The Trial, Or, More Links of the Daisy Chain

anxious e

rief thou fai

ang of humble

nt, was sure to fall an easy prey to invitations; but the rest of the family stood amazed to see him accompanied everywhere by Tom, to whom the secular and the religious dissipations of Stoneborough had always hitherto been equally distasteful. Yet be s

opped out to Ethel, 'that some one really must s

burst out laughing, and said, 'My dear Tom, I beg your pardon, but

nd would not condescend to u

Grove. The fair widow was really pretty, almost elegant, her weeds becoming; and her disposition so good, so religious, so charitable, that, with her activity, intelligence, and curate-worship, she was a dangero

of age, assumption, and position, these shallow accomplishments made a prodigious show in the world, while her own were entirely overlooked. She thought she despised the admiration of the seco

rother, for he was friendly to Leonard, and to herself had a truthfully flattering way that was delightful. Without any sentiment in the case, she always felt disappointed and defrauded if

he was inwardly chuckling; and to find the identical politeness transferred to herself, made her feel not only affronted but insulted by being placed on the same level. Thus, when, at a 'reunion' at Laburnum Grove, she had been looking on with intense disgust whi

or too, Miss Ward; I can sec

o wonder she coldly answered, 'My little sister has been sli

erve as many as I can, as pa

e lady has,' said Averil, trusting

ical drawing, in illumination, said Tom, looking across to the album in which Mrs. Pugh's collection was enshrined, each device ap

ch to learn such things, and

the less it pretends to, the better. On the whole, it ma

red, blue, and gold paint, with grand designs for the ornamentation of Bankside chapel? Whether he kne

han the subjects being de

pe as inflamed by vexation at being prevented from fighting it out, and learning what he really meant; though she was so far us

hen he might hold all women cheap from knowing no better; but when they

y all alike! I can't think how Dr. May came to hav

er they really think it irre

rouble yourself about what he sa

pirit of the work; that it was a dangerous thing, for mere fashion, to make playthings of texts of Scripture; but that no one could tell the blessing there might be in

, and the drill sergeant had unremitting work, the target little peace, and Aubrey and Leonard were justly accused of making fetishes of their ri

, declared colours to be inappropriate to riflemen. And so he did; but his wife said the point was not martial correctness, but popular feeling; so Mary gratified the party by bringing her needle, Dr. Spencer took care the blazonry of the arms of the old abbey was correct, and Flora

ing, or only livi

louds of night, and transacting a prodigious amount of business with intense delight and no fatigue; and she was considered

and Cathedral choirs, hoped to get up sufficient music to occupy people till it should be late enough to dance. She still had some diplomacy to exercise, for Mrs. Ledwich suggested asking dear Ave Ward to sing, her own dearest Matilda would not object on such an occasion to assist the sweet girl; and Mrs. Rivers, after her usual prudent fashion, giving neither denial nor assent, Mrs. Ledwich trott

g drops, and a general sense of festivity; as the gray and green began to flit about the streets, and while Mr. Mayor repaired to the Town Hall

h looked like a winter garden, interspersed with tables covered with plate and glass, where eating and drinking might go on all day long. But Ethel

ng the ground, and Hector is gone to see ab

,' said Ethel, 'but what

ing way to her; and she has done nothing but whine this whole morning because she is not well enough to

and asked whether she should

ra; 'but don't excite her. She is not at

her naughty; and she subsided into a much less objectionable lamentation after Uncle Harry and his anchor buttons. Ethel promised to try whether he could be found, and confident in his good-nature, ran down, and boldly captured him as he was setting out to see Hector's operations. He came w

g there, and by the time the bugles were heard, h

a soldier to evince consciousness of being at his own door, before the eyes of his wife and daughter; and Aubrey's young face was made up in imitation of his impassivenes

they only beheld the approach of the Ensign, and after a brief interval, his return with the tall green silk colours, wi

s, thither betook themselves, guided by the ardent Mrs. Ernescliffe. Having disposed of the others in the drawing-rooms and gardens, Flora and her father came to the nursery, and Ethel was set at liberty

her glass resolved into Harry and Tom, a lady in black, and a child. Evidently the devoted Tom was keeping guard over one of the enchan

agony about the firing, and we could not leave her till your br

st of never having seen the smo

not an engageme

ing, for the pure purpose of teasing; but he was vigorously fallen upon by Harry and Ethel, and Averil brightened as she heard

chard?' exc

lieve, the widow

bbotstoke Church, and saying how much she wished to

ian spirit was going to act. He exclaimed, 'By the bye, Miss Ward, would you not like to

hould prefer going to see

said Harry; 'the chu

think I shall just run down, as the church is open, an

the chancel; but she did not wish to let Harry and Averil appear on the ground under no escort but Minna

n take aim and emit from their rifles the flash and cotton-wool-like tuft of smoke, Ethel's interest was somewhat diminished by hear

and down the road with her. 'I have been watching the various pairs of

one in the f

d I will say for even Tom that he has no black l

ut then it

is" accounts for all favours to the youngest, inste

om you mean. But he ha

r helps to mak

is very sad, one can't wonder at her

will get on when there is a n

ld gossip, what hav

roduction of a Pug dog f

e in the world, it wou

urchase so many incumbrances. Depend upon it, the late lamented

the service of the company, thought her present duty lay with the sick child, and quietly crept away, taking, however, one full view of

uiet and ladylike, courteously led to her place by George Rivers himself. But, for all his civility, how bored and sullen he looked! and how weary were poor Flora's smiles, though her manner was so engaging, and her universal attention so unremitting! What a contrast to the serene, self-enfolded look of

profuse glossy hair, straight features, and brilliant colouring; her dark eyes were full of animation, and her lips were apart with a smile as she listened to Leonard's eager narration; and Ethel glanced towards Harry to see whether he were admiring. No; Harry was bringing in a hall arm-chair in the background, for a vary large, heavy, vulgar-looking old man, who seemed too ponderous and infirm for a place on the

e was th

ould find him; and in the nursery he was,

to go down that it might receive justice; but Margaret settled the question. 'You may g

have two!' and therewith Ethel tur

ivity added to her excitability. She fretted and tossed, moaned and wailed, sat up in bed and cried, snapped off attempts at hymns, would not listen to stories, and received Ethel's attempts at calm grave commands with bursts of crying, and calls for mamma and papa. The music had ceased, tuning of violins was heard, and Ethel dreaded the

the arms were stretched out, and

g-gown, nestling on his broad shoulder, while he walked up and down the room, crooning out a nautical song, not in first-rate style, but the effect was perfect; the

or. There stood Flora,

when he had come back as from the dead. Then she signed to them to come, but sped away before them, not trusting herself to speak. Ethel tarried wit

he most really like papa of us all

ast summer,' said Harry, still intent on the glove. 'What is to be done, Ethel! that rogue

Ethel suggested getting half into

h, Harry! And if all the beauty is

herself in his great grasp passive as a doll, dragged off into the midst of a vehement polka that took her breath away. She trusted to him, and remained in a passive, half-frightened state, glad he was so happy; but in the first pa

aberration had excited a good deal of sensation in her own family. Blanche and Gertrude could not repress their amusement; and Dr. May, with merry eyes, declared that sh

id not think y

'but you see what sai

houlder, 'now you have danced with Har

ent, Ethel,' said t

id Ethel; 'but if you can bear me through a po

r once dance with me? said

ame Leonard's quadrille, which it might be hoped was gratifying to him; but which he executed with as much solemn deference as if he had been treading a minuet with a princess, plainly regarding it as the great event of the day. In due time, he resigned her to Aubrey; but poor Aubrey had been d

ief with Harry!' mutter

kdaw, Mr. Gray-coat! I deserve some ice for my exertions, so come into t

inna Ward, and she trips as

as Tom bee

r in his solemn way, about music I believe it was, and her harmonium. I could not quite hear

hame it i

! And since that he has

s not d

om-Henry Ward, Harvey Anderson, and some of the curates;

ichard

iano profaned, or he thought it too strong when they go

Fanny Anderson. He has not g

not choose to dance with that cousin of hers, Sam Axworthy, so she was

not belong to our corps

him. There he is; peep into the card-room, and you'll see his great porpoise back, the same old man that Harry in his ben

are

d case. Where shall I find you a place to sit down? Pug and her tail have taken up all the room,' whispered Aubrey, as by the chief of the glittering tables

elf on a step a little way up the staircase. 'How thos

! and Miss Ward told me she was going home early, to put the children to bed. Ha! what's the row? There's Leona

e knew not what, as she heard Leonard's words, 'Say it w

gave a disconcerted laugh; then Leonard pounced on his little sister and carried her off to the cloak-room. 'What treason could it have been?' muttered Aubrey; 'we shall get it

on ever revealed in the May family, thou

pique that he had no means of judging, he had never been called in at the Grange. By way of salve to his feelings, the sympathizing lady had suggested that the preference for London advice might be from the desire of secrecy, and improbable as he knew this to be, his vanity had forbidden him to argue against it. When n

onfronted the lady, and assured her it was a-a-a gross mistake. His father had always attended the child, and she must have misunderstood his brother. Then, seeing Hen

in apologies and denunciations; while the kind-hearted lady interceded, for the boy, declaring that she doted on his generous spirit, but not confessing the piece of female embroidery which had embroiled the matter; pr

eturned. But at breakfast Henry found the forces drawn up against him, and his first attempt to remonstrate was re

e lady, and on himself. Had it been as Leonard stated, said Henry, his conduct was shameful and required an apology, whereupon Leonard burst out in passion at being disbelieved, and Averil was no less indignant. The storm raged till the

f ever it came to the ears of any one of the Mays, he should send back his rifle to Mr. Ernescliffe

On the whole, the dispute had lost some asperity by the absence of Averil, and though Leonard held his ground, and maintained that he had every right to deny the statemen

in manifesting her displeasure, and recurred to the

woman's gossip that Henry ought to have quashed; but

e me sanction

y civil! Is not it an intolerable thing that we thre

't you think I f

ne against the other. Just fancy Minna's saying to me, "I

me. She always appeals to Henry

discovery, 'I'll tell you what, Ave, something must be done to set things to

ologize! O

t bear malice. Henry had been at you to c

any reason

with your own brother. You have led him the life of a dog these three day

ill be. If I give that woman

ers-drawn with one's brother.' Then, after waiting for her to say

nvinced, reverencing her brothe

e excluded, loaded her with admiration, and was extremely interested in the volunteer practice, so that both the young people were subjugated for the time by he

, and was sorry that the dread of an evening of warfare had induced him to accep