The Clever Woman of the Family

en for thre

e garb of m

d of Lorn."-LOR

on the first day, was of the same opinion, and prescribed globules and enlivenment; but after a personal administration of the latter in the shape of a discussion of Lord Keith, she never called in

vivid, and as little able to brook interference as when the first harsh letter from Gowanbrae had fallen like a thunderbolt on the bright hopes of youth. She looked back at some verses that she had written, when first perceiving that life was to be her portion, where her own intended feelings were ascribed to a maiden who had taken the veil, believing her crusader slain, but who saw him return and lead a recluse life, with the light in her cell for his guiding star. She smiled sadly to find how far the imaginings of f

ing at the benefit, was against her, and Fanny's wistful eyes and caressing voice were not to be gainsaid; so she suffered herself to be placed on the broad easy seat, and driven about the lanes, enjoying most intensely the new scenes, the peeps of sea, the d

e pleasure of discussion, and she asked herself many times whether the tedium were indeed from love, or if it were simply from the absence of an agreeable compani

the few things within her reach more thoroughly. Her late discussions had, as it were, opened a second eye, that saw two sides of questions that she had hitherto thought had only one, and she was restless and undecided

ht a true appreciation of life and its duties, and whether the training of this young girl would again afford her food for eagerness and energy, would, as s

but sat in the carriage reading the report of the Social Science Congress, until the travellers began to emerge, and Captain Keith (for he had had his promotion) came up to her with a young lady who looked by no means like his sister. She was somewhat tall, and in that matter alone realized Rachel's anticipations, for she was black-eyed, and her dark hair was crepe and turned back from a face of the

had disposed of his sister's goods; and on Rachel's assen

ing, you would sit outside

eternal friendship, I can go to sleep

sie Keith; "he has prepared me

sion principle," mu

out, Miss Curtis, that it is the property

appear in the meekest sta

Miss Curtis. How horr

uld hardly propel itself into velocity enough to follow the rapid encounter of wits. However, having stirred up her light

se. "No; his very reserve said, I am going to take her to ground too transcendent for her to walk on, but if I say one word, I shall n

ing which can go de

raternal sport,"

brother?" a

N

other, that Rachel, spite of herself, was absolutely fascinated by this novel form of endearment. An answer wa

iss Curtis will despise

achel, not desirous of putting on a fo

een withered

military society, but a sudden consciousness set her cheeks in a flame and chec

ught the service into disr

ession, like a cannon-ball among skirmishers; "only we had been used to regard officers as necessarily e

shall be more impressed with it than ever. It has redeemed t

t of reflection of Rachel's burning colour seemed to have li

, Alick. Why, he is a dozen years older!-What, don't you know,

not," sa

ains me when I see people obnoxious

n that Bessie Keith had unconsciously described her (Rachel's) own aspect, and that Alick was defending her, and she was silent and confused, and rather surprised at the assumption of the character by on

g in spirits, every one agreed that he

is obnoxious sagen

oit at as guessing the fate of

e," exclai

t want of confidence is. This brother of mine no sooner saw you in the carriage than he laid his commands on m

l subject, as she would think you had no more brains tha

lk croquet, we should soon

k it," said Rachel, "and tha

eyes,-"I can only aver that the coincidence o

exclaimed

to the tune of tap and click; but for a young lady in the a

great waste of t

u will wonder what people did with

discovered," qu

eturned Miss Elizabeth; "I wonder, now

ow it will act in hypothetical

each him that word, Miss Curtis? Well, if I don't bring about

ly estimated the effect of the gay, quaint manner that took all hearts by storm, and gave a frank careless grace to her nonsense. She grew graver and softer as she came nearer Avonmouth, and spoke tenderly of the kindness sh

she was rather a dragon; and Lady Temple, though she had one child then, seemed lik

and fond, and Bessie so comported herself on her introduction to the children, that they all became enamoured of her on the spot, and even Stephana relaxed her shyness on her behalf. That sunny gay good-nature could not be withstood, and Rac

e to marry them. My aunt fancied he would be nervous, but I know he did marry

ill you know whether h

e, "and I'll undertake to see that he puts the ring on the right-I mean the left fin

ed the programme pretty

returned Bessie; "and after all, Alick need not look as if it must be for oneself. He is

lear that he liked my cho

otally removed all the unsatisfactoriness of the speech, and made even her brother smile while he looked annoyed; and Lady Temple quietly changed the conversation. Alick Keith was obliged to go away early, and the three ladies sat l

brother of mine, and he did so dreadfully take to heart the absurdities of that little Charlie Carleton, as if any one with brains could think him good for

ou," said Fanny, afraid

ffectionately: "you see when one has a very wise brother, plaguing him is irresistible.

ll spoi

they think themselves responsible for her! Dear Lady T

him so perfectly recovered. I could hardly believe my eyes when

to be a lay curate to Uncle George, only he knew if he was fit for se

ot his choice!

hint and marry, I could be with him there, now! Lady Temple, do pray send for all the eligible officers-I don't know an

d, "how you talk; you know we ar

"you must be patient with me," and she kissed Fanny's fingers again and spoke in a

the journey; he could not stand or help himself at all, and had constant returns of fever; but they said the long sea voyage was the only chance, and that in India he could not get vigou

k, so that no one could go and meet the poor dear boy at Southampton but Mr. Lifford, and the shock of the news he heard brought the fever back, and it went on intermitt

t!" sai

d they were only nieces, so we could not have interfered with them; besides, my aunt was afraid he would be dull, and wanted to make the most of her conquering hero, and everybody came and complimented him, and catechised him whether

quite hurt, "he was patience

and doubts which were worse, the fingers on, or the fingers off, and no escape from folly or politeness, for he could not even use a crutch. Oh, no, I don't blame him; I quite excuse the general dislike he t

very irritable," said Fanny, tak

ng themselves out on my account; and as to Alick, you can't think how the absence of his poor 'souffre-douleur,' invigorated him. Every day I found him able to put more point into his cutting compliments, and reading to my uncle with more energy; till at last by the time the -th came home, he had

th your uncle,"

rose of summer in my poor person must float away. Jane wants her mother and not me, and my uncle will submit to me as cheerfully as to other ne

why it need be

ng lady turned in on them! And the

pleasure and comfort to Mr. Clare to have you; and though there may be difficulties at first, I am sure anybody

ord don't feel complete without him. My uncle is as fond of me as can be, a

long word. "He objects to your exerting yo

ay don't any anything against him! I am very

play croquet!

ne, a little disappointed, "that by impractic

s way. Well, there are hopes for you. I cure the curates of every cure I come near, except, of cour

have poor Mr. Touc

m, dear Lady Temple, onl

he dimmest possible ideas of what croquet was, and belie

llow. What he wants is love! Now he'll meet his fate some of these days; and as he can'

ng all that is possible for their welfare, interesting himself about their library, and the regimental school and all. The colonel said he wished only that he was a little more easy and popular among the young officers;

ay he uses his poor little sister, what an awful don Captain Keith must be to a schoolboy of an ensign? He must be taught toleration and hunted

tion that a person whom she had begun to esteem should be hard upon this bright engaging sister. Yet it might be well if Fanny took note of the admission that he could be irritable

; she was on the warmest terms with the young spaniel, that, to the Curtises' vexation, one of the officers had given Conrade, and which was always getting into the way; she had won Alison by telling her of Mr. Clare's recollections of Ermine's remarkable beauty and intelligence, and charmed Ermine herself by his kind messages and her own sunshiny brightness; she had delighted Mrs. Curtis and G

s for Cyril, prattled with Lady Temple, or studied with Rachel, all was done with grace, zest, and sympathy peculiarly her own. Two practisings at the school rem

to whom Rachel had taken, since a favourite companion of her youth had disappointed her by a foolish marriage. Bessie's confidences had a vigour in them that even Rachel's half-way meeting

ad been greatly promoted by her familiarity with salt water, and Bessie was in ecstasies at the naiad performances they shared together on the smooth bit of sandy shore, where they dabbled and floated fearlessly. One morning, when they had been down very early to be beforehand with the tide, whi

entangle the long tresses streaming on their shoulders; always in the brisk morning air, that filled them with strength and spirit, laughing, joking, calling to one another and to Conrade's littl

s' traditions that haunted the place-how much brandy and silk had there been landed in the time of the great French war, and how once, when hard pressed, a party of smugglers, taking a short cut in the moonlight midnight acro

ad been creeping about the rocks, and had descended to the little cove, whence he was incapable of climbing up aga

chel; "I must go down after him. Yes

a, don't leap

ht, and the tide will s

u'll never be abl

ingle, to the extreme relief of poor Don, shown by grateful whines; but he was still evidently in pain, and Rachel thought his leg was broken. And how to get up the rock, with a spani

only break your neck, too,

that first rock, perhaps

esides, it would hurt him so, and I know you would fall. Poor fellow, it

so much; poor Don, yes, poor fellow!" as he whined, but still showed his confidence in the touching manner of a sensible dog, knowing he is hurt for his good. Bessie made another attempt, b

e down here and I above I am

ragswoman; I'll b

n thought the stimulus of necessity might prove the mother of invention, if succour should not come before that lapping flux and reflux of water should have crept up the shingly beach, on which she stood; but she was anxious, and felt more and more drawn to the poor dog, so suffering, yet so patient and confiding. Nor did she like the awkwardness of being helped in what ought to be n

, Rachel ascending before the polite stranger had time to offer his assistance. The dog's hurt was, he agreed with Rachel, a broken leg, and his offer of carrying it home co

p the hill as fast as might be, in consideration of Mrs. Curtis's anxieties. Bessie in a state of great exultation and amusement at the romantic adventure,

ould be a person who had called in at the lace school and asked so many questions that Mrs. Kelland had decided that he could be after no good; he must be one of the Parliament folks that they sent down to take the bread out of children's mouths by not letting them work as many h

exquisite framings of the summer sea and sky made by tree, rock, and rising ground, and the walks so well laid out on the little headland, now on

nt gratitude, first casting a glance around the apartment, which, though he said nothing, conveyed that he was profoundly struck with the tokens of occupation that it contained. The breakfast was, in the first place, a very hungry one; indeed, Bessie had been too ravenous to wait till the surgery was over, and was already arrived at her second egg when the others appeared, and the story had again to be told to the mother, and her warm thanks given. Mrs. Curtis did not like strangers when they were only names, but let her be brought in contact, and her good nature made her friendly at once, above all in her own house. The stranger was so grave and quiet too, not at all

ie, with uplifted hands, as soon as both he and Mrs.

l, gravely; "there was n

e sea monster wanting. Young Alcides, and rock-you stood

at the mischief of the one, and t

l not make a ridiculous story of a m

one, but don't blame

ess some of us

to hold his tongue? That is more than c

call him so. I am su

I would lay you an

ding to you, that is just

h," said Rachel, growing lofty in her disple

hat we want to see

ave involved the grave Rachel in such a parody of an adventure was perfectly irresistible to her, and to expect absolute indifference to it would, as Grace felt, have been requiring mere stupidity. Indeed, there

t come over till it is forgotten, for the very sight of his disapproval would incite her further. I am glad the Colonel is not here. Here, of course, he is in my imagination. Why should I be referring everything to him; I, who used to be so independent? Suppose