The Squire of Sandal-Side

eak is m

or suf

cience wa

d; wakes the

, what is, and

. He was not allowed to enter the squire's room, and indeed he shrank from the ordeal. His mother and Charlotte treated him with a reserve he felt to be almost dislike. He had been so accustomed to consider mother-love suffici

t Seat-Sandal, and he fancied that all the gentlemen of the neighborhood treated him with a perceptible coolness of manner. Perhaps they did. There are social intuitions, mysterious in their origin, an

ge, which made her tolerant with Harry. She had also been accused of causing her mother's death; and though she knew herself to be innocent, she had suffered by the accusation. She understood Harry's trouble as few others could hav

y man was in trouble, Steve Latrigg was sure to take that man's part. He did not ask too particularly into the trouble. He had a way of saying to Ducie, "There will be faults on both sides.

y of every thing but anxiety and weariness. Long, stormy days, when he had not even the relief of a walk to Up-Hill. Days in which strangers slighted him. Days in which his mother and Charlotte could not even bear to see him. Days in which he fancie

et little credit for staying here. I really believe, Steve, that people accuse me of waiting t

into a deep sleep. Charlotte wept much, and said little; and Harry felt at that hour as if he were being very badly treated. He could scarcely swallow;

I may as well go without a kind wor

Can father? or mother? or

by, Ch

s; and moaning like some wounded cre

re you well,

of gold pieces through it. With a blush he put it in his pocket, for he was sorely pressed for money; and the small gift was a great one to

own the lane. When he had gone far enough to drown the clatter of the hoofs he put the creature to his mettle, and Bill waved the lantern as a fare

d been a favorite with the landlady all his life long, and she attended to his comfort with many kindly inquiries an

he g

gave him a glass of beer. Then him and his little Galloway took themselves off, without more wo

anxiously; but his hear

it. That is but a little bit of the kindness in mother's heart and mine for you. At Seat-Sandal I will speak up for you alw

end and

EN LA

nd in a few hours he was in very comfortable relations with his own conscience; and this, not because he was deliberately cruel or wicked, but because he was weak, and loved pleasure, and considered that there was no use in being sorry when sorrow was neither a credit to himself, nor a compliment t

eak a word or two, to use his hands in the weak, uncertain way of a young child; but in the main he lay like a giant, bound by invisible and invincible bonds; speechless, motionless, seeking through his large, pathetic eyes the help and comfort of those wh

paradise, and hear the bees humming among the apple-blooms, and the sheep bleating on the fells. The earth was full of the beauty and the tranquillity of God. The squire looked long at the familiar sights; looked till his lips trembled, and the tea

cularly in need of something to wonder over and to speculate about; and of all subjects, Seat-Sandal interested him most. To be master of the fine old place was his supreme ambition. He felt that he possessed all the qualities nec

will only dim your beauty, and that will do neither your father nor me any good. Let us go to Sandal. Charlotte and mother must be worn out, and we can be useful at such a time. I think, indeed, our proper pla

a disgrace to the family! A singer! How c

ith a marriage! Harry ought to be put out of decent society. You and I ought to be at Seat-Sandal now. Charlotte will be pushing that Stephen Latrigg into the Sandal affairs, and you know what I think of Stephen Latrigg. He is to be feared, too, for he has

of death. He had forgotten all his grievances, he had even forgotten the inflicters of them. He had now a kindly feeling towards Sandal, and was a little proud of having sprung from such a grand old race. T

loaf. To his eldest brother, as his eldest brother, he had declined to give "honor and obedience." "William is a far finer fellow," he said one day to his mother; "far more worthy to follow father than Launcie is. If there is any particular merit in keeping up the old sea

the Dalesmen. He knows it. He will have no desire to test the feeling. I am sure he will be glad to have a sum of ready money in lieu of such an uncomfortable

always poor, always wanting money. I dare

at Bunder's in Threadneedle Street, London, for you. Draw it all if you find it just and necessary. The rental ought to determine the value. I want you to h

eed. It completely deceived every one. The squire was told that Sophia and Julius were coming, and his face brightened a little. Mrs. Sandal and Charlotte f

or Sophia, she could always work mother to her own purposes. Mother obeyed her will, even while she resented and disapproved her authority. So, Charlotte, I shall

die, mother and I would be here upon Harry's sufferance. He might

uld you liv

if I were living with my father's-with the

The wide porches, deep windows, and small stone balconies gave a picturesque irregularity to the general effect. This home had been the dream of Stephen's manhood, and Ducie also had urged him to its speedy realization; for she knew that it was the first step towards securing for himself that recognition among the county gentry which his wealth and his old family entitled him to. Not

An absurdly fine building for a man of Stephen's birth. What will he do

dd considerably to the sum, and Stephen seems to have the faculty of getting i

. Look at my brothers-in-law, Mr. Harry Sandal and Mr. Stephen Latrigg; and my sisters-in

Judith Sandal; for brothers-in-law, William and T

so, they are at least at the other end of the world, and not l

much." And though other rooms had been prepared, the request was readily granted, and without any suspicion of the motive which had dictated it. And yet they had made a very prudent calculation. Occupying the east ro

worn out with it. Sophia had been pitying them. "Mrs. Sandal does not mean to be hard, but she is so wrapped up in the squire she sees nothing; and

hadn't been near hand her own folks for a fortnight; and the cook thought Missis had got quite nattry. She had been near falling out with her more than o

Charlotte's room had been somewhat neglected for the fine guest-chambers; but it was upon Charlotte all the blame of over-work and weariness was laid. Insensibly the thought had its effect. She began to

ng. And you know how Sophia will insist upon explaining. She will call up the servants, and 'fend and prove,' and make complaints and regrets, and in the long end have all on her

d their weary hearts; still, she could not but resent many an unkind position, which Sophia's clever tactics compelled her to take. For instance, as she was leaving t

dinners to make now, and I must say a queen's pudding is a bit thoughtless of you." And Charlotte felt the injustice she was too proud to explain to a servant. But even

mplain of my 'taking on' if I did, and I should not blame you. I am only a guest here now. But I am sure a little queen pudd

es he desires, only do please

and mother would never oppose a l

ake hope out of daily work, and sunshine out of daily life, and slay love as nothing else can slay it. There was an evil spirit in the house,-a small, selfish, envious, malicious spirit; people were c

rried out. Very soon he forgot to name the squire in the matter. He held consultations with the head man, and talked with him about the mowing and harvesting, and the sale of lambs and fleec

s disappearance. To-day it was observed as it had been for a lifetime; the next week it had passed away, and appeared to be forgotte

o it, Ann. It

penny,' and I'm bound to make that good. Things are t

hia was careful to point out the fact. "She has no housekeeping ability. Every thing is in a mess. If I only durst take hold of things. But Charlotte is such a spitfire, one does not like to off

ains to hide the fact. Then he came home with complaints. "They were idle. They were disrespectful. The crops had fallen short." He could not understand it; and when he had expressed some dissatisfaction on the matter

s, all of them; are they

s of the crown. But the large statesmen went with the small ones. They led them in a body to a heath between Kendal and Stavely, and there over two thousand men swore, 'that as they had their lands by t

that, they make

laves to do their turn. I want free men at San

y one in Sandal this year. But you will stand in your meadows again-God grant it!-next summer. And then how t

Julius, like all selfish persons, could perceive only one side of a question, the side that touched his own side. It never entered his mind that the squire was trying to cheer and encourage his wife and daughter, and was privately quite aware of his own condition. Sandal had not told him that he had received "the token," the secret message which every s

nterest to them. As they came through the village, they perceived that Farmer Huet was holding his apple feast; for he was carrying from his house

thee, good

t bud, and whence

may'st bear

ll, cap

full, sa

hen! Hurr

hee, good a

ed him break the seal as he approached; and when he suddenly raised his head, and saw her look of amazement, he made a little bravado of the affair, and said, with an air of frankness, "It is a letter from Harry. I thought it was b

eaking to mother. It was cruel to Harry. Why should the villagers think t

, Charlotte. Of course

you, 'such a nice, kind, thoughtful gentl

examine the add

letter. Come, Charlotte, the air is cold and

hat to think of such a thing. Harry has only written once to me since he wen

ritten him letters full of sympathy and friendship; and the poor fellow, cut off from h

always has a motive for what he does. I mean

very day he left. I ha

erson facing a danger in the dark. Julius was also annoyed at her discovery. "It precipitates matters," he said to Sophia, "and is apparently an unlucky chance. But chance is destiny,

never neglect taking exercise. We think it a duty. No time do you say? Mother ought to take time. Poor, dear father was never unreasonable; he would wish mother to take time. What tasteless custards, Charlotte! I don't think Ann cares how she cooks now. When I was at

shall not delay an hour beyond the time necessary for travel and business." He spoke with an air of conscious self-denial; and as Charlott

going to

o such a

he s

N

her; her face glowed like a flame, and her eyes scintillated like sparks. "If any thing happens Harry w

Your sister must be"-and he tapped his forehead; while Sophia, with a lo

ink? What terror is in my hea

y to be unkind and aggravating; especially when one of the chamber-maids came down for her supper, and informed the r

th!" and Ann shook her check apron, and sat

aking Mr. Julius is in. H

ood an

ain. He has had a falling

et lately. I never knew nor heard tell of her bein

's temper is past all the last few weeks, she is that off-and-on a

ith on what Mrs. J

d that he never saw a more suspicious, unladylike, uncharitable, unchristianlike girl than Charlotte S

, and was quite sure after them that "Mr. Julius was the finest gentleman that ever trod in shoe-leather." And Julius was not above being gratified with the a

he expected. He found him in a small cottage surrounded by a barren, sandy patch of ground overgrown with neglected vines and vagabond weeds. The interior was hot and untidy. On a couch a woman in the firm grip of consumption was lying; an emaciated, feverish woman, fretful with acute suffering. A little child, wan and waxy-looking, and appar

, and then turned to Julius with that mute look of

says; and Charlotte thinks he may

ice and her baby! You see

es

of air, the luxuries, the medicines, which wou

-Side, and see the squire:

arriage in such a way. He turned my life's joy i

for ordinary life. We really can't afford to love and hate and suffer in such a teetotal

. We were swindled in the house and land. The signor knows nothing about vines. He was born here, and wanted to come back and be a great man." And as he spoke he laughed hysteri

ust to you. I want to put you beyond the need of any one's help. A

better. For God's sake, d

then be squire of Sandal-Side. Wou

their feelings intensified by his relation to me. They would look upon

ld be squire o

p and down the house. I should see him always. I should hear continually that awful cry with which he fell. It fills, even her

I am the hei

ere is my s

a moment. "Oh, yes! The

What were you

n your hand at once, than to trust to dribbling remittances sent now and then by women in charge. You could invest that sum to

t, and things are really desperate with me. I never can go back to England. I am sick to death of Florence. There are pl

hink it fair and honorable. If you do, sign your name; and I will give you a check you can cash here

on. The words danced up and down. He could only see "Beatrice," "freedom from care," "power to get away from Florence," and

Julius handed him a check for ten thousand pounds, and went with him to the bank in order to facilitate

ite satisfi

ir. Perhaps you have saved Be

ustly and hono

eve you

e. Sophia will be anxious, and o

to pray for me. And the same word

feels as I do. We don't expect people to cut

ed after him with contempt, and thought, "What a poor fellow he is! Not a word for himself, or a plea for that wretc

is longing, and despair! He felt like an outcast. Yes, even when he clasped Beatrice in his arms, with promi