The Trial, Or, More Links of the Daisy Chain

in the mind

h time to sol

the station, surveying each other rather curiously; while Ethel, trying to conqu

e him a charge rather than an assistant. He was always happiest among his patients at home; and the world was still ill enough to employ him so fully, that Ethel hoped to be less missed

height of the labour, and still looked older and thinner for it; and after one

tention, to the relief of the boys, who were glad to be spared the sense of prominent invalidism. The change was delightful to them. Aubrey

there, with crow-stepped gables and

he Vintry mill, where my relative lives,

ubrey, regarding him in some dismay,

he Randall next time, I sh

have i

er clean gone, and the other f

them have had a

d Leonard. 'My memory is not properly come back ye

brey. 'He would not let Ethel so

l was as if he suspected her of having

Tom would find me gone back; and, you know, we must keep up to

's college at Cambridge, which had

ke an oven. Aubrey curled himself up in a corner and went to sleep, but Leonard's look of oppressed resignation grieved Ethel, and the blue blinds made him l

refreshment room, had to lie on a bench under Dr. Spencer's charge, for Ethel's approach only brought

kwards, could only see height develop above height, all green, and scattered with sheep, or here and there an unfenced turnip-field, the road stretching behind like a long white ribbon, and now and then descending between steep chalk cuttings in slopes, down which the carri

, looking injured, anchored himself, with his feet against the seat, by Ethel; and Dr. Spencer was effectually wakened by

orses dragging up a stage coach, after the fashion of a fly on a window-pane-a stage coach! delightful to the

gh which they were driving; but, with another turn, the buildings were only on one side-on the other there was a wondrous sense of openness, vastness, freshness-something level, gray, but dazzling; and before she cou

and chickens; Abbotstoke eggs, inscribed with yesterday's date; and red mail-clad prawns, to prove to touch and taste that this was truly sea-side. The other senses knew it well: the open window let in the indescribable salt, fresh odour, and the entire view from it was shore and sea, there seemed nothing to hinder the tide from coming up the ridge of shingle, and rushing stra

im good night, in the whitest of beds and cleanest of tiny chambers, where he looked the picture of sleepy

thel, returning to Dr. Spencer;

y it was a bold experiment; but it will do very well, when

he wil

ill. And now what

d it be against the manners and customs of se

ave no manner

freedom. 'Oh, are you coming, Dr. Spencer? I did not

rest,' he

s all others stand there-watching the heaving from far away come nearer, nearer, curl over in its pride of green glassy beauty, fall into foam, and draw back, making the pebbles crash their accompanying 'frsch.' The repetition, the peaceful majesty, the

el,' at la

. 'No wonder Harry cannot bear to be away f

Spencer; 'it is too dark to stay h

and looking mysterious on distant points of the coast; stars were shining forth in

ning from another gaze, and recollecting

ike the e

"It is very pretty," as the Cock

verted a Stone

sea is glorious? A

ng superior to

a living instance that there is no conten

e, Ethel. Content might have been won, if th

d, 'I ought not to have said it.

know nothin

aring that she had spoken wrongly, and h

ly said, 'what can you know

at papa

he last pers

n a fright, 'that you went away-out of gene

r. Spencer deliberately made a deep hole in the shingle with his stick. 'Well,'

e gone, that he put things

aid Dr. Spencer,

tell,' s

did he tell you?

ne else knows it. But he told me because he

then he said, 'It is strange! My one vision was of walking on the sea-shore with her; and that

more like he

as addressed, or, at least, that she was the child of his rival; for, from the portrait of the quiet bright maiden, he passed to the sufferings that his own reserved nature had undergone from his friend's outspoken enthusiasm. The professor's visible preference for the youth of secure prospects, had not so much discouraged as stung him; and in a moment of irri

t, 'never threaten Providence-a

pe to be preferred to her father-above all, by her mother. Nor could she clearly understand from him what had dispelled his hopes. Something it was that took place at the

nt his utmost on me, and had been disappointed in all his sons, was most of all disappointed in me. I held myse

e known or expecte

ght of that pestilential season in India, came a letter, warning me that my brother's widow had got the mastery over my poor father, and was cruelly abusing it, so that only my return could deliver him. It was when hundreds were perishing, and I the only medical man near; when to have left my post

een too late any

You know the rest. I had no health to remain, no heart to come home; and then came vagrancy indeed. I drifted wherever restlessness or impulse took me, till all my working year

you have been c

ch a character, such a course, as showed me how much better he had deserved her, and filled me with shame at having ever less esteemed him. And through all, there was the same dear Dick May, that never, since the day we first m

what you have been to him, and to all of us, through the worst of our sad

n notion, to spare your father pain, I did feel for o

so,' cried Ethel. 'You to ta

ked back, and saw nothing but desultory broken efforts, and restless changes. Your father told me, when I thought him unaware of the meaning of h

en his grief is a grave joy to him now; and one is always told that suc

e positive pain and envy wore out, and would not have interfered with my after life, but for my own folly. No, Ethel; it was not the loss of her that em

aid Ethel. 'So cheerful an

f all this; and you would not have heard it now, but for that sea; and you have got y

en led to view her likeness to her father

denoted that a cigar was soothing the emotions excited by their dialogue. She mused long over that revelation of the motives of the life that had always been noble and g

'No, thank you.' Indeed, she doubted whether the shyness were genuine, for stories were afloat of behaviour at Stoneborough parties which savoured of audacity, and she vainly consulted Aubrey whether the cause of his discomfiture were her age or her youth, her tutorship or her plain face. Even Aubrey could not elicit any like or dislike, wish or complaint; and shrugging up his shoulders, decided that it was of no us

of-it' letter of the yesterday, and sent Aubrey out on a secret commission of inquiry about medical men, in case of need. Aubrey was perfectly well, and in such a state of desultory enjoyment and

, that had haunted Coombe for a few million of ages, seemed to have escaped him. Such sea-side sojourns as the present, are the prime moments for coquetries with the lighter branches of natural science, and the brother and sister had agreed to avail themselves of the geological facilities of their position, the fascination

' she said, sitting down by him. '

elessness, that she could not help tenderly laying her cold hands on the hot brow, and saying, 'Yes, I

bear, but closed with a look of relief and soothing, as she held her han

you. I am so glad to try

ase? Ah, then I ought to take that

she recognized a powerful tonic, she exclaimed, 'Is t

said, lying down agai

ot my father

es not, as it se

as surprised, for it was talked of for A

enry,' obser

least, to find a possible cause for your bad night. We shall

I wish that. Home

effort at the hint, and coming down to earthlier consolations, 'but even the

pause said, 'Miss May, is not it a h

judge,

d to stay on one half after another, learning all sorts of things; but only coming home for short holidays, like company, for us to wond

rd, and I am sure she h

ght have known how to let one alone. Oh, yo

I feared it w

ways worried. To have them always at me to g

ing that she had not to send you from home, and

h, but she forgot-' and he hid his fa

sed to look, walking with y

nly walks she ever would take; bu

sister. Of the loss of his father he seemed to think less; it seemed, indeed, rather to reconcile him to that of his mother, by the grief it spared her; and it confirmed Ethel's notion, that Mr. Ward, a busy and dull man, paid no great attention to his children between the plaything period and that of full development. The m

let-alone system was kindness, not neglect. She was at ease in discussing fossils, though he contributed no

ecovery of sleep and appetite, and in the cool of the evening, by a disposition to stroll on the beach, and

yed so long as to excite their compunction, and quicken their steps

ubrey. 'Hillo, old fellow! have

ntly; 'don't you see it is the j

with redoubled contempt; 'it is just big

. 'I have known one of Flora's gues

ittle brute,' added Leonar

ng its rich ruddy tan waistcoat and sleeves, and beseeching with its black diamond eyes for

nction your private dog

sed an hour ago, and she does not deserve to have him, for she never looked back for him;

ill run home

was in deep mourning, opined that she could be no other than the widow of an officer, who during his lingering illness had been often laid upon the beach, and h

aid Aubrey; 'just like a

ngs have twice the sense of overgrown d

canine varieties. It was too late to send the little animal home; and he fondled and played with it till bed-time, when he lodged it in his

laimed in the midst,

ded Aubrey, pointing to a broad-backed wad

you, you little jewel,' said Leonard, picking up

ous,' said Ethel, tying on h

it; and quickly overtaking the pensive steps of the lady, arrested

o her, and danced gladly round her. 'I missed h

follow you. Indeed, he has had scarlet fever, so perhaps it was better not.

may always meet such kind fr

to her, for it was the first thing that has seemed to interest

Thank

d look of interest had drawn her words out; and on her return she made such a touchin

d of pulverized shingle; and Ethel respected his avoidance of it as

eman,' said she, as she

on fellow,' was th

ade him so!' sai

,' returned Aub

don't quite see where he lear

of nature would show that

iews of courtesy, but all thought of that sub

rned homewards with their weighty baskets, but what was their amazement, whe

s. Gisborne has given her to me; and she

iv

at by me, and talked for an hour, but she goes

to have been on co

only take the old one, which she could never part with. So she wanted to give Mab to some on

e heard how you and Mab had taken to each other: but it is a very c

y, how could

u know the aristocratic look that all

ceeded. 'Well, she is descended from a real King Charles, that Charles II. brought

e in Stoneborough; and we must all respect

orgetting his place,' said Aubrey.

ts do come fi

o try lying on the beach to-morrow, looking i

Ethel, 'as always befalls imi

t was all the work of

be at home, and break off the conversation; but in a few minutes Aubrey knocked at her door, and edging h

said of poor Leonard's circumstances, a

ours was the most irresistibly attractive countenance she ever saw, sho

r,' laugh

ty! He can't conceive a face

d Ethel, gaping into as complete a model of th

dredth part of your gift for making faces,' he added, between the unwilling paroxysms of mirth at each fresh grimace; but I want to judge of you; and-oh! that solemn one is worse than all; it is like Ju

udge in her blooming days,

like our Scotc

, Aubrey? She might have exten

said Aubrey. 'One has seen to the end of it at once; and it won't light up. Hers is just the Ma

rchis blossom, which was rapturously applauded, till Ethel, relaxing the strain and permitting herself to laugh

very cracked indeed. He declares that when you came and sat

and, and it is no m