The Trial, Or, More Links of the Daisy Chain

er at alarm

s rose to m

danger sha

s voluntary

to his carriage in the early darkness of a December e

ound in the chest, describing it as just short of immediately dangerous. Another letter had notified his amendment, and that he was invalided home, a few cheery words from Harry himself sc

imself and his brougham. He had, therefore, been exceedingly annoyed that one of Henry Ward's pieces of self-assertion had delayed him unnecessarily at a consultation; and when at last he had escaped, he spent most of his journey with his body half out of the window, hurrying Will Ad

m. The Doctor made a dash to cross in the rear of the train, but was caught and held fast by a porter with the angry exclamation, 'She's backing, sir;' and there he s

s MAY, and the next moment a huge chest appeared out of the darkness, bearing the same letters, and lifted on a truck by the joint strength of a green porter, and a pair of broad blue shoulders. Too ill to come on-telegraph, mail train-rushed

Harry, holding his father's

them not to com

myself. I thought you had missed my telegram. Hollo,

May, with a laughing yet tearful ring in his ag

ad got over it,' said Harry, in the deep full voice of stro

great firm fingers that were lying lovingly on his knee, 'and if

e,' said Harry, catching him

girl. I flatter myself you will f

t home! Th

plewood and all. You are su

ieve my lungs were touched after all, but you shall all sit upon me when you like-Tom and all. It was a greate

es; the doors were thrown open, and the Doctor shouted to the timid anxious fig

or her there as there had been three years ago; though, as he had seated himself on a low foot-stool, her feet were sometimes on the ground, and moreover her throne was subject to sudden earthquakes, which made her, nothing loth, cling to his neck, draw his arm closer round her, and lean on his broad breast, proud that universal consent declared her his likeness in the family; and the two presenting a

ons marking that there was a step in life between her and her sisters; her husband sat beside her on the sofa, with a red volume in his hand, with 'Orders,' the only word visible above the fingers, one of which was keeping his place. Hector looked very happy and spirited, though his visage was not greatly ornamented by a moustache, sandier even than his hair, giv

brey volunteering aid that was received rather distrustfully, as his love of effect caused him to array the model school-children in colours gaudy enough, as Gertrude complained, 'to corrupt a saint.' Nor was his dilettante help more appreciated at a small stand, well provided with tiny drawers, and holding a shaded lamp, according to

he asked, 'did y

nd of May, when every one was down in the fever. Poor old Ward

ry, Miss Ward is a b

tune for singing now, poor thing! What are they doing? Henry Ward taken to the pra

m; and Dr. May answered not, nor rev

ake a home for his brother

as written in Whitsun wee

om its rarity,' said Harry. 'What c

od luck brought me

ally, 'cats' and dogs', and hedgehogs', and human; and yo

k, for Blanche's wedding present, at Canton, but I couldn't even speak to

' said Blanche, treating the loss of the junk with

ticking anywhere,' added Tom, 'you don't

was owing to my boat's crew that I am not ever so many feet deep in it now,

eyes got so misty, that her skein fe

onscious?'

. It was a treacherous, unlucky affair, and I'm afraid I shall miss the licking of rasc

roduce you to Captain Ernescliffe, of the Dorset Volunteer Rifle Corps; Private Thomas May, of the Cambridge University Corps; and Mr. Aubrey Spen

uted Aubrey: 'it is the colour that w

scarlet,' said H

ts,' said Dr. May. 'There you see our great auth

s not military instructions, it

s his bride working the colours,

rs,' said Ethel; 'he says that Rifles have no business

nds,' said Aubrey; 'there would not have been

n't believe in volunteers, nor cavalry in in

Henry refusing the use of the park for practice, for fear we should make targets of the children. So the Spartan mother a

e,' added Aubrey, 'he is mayor th

riumphantly declared Gertrude, 'when Edward Ander

elf,' was Aubrey's sentiment, 'for n

to Maplewood?' asked Hector.

orm to drill and practise? and that trumpery fellow, Henry, says he ca

not to suppose it always hails crack rifles on all sorts of imp

n trial, sir,' a

have an eagle and H. E. on th

ain, or I shall find a us

olding to his point, 'he ought to give up to his

ery reason,'

as the uniform is settled, and they are enrolled. Blanche and Hector are

l I've been up to report mysel

ce over her green silk banner; 'it is to be a breakfast an

o believe in Mrs. Ernescliffe, when I hear he

corps was one of the earliest enrolled, and Hector managed it almost entirely. It was the reason we have not been

y coast at first,' was Ethel's aside, but

to an old messmate of mine in the train, who was telling me how we

ld slip by,'

Channel Fleet would prevent the rifles from being seriously put to the proof-a declaration highly satisfactory to the ladies, and hea

the land and sea debate, 'do just reach me

card as he handed it, said, 'Mrs. Pug. What

el's ear; while the whole room rang with the laughter that a

u don't know who she is

w sho

s. Pugh?' exc

this edge as mourning for all the old pew

Mary seriously. 'You must

is eyebrows in

her!' exclaimed Ethel. 'Do you really mean you have never found

ady sitting with Mrs

little she thought herself living

y woman enough,

d. 'She and Mrs. Ledwich came over to Cocksmoor t

Ethel, much as if it

to give her some occupation that would interest her and cheer her spirits, so I asked her to look after those

t Ethel, who replied with a gla

and congratulations about Harry, declaring she had known me as a child, a thin

used to be urgent invitations to Flora and me to drink tea there because she was of our age. She married quite young, something very prosperous and rather aged, and the glories of dear Matilda's v

era,' a

uxom widow line

Richard, rath

,' said Ethel; 'but that

their venom, you see, Ha

aps I pity her more now than even then. I was taken with her pale face and dark eyes, and I believe she was a goo

uttered Tom along the

pretension,' said Blanche. 'Besides, Mrs. Ledwi

observed

ch's devotion to her, till I found out a certain manoeuvring to put herself in t

any one to do wh

open against her t

Averil had a cold in her head; and she played so fast, that every one was put out, and then said she would come to the p

ther, one would not mind-it makes Henry Ward as sulky as a bear to have his sister going out all the evening, an

May. 'I sometimes doubt if home

worked, and she gives up everything in the world but he

rial to the Pug,' said Tom, 'will i

d at the last moment. Now Flora, you will see, will think it absolutely improper to ask her; and she w

have her,'

' said Blanch

her,' said Tom, 'but

nce with me,

Richard,

is name. All laughed, but were ashamed to explain,

Mrs. Ernescliffe, as the good nights wer

there is nothing to distract my attention.

t once; it is not worth t

isted, opened passages for the winder, and by the magic of his dexterous hands, had found the clue to the maze, so that all was proceeding well, though slowly, when the study d

ight; I can always do these things best alone. I had rather-yes, really-

you,' and flew up-stairs in time to find Harry turning, baffled, from

uld not help letting him,

o sea, when I was so proud of that,' said Harry, taking up his

since you went l

that Aubrey would have been more like old J

ar good boy,' sa

oman-bred way about him. Can't be helped, of course; but what a pair

ce to have her. They could not come at first because of the infection, and t

't you that have married. Mind

fancy free,' as she answered, 'I'm sure I hope not, but I w

a sense of time by a clock striking eleven, 'I came to bring you

n him after his first voyage. Not only was it worn by seven years' use, but it was soiled an

cut out my name in Margaret's hand, and the verse

d Mary, beginni

ere, was in here,' said Harry, laying his hand over his

ay, pointing to her own name in

with it, when we didn't know that that book had really been the saving of my

the blood-stained

tell you. I am as well as man would wish, and there's no mor

we knew, or thought, or felt-going on in our own

one good to lie and think of the snug room, and my father's spectacles, and all as usual? When they used to lay me on the deck of the Dexter at night, because I could not breathe below, I used to watch old Orion, who was my great friend in the Loyalty Isles

ncy his being at the silk al

nd as she was, to Ethel, by habitual fidelity, to Harry, by eager adoration, to Blanche, by willing submission. Luckily, their requisitions (for the most part unco

and the rifle target. Gertrude's enthusiasm was not equal to walking with a weapon that might be loaded, nor to being ordered out to admire the

s way to enter by daylight, and without strong impulse, on what regarded himself, and there were no such confidences as those to M

d Aubrey had spent at Coombe was narrated, and Aubrey indu

ot nonsense to build upon people's generous visions at seventeen, I should somet

ither of the brothers, to whom Cocksmoor had long been a familiar fact. Harry laughed to hear the old Ethel so like herself; and A

sore about Henry's refusal to let him volunteer; he walked on with me till we found ourselves close to Cocksmoor, and I found he had never

t literature you can get in Richard'

as so thankful that the rifle grievance should be a little displaced, that I le

thel!' sa

are admirable, but I mistrust all

y. 'Such a little prig as he is, to take the place o

d been magnanimo

nanimous weasel, from what

doors, and such a regular old tyrannical bachelor indoors. He is jealous o

this boy thinks the youngest brot

' said Harry. 'No one come

ken aback, 'if I were not youngest, I s

other adding, 'Don't indoctrinate Leonard with it; there is enough already to breed bitterness between those brothers!

H

is father's practice for him, and I am sure their rat

e in a sweeter h

magnanimity on his side at least; and don't you go and u

ght as well try to upset the Mins

ooked half shy, half grim, and so decidedly growled off all Aubrey's attempts at inquiry or congratulation, that Ethel hazarded none, and Aubrey looked discomfited, wearing an expression which Harry took to mean that the weight of his rifle fatigued him

rs do,' said Ethel lightly, deeming it best

to be pitied and offered favours b

y brother Hector

Leonard, turning on her a flushed face, as i

not on

Aub

ended him, and said it did not rain rifles. That's all-whatever Hector may have done was witho

e one, for he had got a couple down from London, and the man had stupidly put his cipher on both, so he would be glad if I would take one off his hands. I didn't accept

of him,' said

is such a beauty, better than any Shearman ever

you have sh

nard, 'I haven't any one to

he is quite enough my father's son for you to look on him as a friend. I can't but be very gla

ghted,' said Leona

the Naval Brigade were at issue with the captain's Southdown practice, and the experiences of the one meeting the technicalities of the other were so diverting, th

and in another moment Flora appeared in eager welcome; she had been dressing for a drive to Stoneborough to see her brother, little expecting him to be in a state for walking to her. With her came her little girl, a child whose aspect was always a shock to those who connected her with the two Margarets whose name she bore. She had inherited her father's heavy mould of feature and dark complexion, and the black eyes had neither sparkle i

turn and recovery. In the midst, little Margaret took heart of grace, crossed the room, and stood by the sailor, and holding

her mother, that she could not keep up her feint of talking to Ethel. The elderly dame, part nurse, part nursery governess, presently came to take Miss Rivers out, but Miss Rivers, with a w

ery one! It is like a cool refreshing

an show herself, and the effort, the toil, the weariness, the heart-ache of her life become visible; but close together as the sisters lived, such tete-a-tetes were rare, and perhaps were rather shunned than sought, as perilous and doubtful

ret does not come t

belying her; 'but she might be troublesome to Harry, and I h

her looking clearer and bette

me minuteness, but the tone would have implied cheerful hope; whereas to Ethel she took no pains to mask her dejection. One of the points of anxiety was whether one shoulder were not outgrowing the other, but it was not easy to discover whether the ap

d Ethel, who had hardly

Ethel; I am not fit to have a beautiful admired daughter. All the past would too eas

h to be an heiress, but a beautiful

, but then breaking off. 'We met Lord H-- yesterday, and the uniform is

has gray, and

egged for was, that it might be inexpen

; 'Dr. Spencer is as hot on it as all the boy

e is a great element towards making it go off well. I will talk it over w

ve George n

e, but he would not like not to come forwa

l; 'it is every one's du

iated; Aubrey observed that it would choke off the snobs who only wanted to be like the rifle brigade, and Leonard treated its inexpensiveness as a personal matter, having apparently cast off his doubts, under

or was pushed ajar, and the muzzle of a gun entered, causing her to start up in alarm, scarcely

n't play wit

not lo

ashamed of her terror, 'Pray put it bac

's. He will never own

s? Is it really a rifl

Didn't I tell you he

t a gallant volunteer you will make!' and she kissed him fondly. We will order the

ose. I could get part myself, only there's the tax

lunteer, and I'll not give up my right to any one,

hose childre

, where I am afraid they are being cram

ve made him ta

or little dears,' said Averil, the cloud re

Leonard, kindly. 'Has

Mrs. Rivers's volunteer entertainment. I am glad I did not say no

't consent to

f the Mays' kindness, and I can't see what business she has there! Then he said,

s. Rivers's

told him I was ready to give up the hot-house, or the footman, or the other horse, or anything he would specify; but he would not hear of it-he says it would be fatal to alter o

doing right, and then you need not care for his unreasonableness. You are

have you, Leonard,' sh

is brother's good fortune, pronounced it very handsome in Mr. Ernescliffe, and even offered to provide the rest of the equipment; but this was proudly rejected by Averil, with some of the manifestations of exclusive partiality that naturally wounded the elder br

' said Henry. 'Mrs. Pugh was kind enough to

said Averil, dryly, 'b

ued Henry. 'It would be a great advantage to you

e patronage,'

f you will let us go to Laburnum Grove by twelve o'clock to-morrow, Mis. Pugh wi

not finished le

if we

ave you bothering every one a

Henry. 'I can't think why your

nd though she kept silence, the tears were in her eyes, and h

as she recollected how bad the scene was for them, but it was only Minna who obeyed

see that child set against her sister! I

as to which was cross, Henry or Averil, and the spirit o