The Clever Woman of the Family

lied, 'joys pr

he merest

g whistled a

look at o

he sorrowf

e to King Franc

an had availed himself of Mrs. Curtis's kind permission, and was sketching the Spinster's Needles, two sharp points o

ery, which was in the hands of a somewhat aspiring genius, who edited the weekly paper, and respected Miss Rachel Curtis in proportion to the number of periodicals she took in, and the abstruseness of the publications she inquired after. The paper in its Saturday's dampness lay fresh on the counter, and glancing at the new ar

am very sorry

, what

a seemed quite inc

what have

rtainly," said Grace, smiling;

incere, uncompromising, self-sacrificing, in avowing that his mind is still in that state of solution in which all earnest and original minds must be ere the crystallizing process sets in. Observe, Grace, I am

you have made more out of

on your constructi

ehind them. They were those of the very handsome chestnut, ridden by Alexander Keith, who jumped off his hors

e there is noth

" said Grace. "W

said he, relapsing into his languid ease as he gave his

med Rachel, "though, of course, th

sister's leg broken, nor a celebrated professor and essayi

Rachel; "I told you he was

elebrity be in proportion

version should have the precedence, quickly answered, "There was no danger, only Don slipped down into that curved cove where we walked one day

not Bessie he

ver climb on our slip

muttered the brother to himself; then turning roun

duet how she was charming every one

es that were so pleasant when open wide enough to be vis

en; and at the moment Fanny came tripping downstairs with her dress looped up, and a shady hat on h

Might it not have been dreadful, Alick? I have been so wanting to tell you how very delightful that dear sister of yours is. All the boys are di

creen of shrubs on the lawn, Bessie Keith, Conrade, Francis, and Leoline, were seen each with a

uet!" exclaimed innocent Grace; "

ith startled eyes; "you don't really mea

and in greeting. "I meant the prejudice to be first conquered. See, dear Lady Temple, I'm no

up, and after thanks for Don's preservation, began loudly to beg mamma would come,

I must-I must. Inde

that they must be pacified. "Coming, Con-Come, Grace, come and

"I am very sorry, I won't allow it one

ing. "Far from it. It is a capi

ved and could not bear it," said

onsole her, "there is no harm in the game itself. It is a wholly personal distas

in him, as he replied, "Certainly there is about its abuse as an engine for flirtation, which, to tell you the truth, was what sickened me with the sight at Littleworthy; but that is not the line Con

e had been taken in and the brother unkindly used; "bu

," said Alick, still quite in earnest. "It wou

d her, and may we begin? Would it not be a generous act

down and call on Miss Williams. May I come back

d; only I am afraid

you begin, or I shall never dare to

cried Conrade of the much-tried patience. "And Aunt Rachel," he add

ick would play for Fanny's sake, or Fanny abstain for Alick's sake. She was best satisfied as it was, but she had still to parry Bessie Keith's persuasive determination. Why would

grave;" and then, as Bessie insisted on hearing the Avoncester version, he gave it; while Grace added the intelligence that the hero was a clergyman, sinking the opinions, as too vague to be mentioned, even had not the company been too flighty for a subject she thought serious an

ssie," said Alick. "Your admirable sagacity seems to have be

pery perpe

lace," he gra

s far more grace in preventing heroism from being 'unwept, unnoticed, and unsung,' than in perilling my own neck, craning down

" said her brother, "it would be k

ackwards, her bright eyes beaming with saucy merrim

as she departed, "that it was all her fault. Pray b

nd she answered not very graciously, "Oh, never mind, it did not signify." And at the same time came another urgent entreaty from the boys that the two

ly understood that nothing could compete with the sketch of the Spinster's Needles, she answered, "I promised to writ

indeed!" exclaimed Bessie,

lord of the manor; and poor Mr. Linton is so entirely effete, that it is virtually in our hands. It is one of the vexations of my life that more good cannot be done

nd she now threw herself into the game with a relish that proved that as yet, at least, Conrade's approbation was more to her than Captain Keith's. It was very pretty to see her so pleased with her instructions, so eager about her own game, and yet so de

"he did think he had one lawn in the world undefiled by those horrible hoops!" then as she met his smile of amusement and pardon

ffectionate s

ut its being for her g

ake her very happy, and

t is not the reason

ll an affectation of remorse, that the muscles round his eyes quivered with diversion, though the hair on his lip veiled what the corners of his mouth were about

re such a little ape as always to behave worse when you have the semblance

l out the adventure of th

piece of mischief, particularly annoying to so seri

"You see what you lost by not trusting me, to beha

e of boxing your e

hope can a poor Captain of Highlanders, even if he does happen to be a wounded hero or two, have against a dist

ned Alick, with a shake of his head, an

of learning, social science, and homeaopathy, soared beyond my utmost ambition. I suppose the wedding tour-supp

ly, "to the Dutch reformatory,

of your breast. I saw there was a powerful attraction and that you were no longer your own, but my views were humbler. I thought the

to sternness, "this is more than nonsense. One word more of th

"Remember, I never met her from seven years old till after her marriage. She has been the kindest of friends in right of our fathers' old friendship. You know how her mother nursed me, and the sister she was to me. And Bessie, if your selfis

him. "Just as if I did not think her a darling, and would not for the world do anything to spoil her. Have not I been leading the most exemplary life, talking systems and visi

warning,

t. I've seen you suppressing it all this

Keith, and it was always a disappointment to her if she were prevented from playing. Grace and Alison Williams frequently took their share with enjoyment, though not with the same devotion, and visitors, civil and military, also often did their part, but the most fervent of all these was Mr. Touchett. Ever since that call of his, when, after long impatience of his shy jerks of conversation and incapacity of taking leave, Miss Keith had exclaimed, "Did you ever play at croquet? do come, and we will teach you,

id it by a sort of dainty dexterity, when her exultation, was a very pretty sight, nor was Grace's lady-like skill contemptible, but having Francis as an ally was like giving a castle; and he was always placed on the other side from Conrade, as it was quite certain that he would do the very reverse of whatever his brother advised. Now and then invitations were given for Rose Williams to join the game, but her aunts never accepted them. Ermine had long ago made up her mind against intimacies between her niece and any pupils of Alison's, sure that though starts of pleasure might result, they would be at the cost of ruffling, and, perhaps, perturbing the child's even stream of happiness-even girl-friendships might have been of doubtful