The Clever Woman of the Family

smallness of

t meaning en

r efforts exp

eving, that l

abel, &c

r it. She was always full of occupation, even while her active mind craved for more definite and extended labour; and when she came upon the field of strateg

he really seemed obliged for one or two bits of parish work that she attended to; finding that between him and his staff of young ladies they were getting omitted. Somehow, too, an unaccountable blight was passing over the activity of those curatolatresses, as Rachel had been wont to call them; they were less frequently to be met with popping out of the schools and cottages, and Rachel, who knew well all the real poor, though refusing the bonds of a district, was

en of life's problems; the intercourse she had enjoyed with Colonel Keith had excited her for a time, but in the reaction, the old feelings returned painfully that the times were out of joint; the heavens above became obscure and misty as before, the da

ught her daughters to see it when in course of completion the next day. He had then asked whether there would be any objection to his making use of the sketches in the way of remunerative sale. Mrs. Curtis looked rather taken aback, it hardly agreed with her exclusive notions

k of the intrusion. It is only that these poor trifles are steps to one of the few means by which I

anything," said Rachel eagerly; "le

is the last individual who would do so, except

am sure some of our friends would be very glad to take some sketches of our scenery; they have been begging me this long time to

Rachel was not sure whethe

e much troubled in mind whether its proper price might not be five or even ten guineas, instead of the one for which she had

who was sketching in full view from the win

t be odd? Had you not better wait till Grace

, I can do it much bett

her would be glad to know what price Mr. Mauleverer set upon it. She was met by a profession of ignorance of its value, and of readiness to be contented wi

preferring the affirmative to the interrogative. "I heard you had been interes

ayed me then? It is ind

es and middle-men perfectly batten on the lives of our poor girls here. I ha

ization are a constant burden on the comp

r fallen to her lot, "would be to commence an establishment where some fresh trades might be taught, so as to lessen the glut of the mar

t would drain off the superfluous labour, and relieve the

the project

to hope for success, if it can only receive

been longing for for years. What, you would form a sort of industrial school, where the chi

e difficulty, for which I have been end

cribe for such a purp

ture, Miss Curtis; but the world wou

bering that she had undertaken to drive out Ermine Williams in it, she was obliged to break off the conversation, with an eager entreaty that Mr.

turn, "how long you have been; and wh

for educating poor girls, and giving them some resource beyond that weary lace-making-the very thing I have

think if it were not for those middle-men, lace-making would n

exceeding delight in the door thus opening for the relief of the suffering over which she had long grieved, and launchi

e was a distinguished p

said Ermine. "It is a remarkable one; one mi

m a clerical gentl

ble to find out something about

plished man, and a great deal more; not exactly a finished g

fered so much from trusting too implicitly, that I never can think it sa

find out all about him, but I cannot see any opening for distrust. S

hear something

ferent colouring from mine. Modern research has introduced so many variations of thought, that no good w

e undertook to

h are required by poor children are not affected by the vari

riations may often r

to real practical simple teaching of uninstructed people, villagers or may be heathen

eing different ways of viewing the same truth. These may, like the knights in the old fable, find that both were right about th

agrees as t

denial that morality entails? Nay, do they show the way to the

we hold it, is needful to the perfection of moral observance. I don't say whether I assent, but the present question

rally formed in childhood. H

r this poor man be not precisely of your own opinions, a

e," laughed Ermine. "We have

e not nipped with the blight of susp

dated in 1832, the time at which, judging from appearances, the object of her search might have been born; besides, he rejoiced in the simple name of Thomas. But Rachel's search was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the issue of Mr. Mauleverer himself from the reading-room within the shop. He bowed and passed by, but Rachel for the life of her could not hind

g-room and announced, "Mr. Mauleverer to see Miss Rachel." Up jumped Miss Rachel, with "You'll excuse me, it is on business;" and went off highly satisfied that "the mother" was hindered by politeness from making any attempt at chaperonage ei

o look for my name in the 'Cler

ltered Rachel, decided

od sense. I should wish to be fully explicit before any arrangements are made. I am unhapp

surances. "I can fully appreciate any reluctance to become stringently bound to dog

n iota of them, I may be allowed to regret that our formularie

needed patience to permit their convictions to ripen. Then I und

urmur, but it has been

solingly, "it may enable yo

so, Miss Curtis, I will hope it,

o any task unless they are certified of the religious opinions of their coadjutors, which seems to me lik

the plan with her, he said, before drawing it up, and in effect she had cogitated so much upon it that her ideas came forth with more than her usual fluency and sententiousness. The scheme was that an asylum should be opened under the superintendence of Mr. Mauleverer himself, in which young girls might be placed to l

and the longing desire of her heart for years seemed about to be fulfilled; but a domestic magazine, an outlet to all the essays on Curatocult, on Helplessness, on Female Folly, and Fem

scheme, and a few others that he said were of too private a nature to do more than show Miss Curtis in confidence, but on which she recognised some distinguished names of persons interested in Social Science. She would not wound his feelings by too close an inquiry, but she felt armed at all points against cavillers. Really, she began to think, it was a great pity Colonel Keith should cross

e lived in an exceedingly retired way, he said, being desirous of saving his small private means for his great object, and he gave Rachel his address at the chief printseller's of the place, where his letters were left for him, while he made excursions from time to time to study the picturesque, and to give lectures on behalf of philan

" and took every opportunity of impressing on Rachel that all was the result of her summons to the rescue. Ermine wished Rachel had found out who was the bishop's chaplain who rejected him, but allowed that it would have been an awkward question to ask, and also she wondered if he were a university man; but Mr. Touchett had been at a Hall, and never knew anybody, besides being so firmly convinced that Mr. Mauleverer was a pestiferous heretic

sensible of the kindness of all you do, I only ventured to wish there h

," said Fanny, and Mr. Touchett, to whom seemed to have been transferred

, nor was Rachel Curtis popular enough to obtain support for her own sake; a few five-pound notes, and a scanty supply of guineas and half-guineas from people who were ready at any cost to buy off her vehement eyes and voice was all she could obtain, and with a subscription of twenty pounds each from her mother, L

ifficulty of raising money for the Industrial Asylum, and declaring that she would part with her horse if she was sure of its falling into good hands, Bessie volunteered to buy it, it was exactly what would suit her, and she should delight in it as a reminder of dear Avonmouth. It was a pang, Rachel loved the pretty spirited creature, and thought of her rides with the Colonel; but how weigh the pleasure

you are after?

ess I could do her; she is so very eager about this

to obl

had had to send about to horse-dealers or to advertise. I doubt if

oachman's sixty

ture of pity. "But excuse me, where would be the fine edge of de

dle with hor

the regiment. I shall send a note to Captain Syk

go, and that is, that Meg goes to Bishopsworthy the day she is yours. I w

ld think of s

recisely agreed with Rachel's demand of the original

t it a pity, when you know what a humbug poor Rachel is goi

into the sea, I don't see wha

erested. Nothing belonging to

l," said Alick, gravely. "You cannot do less than give her w

we womankind never quite know the code of t

at makes codes unneces

't wonder you can't bear to see any one else on her pal

thy," said Alick, as usual too careless of the imputatio

ed at his acceptance,

t have been very far gone, indeed, to have been taken in to

entimental air. "Is it the long words, Alick, or is it 'the great eyes, my dear;' or is it-oh, yes, I know w

still not laughing at but with him; that is, if the odd, quaint, inward mi

d it appeared that Lady Temple had considered it so dreadful that Meg should not share her hospitality, that

own a page a day, she sent every member a statement of the wrongs of the lacemakers, and the plans of the industrial establishment

call at the Homestead, "how do you reconcil

e what my lett

at pass through their hands-ominous money-letters, all with the same address,

Rachel; "but risks must be run w

e of-how many children make a postman?" asked C

as Rachel thought the last speech too mocking to be

nsidered how you are frightening people out of the society? It is enough to make one only subsc

both names!" said Rachel, readily

en Mr. Mauleverer gi

Will Michael Miser

st year's accounts

aith to make a venture c

aith from the public. How do you induce the

people would think it meant Roman Catholic. Your sister thought I ha

put that?" exclaimed Alick Keith, more near

s no objectio

ve helped thinking of it?" cried Gra

subscriptions were invited to the address

not Scottish, you ought to

ictures of pseudo-chivalry since I have been grown u

n our Scotch, we should have known wh

first exclamation. "But there," she continued, too earnest to see or stumble at straws, "n

lishwoman's Employment. See, I can

ot disavow the half reluctant thanks for this compensation for her inadvertence or mischief, whichever it might be, laughing the more at Rachel's somewhat ungrateful confession that she had rather the cost had gone into a subscription for the F. U. E. E. As Bessie said to herself, it was much better and more agreea

d Rachel met with very tolerable success. Mr. Mauleverer called about once a week to report progress on his side, and, in his character of treasurer, to take charge of the sums that began to accumulate. But Rachel had heard so much on all sides of the need of caution in dealing with one so entirely a stranger,

bers of the magazine. When a little more progress had been made, the purchase of a printing-press might be afforded, and it might be struck off by the girls themselves, but in the meantime they must be depe

ional Schoolmaster, so anxious to devote herself to the work, that he had promised she should share it whenever he was in a condition to set the asylum on foot; and he assured Rachel that she would find this person perfectly amenable to all her views, and ready to work under her. He brought letters in high praise of the late school master, and recommendations of his widow from the clergyman of the parish where they had lived; and place and name being both in the "Clergy L

nd winter the place was at its fullest, so that she could not even rent a house but at a ruinous price. It would be the best way to build on Homestead land, but this would be impracticable until spring, even if means were forthcoming, as Rachel resolved they should be, and

erve till she could build, and perhaps it would be best to form her experience before her plans. Mr. Mauleverer's own lodgings were near at hand, and he could inspect progress. The furniture was determined upon-neat little i

e built; but in the meantime the new houses were practically almost pastorless, and the children and their matron must take their chance on the free seats of one of the churches of St. Norbert's. The staff of clergy there were so busy that no one liked to add extra pa

rbert's, receiving coal from the ships, and retailing it. They were to supply the F. U. E. E. with wood, coal, and potatoes; an

to receiving the apprentice fee from the Burnaby bargain for her as soon as the child was fourteen, and she had a strong prejudice against any possible disturbance to the lace trade; but winter would soon come and her sale was uncertain; her best profit was so dependent on Homestead agency that it was impolitic to offend Miss Curtis; and, more

d that they were all that could be wished, and even said at her request that he would talk to Mr. Mauleverer. What the talk amounted to they never knew; but when Fanny said "she hoped he had found n

Alison Williams, her listener, turned on her such great eye

awn upon for the first expenses; but Rachel trusted to do more for the future, and resolved that her dress should henceforth cost no m

aughingly called them, were taken over to St. Norbert's in the Homestead carriage, Lady Temple

they expected, but whose weeds made Fanny warm to her directly; but she was shy and retiring, and could not be drawn into conversation; and h

re of good cheer, strongly suggestive of school feasts, and were left in the midst, with many promises of be

on; indeed, Mr. Mauleverer was most anxious on this head, and as Rachel already knew the scruples that withheld him from ordination were

already beginning to dawn on the horizon, and not alone. He had written, in the name of his brother, to secure a cottage of gentility of about the same calibre as Myrtlewood, newly completed by a speculator on one of the few bits of ground available for building purposes. A name was yet wanting to it; but the

fe," Conrade caught the point with dangerous relish, and dwelt with colonial disrespect, that alarmed his mother, on the opinion expressed by some unguarded person in his hear

likely to be critical of the head of the F. U. E. E., and matters had gone too far now for her to afford to doubt, or to receive a doubting master. Moreover, it would be despicable to be diverted from a great purpose by a courtship like any ordinary woman; nor must marriage settlements come to