 'The

ratulated you,' said Guy. 'I must come to B

aren't still bound to Mr.

am too far behind the rest of the worl

looking full of approval. 'With so much perseverance, y

bly, th

to the thing now,' proceeded

cydi

t show you some notes that I have on that.

y, disentangling some cinders fro

best-that or the ba

id Guy, releasing Bustle, and b

who would not like hay-making

e; commiseration which irritated Char

know I don't

n a mock consoling tone. 'You and I know what

y,' said Laura; 'Phi

ing to such an expense as either taking

,' said Philip. 'I made all my protests to Maurice when first he started the no

rles, 'that this ball is specially g

Lord Kilcoran is very good-natured, and Eveleen was very much shocked to hear that A

is it

. 'I wonder if you will thin

s great friend

has much more depth than those would think who only know he

ers of the family

the little boys,' said Amy. 'Lord de Courcy

ily, and sets his face against absenteeism,'

said Amy, earnestly; 'it will be so delightful! A

imself, and gav

y little is required. You may easily

ll guide you

eleen was always so fond of her, that she came and forced a promise fr

Laura. 'There are such Vandykes, a

ture,' said Charles,

't, Ch

dissolved

it,' murmured Amy,

, melancholy, beautiful! It would stir the feelings-were it an u

ed away, dou

ot in the ball-

a, 'it is in

two envelopes, which she put into Guy's hands. One contained Lady Kilcoran's genuine card o

r, and hunted her over half the field, till she was caught, and cam

!' answered her mother, rising to

t to rights,' said Gu

, and by and by, when my disconsolate family have had all the ponds dragged for

ng like a real haymaker, to build up the cocks in all their neat fairness and height, whistling meantime the 'Queen of the May,' and now and then singing a line. She watched the old cowman come up, touching his hat, and looking l

r. Edmonstone or Philip could hear of him, was so satisfactory, that Philip pronounced that the first stage of the trial had

y as they walked round the garden in the twilight of the summer evenings, talking over the many subjects mentioned in the letters which had passed constantly. It seemed as if there were very few to w

his account, he could do nothing 'without turning his own head, except study, and that stupefied it.' 'Never was there a more idle fellow; he could work himself for a

eft himself no regular recreation but walking and music. 'The last,' he said, 'might engross him in the same way; but he thought (here he hesitated a little) there were higher ends for music, which made it come under Mrs. Edmonstone's rule, of a thing to be

knowing how to venture on advances to one to whom his name had such associations. However, they had gradually drawn together, and at length entered on the subject, and Guy then found he was the nephew, not the son of Captain Wellwood; indeed, his former belief was founded on a miscalculation, as the duel had taken place twenty-eight years ago. He now heard all his grandfather had wished to

mentor; but she saw that the struggle to do right was the main spring of the happiness that beamed round him, in spite of his self-reproach, heart-felt as it was. She doubted whether persons more contented

and merriest of beings. He was more full of glee and high spirits than she had ever seen him; he seemed to fill the whole house wi

st of the laurels, where Charles might sit and see the spires of Broadstone? Work they did, indeed! Charles looking on from his wheeled chair,

h one hand, with the other whisking her coral-handled whip. There was something distinguished in her air, and her features, though less fine than Laura's, were very pretty, by the help of laughing da

d Charles; 'don't you

e he was mounted on the roof, thatching it with reed, the

a bound, his face much redder than sun and work had a

ing out her hand, and saying, 'You are almost a cousin, you know. Oh, don't leave off. Do give me so

ou come?'

nding. He is gone on to Broadstone, but he dropped me here, and will pick me up on his way back. Can't yo

d declaring she saw a dangerous nail sticking out, began to hammer it in with such good will, tha

you think there is any hope

,' said

given him such a lecture, that he would not be the one to think of asking him, and

nient, and looks on the ball as a mere development of Irish nat

Lady Eveleen, looking

lancholy ignor

king of teaching

uy was going to help her. 'There, Charles, be fiddler go on, tum-tum, tee! that'll do. Amy, Laura, be ladies. I'm the other gentleman,' and she stuck on her hat in military styl

like him very much,' she said; 'he looks up to anything. I had heard so much of hi

ele

dreadfully afraid of him. I am sure he thinks

to make him think otherwise, dear Eva

hing for it but sauciness to cover one's weakness. I can't be sensible with those that won't give me credit fo

piano, and the rest figuring away, the partnerless one, called 'puss in the corner', being generally Amabel, while Charlotte, disdaining them all the time

with her daughter to live near her old home in Ireland. The present Earl of Kilcoran was her nephew, and a very close intercourse had alwa

ne nowhere on the day of the ball, and the Hollywell party thought it prudent to

, which led to a talk between him and Mary on accoutrements and weapons in general; but while deep in some points of chiv

t do you wa

e trimmed u

uble. I am dressed,' said Mary, looking com

mised to do as you were told.'

ose Flammock dragging off her father, to a little ca

lotte; but Philip stopped her, wi

hould not have her

to a Dutch che

gs, in your blotting-book,' said Charles; 'certain lines in the p

write verses? c

f countenance; 'I thought I had made

nto your room when mamma was beautifying it for you, as new and strange company. On its return to me, at you

n property,' said Guy

for a sight of it; and Philip

just fit for a novel. A Petrarch leavi

t lady's name he suggested; and he was surprised at the severity of

had perplexed and teased, he rej

ender subject

ng over him, said, in a

ect to be played with. If you are concealing anything you have discovered, you have a great deal to answer for.

?' asked Cha

, 'I did you injustice by speaking seriously.' Then, as his uncle came into the

peech, for if a real attachment to his sister had been in question, he would never have trifled about it. Keenly alive to his cousin's injustice, he rejo

efuse the wreath of geraniums that Amy's own hands had woven for her; and there she sat, passive as a doll, though in despair at their all waiting for her. For Laura's toilette was finished, and every one began dressing her at once; while Charlotte, to make it better, screamed over the balusters that all were ready but Mary. Sir Guy was heard play

her brother, made a splendid sweeping c

expense!' cried Charles

in white, with wreaths of starry jessamine. It was particularly becoming to Laura's bella-

laying the lyre, outside mamma'

'She stripped the tree, and Guy had to fetch the l

, pointing to it, on Laura's head, 'that you t

have been all m

ds him, thinking all this too trifling for him, and never imagining t

Charles, 'they have fur

ble young lady she should meet in the pier-glasses at Allonby. Th

plants. There they found as yet only the home party, the good-natured, merry Lord Kilcoran, his quiet English wife, who had bad health, a

art of which they had never believed her capable-Lady Eveleen, in especial, talking with that exaggeration of her ordinary manner which her dread of Captain Morville made her assume. Little he recked of her; he was absorbed in observi

vatory, where he met with better success. Mr. Edmonstone gallantly asked Mary if he was too old a partn

never been sensible how much Laura's and Philip's good looks excelled the rest of the world. They were much alike

the impression. How happy Laura looks, how gracefully she moves. No, it is not being foolish to think no one equal to Laura. My other pair!' and she smiled much more; 'you happy young things, I would not wish to see anything pleasanter than your merry faces. Little Amy looks almost as pretty as Laura, now she is lighted up by blush and smile, and her dancing is very nice,

y came to tell her that he had never seen anything so delightful; and he en

would, I should have a better opinion of myself ever after. I'm afraid he'll depreciate m

Helen, a child of eleven, who was enchanted at having so tall a partn

our,' said he, giving her his arm,

d Mary? She has been sitt

cares for such a

de no

f. You were dancing wi

s so delighted with Eveleen; but what is more, Philip, that Mr. Vernon, who is dancin

Philip, 'for hers is beauty of countena

said

intellect wasted, or, if cultivated, turned aside from its tr

tle Amy. I can't see all that. I had rather

can-all your life,' perhaps, for this is one

things in general?

ted Philip; 'bright promis

his sister, and was sorry for him. He spoke no more, but she did not regret it, for she

some interest, 'Which was the pretty Miss Edmonstone?' Guy looked for the sisters, as if to make up his mind, for the fact was, that when he first knew Laura and Amy, the idea of criticising beauty had not entered his mind, and to compare them was quite a new notio

said Miss Alston. 'Oh! they ar

said Guy, 'that tall young lady, with

ent was close to them, with Amy on his arm; and, knowing the Alstons slightly, stopped and spoke, and introduc

n at Oxford?' said Ph

What an amusin

ht, very unlike other people

e get on? I

whole; but it is rather as my siste

at res

easant person, but he ought to have be

-work

companion when he is to be had, but he lives very much to him

intently for her to venture on a remark. She was thinking that she did not wonder that strangers deemed Guy crotchety, since he was so difficult to understand; and then she considered wh

any more words. He then stood thoughtful for some time, entered into conversation with

together. 'What is the matter, Eva?' said Amy, se

, smiling. 'The queen of th

he one thing can make you so

a-when you say you are

opinion of myself! Besides, there is nobody else

such a thing,' cried L

horror, she moved on, and presently they heard her exclaiming, gaily, 'Captain Morville, I really must scold you. You are setting a

ttend to my business better in future.' And turning to a small, shy damsel, who seldom met with a partner, he asked he

thought you wanted to dance with him, or

, he was ve

you are

o would be content with the squi

over. At length his friend came up to him and said something warm in admiration of her. 'She is very Irish,' was Philip's answer, with a cold smile, and Mr. Thorndale stood uncomfortable under

dancing with her?'

ny to need the attention

th the vulgar herd, made Mr. Thorndale hear

dmiration had been checked, which, if it had been allowed t

cousin. Guy had three times asked her to dance, but each time she had been engaged. At last, just as the clock struck the hour at whi

uld dance till th

going,' said M

s one more,' cried Guy, eager

off together, while Philip remained, in a reverie, till

till, after two or three minutes spent in wonder and inquiries, they came qui

gentlemen in theirs acted diversely. Mr. Edmonstone went to sleep, Philip sat in silent though

ugh the closed shutters. Philip went on to Broadstone, Guy said he could not go to bed by daylight, called Bustl