The Clever Woman of the Family

is Lucy's

fop, armed

in the sal

never knew a

would remain till she comes home," was Coombe's reception of Aliso

Rachel, who had walked from ch

s, rushing upon them in full cry; then Leoline, facing round, "N

n? Speak rationally,

oombe. "She heard this morning that Colonel Keith intended to ar

ng her displeasure, and bluntly asked what

it was not certain whether Colonel Keith woul

und, and dash home with the tidings, wh

is Colone

bling of the voice, and answered, "Colonel Keith! why, the Majo

ant person would have seen the governess's gasping effo

or is?" shouted Leoline. "H

said Rachel, "I don't understand his inf

is reg

ff," said Leoline, whose imagination could not at

id Rachel, "and see if ther

achel come here," observed Hubert, as sh

ked Alison, "can you te

enant-Colonel Keith,

Christian n

minated with her, there were many moments when she would have given worlds to be secure that the newcomer was not the man she thought of, who, whether constant or inconstant, could bring nothing but pain and disturbance to the calm tenour of her sister's life. Everything was an oppression to her; the children, in their wild, joyous spirits and gladsome inattention, tried her patience almost beyond her powers; the charge of the younger ones in their mother's absence was burthensome, and the delay in returning to her sister became well-nigh intolerable, when she figured to herself Rachel Curtis going down to Ermine with the tidings of Colonel Keith's arrival, and her ow

all. Why

away, and not spoil our

eing double? Hardly that, for one was tall, bald, and bearded, not dangerously young, but on that very account the more dangerously good-looking; and the other was almost a boy, slim and light, just of the empty young officer type. Here, too, was Fanny, flushed, excited, prettier and brighter than Rachel had seen her at all, waving an introduction with head and hand; and the boys hanging round the Major with deafening exclamations of welcome, in which they were speedily joined by the nursery detachment. Those greetings, those observations on growth and looks, those glad, eager questions and answers, were like the welcome of an integral part of the family; it was

day," said Rachel, by way of oppositi

Keith; "there are cold gusts round corners. Th

zone from Avonceste

t was just what would suit you

I always pity people who are imposed upon to think it

te of them," mutt

come home so late,

t Fanny, taking it as a matter of course, answered, "We found that the-th was at Avoncester. I had no idea of it, and they did not k

Major's arrival, and he was answering them kindly, but hushing the extra outcry less by word than sign, and his own lowered voice and polished manner-a manner that excessively chafed her as a sort of insult to the blunt, rapid ways that she considered as sincere and unaffected, a silkiness that no doubt had worked on the honest, simple general, as it was now working on the weak young widow. Anything w

r guests sat down to dinner. Rachel meant to have sat at the bottom and carved, as belonging to the house; but Fanny motioned the Colonel to th

king questions and making remarks, quite at home and all animation, absolutely a different being from the subdued, meek little creature that Rachel had hitherto seen. Attempts were made to include Miss Curtis in the conversation by addressing anecdotes to her

she went be

d maid among b

tance of female emigration on r

el Keith. "I am not sure. Wholesale expor

"I am particularly anxious to know whether ther

omen seemed to turn nurse

rl of ours who would marry that Orderly-Sergeant O'Do

l termination," said A

me how to manage sending her

ed you, Fanny. Won

is whether to send it through one of the officers or not. If Captain

and Rachel decided that nothing was so

om for the younger beside her on the sofa, saying, "Now, Alick, I do so want to hear about poor, dear little Bessie;" and they began so low and confidentially, that Rachel wondered if her alarms wore to be tr

gard the present company sufficiently to desist on their account. Colonel Keith began to turn over some numbers

essays. They strike every one; but I f

not kn

old recollections; but there are some very sensible and superior ones, so that I have heard it sometimes doubted whether

sweet as that about flowers in a sick-room; it so put me in mind of the lov

had after those three once f

r bed, Alison Williams heard her sister's voice, low and steady, sayi

-I know nothing-I ha

g for unconcern all the evening, my poor dear, but surely

ightened you a

nothing ab

no,

as made you u

N

fear to tell me that. I always knew that if he lived I must be prepa

, it is only this-that I found to-day tha

as come home. You m

nly seen him once, remember, twelve year

quickly, "you can tell

ld head, dark bear

older; but he used not to have a Scotc

," I

must have left them alone. You may know him by those eye

ittle ones and Miss Rachel to ask, and they knew nothing. I wanted

e in all the evening, poor child? But now you h

rmine,

For the rest, there is nothing but patience. Now, not another wo

se, Alison shook her head at her sister's heavy eyelids, and Ermine retorted wit

lk." And next she asked for a drawer, whence she chose a little Nuremberg horn brooch for her neck. "I know it is very s

named nobody. But why did

n would destroy your chance of sl

if it be, wh

oment's pause. "I cannot tell how it may be. I have been thi

reproof this is for

ords. "It is not what, under the circumstances, I could think likely in the Colin whom I knew; but were it indeed

ve you to the s

to go on talking about it. It is far better for me t

ning, during which she only heard that mamma and Colonel Keith were gone to the Ho

d to think them generic Keith eyes, till at length, amid the merry chatter of her pupils, came an appeal to "Miss Williams," and then came a look that thrilled through her, the same glance that she had met for one terrible moment twelve years before, and renewing the same longing to shrink from all sight or sound. How she kept her seat and continued to at

The usual remedy was a drive in a wheeled chair, and Rose was so urgent to be allowed to go and order one, that Ermine at last yielded, partly because she had hardly energy enough to turn her refusal graciously, partly because she would not feel herself staying at home for the vague hope and when the child was out of

my God, and

se hot br

night dew's

th's fev

God, and k

ing on Th

ith holy hy

my spiri