The Golden Calf

resence than from the far-reaching branches of the cedar. His politeness

kept up an insane giggling, varied by low and secret discourse, and from which shelter they issued forth stealthily, one by one, to pounce with crafty hands upon the provisions. These unmannerly proceedings were ignored by the elders, but

t now?' she whispered to Bessie, in the midst of

nder, after a stolen peep behind the

ly spread upon a tablecloth laid on the soft turf. Nothing had been forgotten. There were plates and knives and forks enough for

e amiably stupid; but Dr. Rylance appeared to thin

uot or Roederer. 'An open-air luncheon on such a day as this is positively inspiring, and to a man who has breakfasted at seven o'clock on a cup of tea and a morsel of

ers, which would have been eminently appropriate to the funeral of an in

fact,' answered Urania. 'You were told we

the last moment and gone somewhere els

as planned last night, it would have indicated great weakness of mind if we had been t

passionate a man cursed in

so fortunate as to find you,' said the doctor, addressi

egg, when he passed, by a natural transition, from chicken to pie. She was quite distressed because he did not care for tarts or cake. But the doctor's appetite, unlike

they have not a single modern improvement. They are as old-fashioned as the gardens o

ne of that exuberant group, and to see Reg 'take off' Urania and her father. His mimicry was cordially admired, though it was not always clear to his a

Rylance, who had somehow managed that Ida and he should be side by side, and a little in advance of t

make me feel the disadvantages of my position, from the day I first entered her house to the day I last left it? The prizes gave me no pleasure. They hav

e her inten

never felt the sting of poverty till she made me feel all its sharpness.

d the doctor, 'days when you will think no more o

ast,' answered Ida, lightly. 'But i

s Palliser. I have had to fight my battle. I was not always Dr. Rylance, of Cavendish Square; and I

and by your own talents,' said Id

ne, rather than by shining abilities. Yet he valued himself not the less on that account. In his mind tact ranked higher than genius, since it was his own peculiar gift: just as blue

, and my place in the world fixed, I begin to find life somewhat barren. A man ought to reap some re

ther than as having a personal meaning. 'But I think I should consider pou

proud schoolmistress; but years hence, when you have won indepen

ould be

ship - a love worthy t

dle-aged gentleman going to drop into sentiment, as Silas Wegg dropped into

ssie?' asked Ida, as if she were suddenly

uite kill themselves. We are all to meet in the stable

ome?' suggested Urania; 'I am sure it would be cruel

y would not be put out of the way one little bit. If Queen Victoria were to drop in unexpectedly to luncheon, my aunt wou

know that?

her stables, from archbishops downwards; and I don't suppose s

Dr. Rylance, who felt that the time had come when he must assert himself.

. Dr. Rylance, the fashionable physician, the man whose nice touch adjusted the nerves of the aristocracy, to disport himself with unkempt, bare-handed young Wendovers! It was an upheaval of things whi

at was soft and springy under the foot. They went into the old vineries, where the big bunches of grapes we

what stilted fashion. Ida accepted his attention with a charming unconsciousness; but sh

had seen everything, even to the stoats and weasles, and various vermin nail

s simply perfect. I wonder you

e been an explorer or a missionary. However, he is expected home in a month, and you will be able to judge f

rian is your

at least, the children and I like him best

el's judgment than yours, Bess,' said Id

ians, I hope, before your holidays are over; and then you can make your own selection. Brian Walford will be with us for my birt

father

it a treat to go into mourning, and rather nice to be able to tell everybody, "Uncle Walford's dead. He h

d that Dr. Rylance and the three young ladies were to walk, attended by Reginald, who insisted upon attaching himself to their service, volunteering to sho

exercise a superstition of medical men and old-fashi

our pony too well. I'd rather

pony, retorted Horatio. 'I shouldn't wonder if you

. She was obliged to sit down and rest upon a furzy hillock on the common, good-natured Bess keeping her company, while Ida and Reginald were half a mile ahead wi

Wendover by her father, familiarly known as the Old Squire, the chief landowner in that part of the country. With this farm of about two hundred and fifty acres of the most fertile pasture land in Hampshire and an income of seven hundred a year from consols, Miss Wendover found herself passing rich. She built a drawing-room with wide windows opening on to the lawn, and a bed-room with a covered balcony over the drawing-room. These additional rooms made the homestead all-sufficient for a lady of Aunt Betsy's simple habits. She was hospita

ht out upon the grass before the drawing-room window. The youngsters were busily engaged at one table, Blanche pouring out tea, while her brothers and small sister made havoc with cake and fruit, home-made bread and butt

a picture of comfort

making himself very com

, and sank exhausted into a

after your walk,' said Dr. Rylance; 'Mi

orted Urania contemptuously, as if good health were a

complaint which she called her neuralgia, indicating that it was a species of diso

,' said the doctor, with a glance at the table where the young Wendover

d daggers bu

bread and butter, was assiduous with the sugar basin, devoted with the cream jug, talked and laughed with Miss

ent to the greenhouses and stables, Urania c

er was my favourite aversion, papa,' s

the doctor, with his consulting-room urbanity, 'but I am at a loss to understand your an

u do not,' said

lity of men in my professi

life. I consider your attention to that girl a deliberate insult to me; a g

to a friend of y

n being uncivil and being obsequ

have allowed you to have your own way in most thing

pa. I never sa

making life pleasant to myself, and you must not take upon yourself to dictat

eliberate snub she had ever received from her father