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Q S
1 9 26

C OPY R IG H T, 1 893, BY

JO H N T AY L O R AN D C O M P AN Y
 THE S O RC E R E SS .

C H AP T E R

IT was the most e x c i t i n g e v en t w

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I .

i c had ever occ u rred

w
i n the f am i l y an d everythi n g was a ff ected b y it
, .

I magi n e to you rselves su ch a you n g family all i n the ,

v ery heyday of l ife pare n ts a

,
n d childre n alike It is tru e .

th at Mrs K i n gs ar d was somethi n g of an i n valid b u t

w
,
.

n obody b el ieved that her ill n ess was an y thi n g very seri
ou s on ly a reason why she sho u l d be take n abroad to o n e ,

h
,

pl ace after an other to the great e nj oymen t of the girls

, ,

o were n ever so happy as when they were travelli n g

an d gai n i n g as they said experie n ce of life She was n ot

w
, , .

yet forty while Charlie was twe n ty on e an d Bee n i n eteen

,
-
,

s o that virt u ally they were all of the same age so to speak , ,

an d e nj oyed everythi n g together mamma by n o mean s

—

u t aside i nto the ra n ks of the do agers b u t goi n g every

p ,

where an d doi n g eve rythi n g j u st like the rest an d as

h
,

m u ch admired as an y o n e .

To be su re she had n o t b ee n able to walk abou t so m u c

h
th i s time an d had n ot dan ced on c e e x c e pt a sin gle t u rn~
, ,

with C arlie which brou ght on a palpitation so that she

h
, ,

d eclared with a la u gh that her da n ci n g days were over .

H e r dan ci n g days over ! Con sideri n g how fo n d she a d

always bee n of dan ci n g the three yo u n g people lau ghed
,

ov er this an d did n ot take the least alarm Mamma had

,
.

always bee n the ri n gleader i n everythi n g eve n i n the ,

r o m ps with the little on es at home For y ou m u st n ot

w
.

th i n k that these three were all of the family by an y

m ean s

h
.

Bee a n d Betty were the eldest of I can t at this mome n t

’

t e ll o ma n y who were sa f e i n the b i g n u rsery at Ki n gs

,
 w
hw
6 T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
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warde n u n der the ch arge ( very parti a l ! of papa an d t e

h
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strict an d steady ru le of n u rse o as a person ag e O f,

high au thori ty i n the hou se Papa ad b u t lately le f t .

hh
the elder on es as he called them i n c l u di n g his prett y

w
—
,

wife an d ad gon e back to his work which was that of

—
,

an o ffi cial at t e Horse G u ar ds i n some mi l itary de par t ,

me n t of which I don t even k n ow the n ame for I do u bt

’

w
,

h e ther the I n telligen ce Departme n t which satisfies all ,

the n ecessities of description had bee n i n ve n ted i n those ,

days .

Colon el K i n g s ar d was a disti n gu ished o fficer an d the

h
w
occasio n o f g reat ( cl at to the little gro u p whe n he showed
imself at their head drawi n g rou n d him a sort of cl o u d
,

of forei g n O fii c er s wherever he we nt : which Bee an d Betty

apprecia t ed largely an d to which Mrs K i n g s ar d hersel f

w
,
.

did n ot obj ect : for they all liked the C la n k of spu rs as

h
,

was n at u ral an d the e n dl ess ran ks of part n ers atte n dan ts

, ,

i n t e garde n s a n d ge n eral escort a n d reti n u e th u s pro

h h
,

v i de d . It was n ot ho ever amon g these officers red

, , , ,

bl u e gree n an d w ite Of all the colors i n t e rai n bow

,
—

that Bee had fo u n d her fate For I n eed scarcel y say it .

was a proposal which had t u r n ed every thi n g u pside dow n

an d filled the l ittle party with exci teme n t .

A proposal ! The first i n the f amily ! Mamma s he ad

’

was as m u ch tu rn ed by it as Bee s She l ay o n the sofa

h
’ '

h
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i n her white dressi n g gow n so fl u s ed with hap pi n ess

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an d am u seme n t a n d ex c i t eme n t t a t y o u wo u ld hav e

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'

, ,

s upposed it was she who was to be the bride .

An d then it was so satisfactory a thi n g all ro u n d ! I f

ever Mrs K i ng s ar d had held an y on e at arm s le n g t h
h
’

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.

i n her life it as a certai n captai n of dragoo n s who ad

h
,

cl an ked abou t everywhere after her dau ghters an d herself

for three week s past The mome n t they ad appeared an y
h
w h
.

where eve n at the spri n gs where she e n t to dri n k e r

, ,

h
mor n i n g glass of disa greeable warm water at t e con cert i n
t ea
”
ftern oo n i n the rooms at n ight n o t to speak of every ,
,

h
,

pic n ic an d ridi n g party this t all figu re o u l d j u m p u p l i ke

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,

a j ack i n abox An d there was n o d o u bt t at the girl s

- - -
.

were rather pleased than otherwise to see i m j u m p u p

h
.

He was s i x foot two at l east w i th a m u st ac e n e arl y a ,

yard l on ghc u r l i n g i n a taw n y an d powerfu l t wi s t over i s

 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

u pper l i p He had half a dozen medals on his breast ; h is

.

u n iform was a compo u n d of white a n d si l v er with a hel ,

m et that literally blazed i n the s u n ; an d his spu rs cla n ged

lo u der than an y other sp u rs i n the garden s The on ly

ww
.

th i n g that was wa n ti n g to him was a very l ittle thi n g a

w
—

th i n g t hat an u n i n stru cted E nglish person migh t n o t h ave

tho u ght o f at all b u t whic was a pai n fu l thi n g i n his h hh
w
—

o n tro u bled con scio u s n ess a n d i n that o f t e regime n t

, ,

an d eve n was dou btfu l to the E n glish frie n ds o had

picked u p as as n atu ral al l the prej u dices of the class

h
, ,

i n to which their o n positio n bro u ght them

w hhw
.

Poor Captai n K r e u t zn e r I bl u sh to say it ad n o

h h
, ,

Nobody cou l d de n y he was ad i s t i n

h
”
V on to his n ame
’

g u i s e d o ffi cer the hope of

,
the arm y i n his bra n c o f t e
s ervice . Bu t whe n Mrs K i n g s a r d tho u g t . o the
colon el wo u ld look if he heard his dau gh ter a n no un ced
as Madame K r eu tz n e r tou t cour t i n a Lo n do n dr awi n g
r o o m her heart san k withi n her an d a cold perspiration
,

cam e ou t u pon her fore ead h

An d I don t b el ieve Bee
wo u ld care she cried t u r n i n g to h er s on for sym pat y
.
,
’

h
, , .

Charlie was so well brou ght u p a you n g m an that he

- -

cared very m u ch an d gave his mother al l the wei g ht o f

h
,

h is s u pport His O ffice it was to begu ile Capta i n Kre u tz

.

n er as to t e moveme n ts of the party to keep o ff that bold ,

dragoo n as m u ch as was possible : whe n 1 0 ! all their pre

h
w
,

cau tion s were re n dered u nn ecessary by the arrival of t e

real m an from qu ite a n other qu arter at o n ce an d i n a

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,

m ome n t c u tti n g t he captai n o u t !

There was o n e thi n g Mrs K i n g s ar d co u ld n ever be

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.

s u ffi cie n tly thankfu l for i n the light of after eve n ts an d -

,

t at was that i t was Colon el K i n g s ar d h i mself who i n

h
,

t r o d u c e d Mr A u brey Leigh to the family

. H e was a .

yo un g m an o was travelli n g for the g ood of his health ,

o r rather for the good of his mi n d poor f e llow ! as might

w
,

be seen at a glan ce H e was still i n deep mou rn i n g whe n

.

h e presen ted himself at the hotel an d his co u n te n an ce

h
,

was as serio u s as his hatban d Nevertheless he had no t

h
bee n lo n g amo n g them before Bee tau ght i m o to ,

smile eve n to l a u gh t o u gh at first with m an y e s itation s

.
,

h h
, ,

an d rapid res u m i n g of a still d eeper ti n ge of gravity as

if aski n g pardo n of some b e l o v e d Objec t for whom e
,

h
8 T HE So R C E RE ss

hh
.

wo u ld n ot pe r mit eve n himself to su ppose that e ad

cease d t o mou rn This way he had of falli n g i n to s u dden
.

gravity con ti n u ed with him even when it was eviden t that

every deco ru m requ ired from him that he shou ld ceas e t o
mou rn Perhaps it was on e of the thi n gs that most at
.

tracted Bee who had a tou ch of t e sen time ntal i n her

,

character as all yo u n g ladies had i n t hose days when

h

w
, ,

Mrs Heman s an d L E L were the favor ite poets who

. . . .

you n g ladies were expected to read We l l brou ght up .

- -

girls were n ot per mitted I n eed n ot say t o read Byron , ,

.

Shel l ey as a n ame o f fear an d the poems of Mr Thom as , .

Campbell n ot to say Mr Thom as Moore ( carefu lly select

'

.
,

ed ! were likely to promote that q u a l ity

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.
,

The pale you n g m an with his bl ack coat his hat ban d
, ,
-
,

his look Of melan choly drove o u t t e image of the captai n

,

at on ce from Bee s mi n d She had perha ps had e n o u gh

’
.

of captai n s fin e u n iforms sp u rs a
,
n d all
come what modern levity calls a dru g i n t e market
They had b e

They made Fe n ster Parade al l day lon g u n d er her wi n dows ;

, ,
.

h .

they thron ged u pon her steps i n the garde n s ; they tore
the fl oun ces from her tarlata n i n to pieces at the bal ls It .

was somethi n g far more origi n al t o sit ou t i n the moon

l i ght an d look at t he moon with a sorrowfu l you n g hero

w
,

who grad u al l y woke u p i n to life u n der her han d Poor .

,

poor boy s o you n g an d so melan choly who had gon e

— —

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,

throu gh s o m u ch who was really so han d some whe n the

—

veil of gr ief began to blow away o had s u ch a pretty —

na me !

w
Bee was on ly n i n eteen She had mocked an d char med

w
.

h
an d l au ghed at a whole ge n eration o f yo u n g O ffi cers
t i n ki n g of n othi n g b u t picn ics an d di n n er parties an d -
,

balls She wan ted somethi n g n e u pon which to try her

.

h
little ha n d an d n o it was throw n j u st when she felt t e
—

h
She had t u rn ed a you n g fool s h e ad ’
n eed i n her way .

several times so that t e operation had lost its charm

h
w
.
,

Bu t to bri n g a sad m a n ba ck to l ife to drive away sorrow

w
, ,

to teach him to hol d u p i s head agai n to learn how sweet ,

it was to l i v e an d smi l e an d ride an d r u n abou t this ,

beau tifu l world an d wake e v er y day to a n e pl eas u re

h
that was somethi n g she felt orthy Of a woman s powers ’
.

An d s e did it with s u ch e ff ect that Mr A u br ey Lei gh .

w e nt on
T H E SO R C E R E SS

three weeks more an d fin ally

i mpr ovi n g f or
e n ded u p with that pr opo s al whi ch was to t e K i n g s ar d
.

h
,

w
9

h
w
fam ily i n ge n eral the most am u si n g the most exciti n g , ,

t e most delightfu l i n c i de n t i n the world

h
.

An d yet of co u rse it was atte n ded with a cer tai n

, ,

am o u n t of an xiety which i n e r (temporarily ! i n valid s tate

as n ot very good f or mamma E verybody i n sisted on

h
.

al l o ccasion s that it was a most temporary state a n d that ,

b y t e e n d Of the s u mmer she wo u ld be a l l right the pal —

p i t a
t i o n s q u ite calmed dow n the fl u sh (which made her

h
,

s o pretty ! a little su b du e d a n d herse l f as stron g as ever

,
.

h
Bu t i n the me a n time t is delightf u l roma n tic i n cide n t
whic certai n ly acted u po n her like a glass o f champagn e
,

w
raisi n g her spir its brou ght her some c are as well Her

h
.
,

first i n terview was of cou rse with Bee an d took place i n ,

t e privacy of her ch amber where she c r oss exami n ed her

w
-

h
,

da u ghter as m u ch as as compat i bl e w i th the relation s

betwee n t em which i n deed were rather those of com
—

pan ion s an d comrades tha n o f mother an d da u ghte r .

“
No ,
Bee my dear child she said remember y ou
, , ,

h av e always bee n a li t tl e rover ; an d Mr Leigh is so q u iet . .

Do y ou thi n k y o u re ally real l y c an devote you rself to ,

h im an d n ever thi n k of an other m an all you r life ?

,
“ “
M amma said Bee if y o u were n ot s u ch a dear I

h
w h
, ,

sho u ld thi n k y o u were very i n su l ti n g An other m an ? .

W y where s ou ld I fin d an other m an i n the worl d that

,

x as fit to tie A u brey s shoe ?

’

w h
“
Well sai d Mrs K i ng s ar d d u biou sly ; b u t she adde d
,
.
,

after a momen t Y ou k n ow darli n g that s n o t q u ite the

, , ,
’

q u estio n If y o u did fin d i n the after ages a m an that

w
-
.

p erh a ps a s fi t —
to tie Mr Leig s shoe ? .
’ ”

Why i n all this worl d p eti te mer e will y ou go o n c all

, , ,

i ng him Mr Le i gh ? .

Wel l well said Mrs K i n g s ar d ; b u t I don t feel ’

h
, , .
,

she said agai n after a mome n t s hesitation that I ou ght

,
’

to g o s o far as t o call him A u brey u n ti l we ave heard

from papa
h .

W at cou ld papa fin d to obj ect to ? said Bee

it was he who i n tro d u ced him to u s ! We s ou l d n o t ave
Why
h .

h ,

k n own Au brey an d I shou l d n ever have bee n the happi e st

g irl i n the world if it had n o t bee n for papa Dear papa ! .
I0

I
y
k n ow what he ll say : I c an t u n derstan d my d ear
o u sho u ld he s itate f
’

or a mome n t O f
T HE

co
su ppose I shou ld h ave i n t rodu ced M r Leigh to my family
u rse
‘

y o u do n
y
t
SO R C E R E SS

.
.

.
,

,
,
w
h ’

wi tho ut first ascertai n i n g etc etc That o f cou rse is ,

’
.
,
.
, ,

wha t pap awill say .

“
I dare say y ou are right Be e It is qu ite wh at I ex

h
.
,

pe ot ; f or o f cou rse a m an with girls k n ows what it is ;

, ,

thou g f or my part I con fess I always thou ght it wou ld be

a sold i er Captai n K r e u tzn er o r O tto v o n

w w
—

h
M amma ! cried Bee almost viole n tly light flashi n g
“ ”
, ,

ou t of t e bl u e e y es which were so bright eve n o n ordi n ary

,

occas i on s as to d azzle th e beholder y ou m ay imagi n e —

hat fire ca me o u t of them n o as if I shou ld e v er

have looked twice at one of those big brai n less cli n ki n g

w
an d clan ki n g Germ an s ( N B M r A u.brey Leigh was . .
—
.

not ta l l ! N O ! Thou gh I may like foreign ers well

h
.

en ou gh becau se it s am u si n g t o talk th eir la n gu age an d

’

to feel that o n e has su c an ad v an tag e i n k n o i n g G e r

m an a n d all that yet when it co mes to be a q u estion o f
—
,

spe n di n g on e s life, an E n glishm an f o r me

’

Th u s it will be see n Bee forestal l ed the patriotic se n t i

, ,

me n ts of a l at er ge n eration by resolvi n g i n s pite o f all ,

temptation s to belon g to other n ation s to select an E n g

h
,

lishma n for her partn er i n l ife I t is do u btfu l however .

, ,

how far t is virtu ou s resol u tio n had existed i n her mi n d

w
b efore the adve n t of A u brey Leigh

h
.

”
I am s u re I am very glad Bee said her m other f or

w h
, , ,

I always a d a dread that y ou wou ld be sn atched O ff s o m e

w
where to Syria or Dalecarl ia or eave n k n o s where
—
,

( these were the first o u t Of the way n ames that came to - - -

Mrs K i n gs ar d s mi n d ; b u t I don t k n ow that they were

’ ’

h
.

altogether witho u t referen ce to possibilities ! here on e ,

wou ld h ave had n o ch an ce o f seei n g y ou more t an on ce

i n the two or three years I am very th an kf u l it is to be.

an E nglishma n or at least I sha l l be she added with

—
, ,

a sigh o f su spe n se as soon as I have heard from papa

On e wo u ld th i nk m i tten /zen that y o u were frighte n ed
, ,
”
for papa ?
I sho u ld n t like y o u ever t o try a
“
n d g o agai n st him
’

h
”
Bee ! ’

O ,
no said Bee li ghtly
,
of cou rs e I s hou ld n t
, ,
 w
T HE S O R C E R ESS . II

th i nk o f goi n g agai n s t him Is the i n qu isition over ? f or .

—

I promised she said ith a lau gh an d a bl u sh to w al k

, ,

dow n with Au brey as far as the river He likes that s o .

m u ch b etter than t hose n oisy blazi n g gard e n s with n o ,

s h ade except u n der those st u ff y trees a nd s o do I —

.

Do y ou really Bee ? I thou ght y ou thou ght it was s o

,

n ice sitti n g u n der the trees

“
Wi th all the g nadzz g e F r an s k n itti n g an d all the zoo / zl ,
”
a a m H errs smoki g N o i n deed ! I always hated i

w
g b n . t !

h
,

said Bee

h
.

S e j u mped u p from where she had bee n sitti n g on a

stool by her mot er s sofa an d took her hat which she ’

h
,

h ad thrown d own o n th e table It as a broad flexible .

, ,

Leghorn hat bou g t i n Flore n ce with a broad bl u e rib

, ,

b o n th e color o f her eyes as had ofte n bee n said floati n g

, , ,

i n two lo n g streamers behi n d She had a sash of the sam e .

color ro un d the simple wais t o f her white frock That is .

h ow girls were dressed i n the early d ays of Victoria

hh
.

These were the days of simplicity an d people l iked it , ,

seei n g it was t e fas io n as m u ch as they li ked cri n oli n es

w
,

an d C hign o n s whe n s u ch orn ame n tal ar ran geme nts cam e

h
It does n o t become o n e period to boast itself over
an ot er for fashio n will still be lord ( or l ady ! of all
,

Mrs K i n gs ar d looked with real pleasu re at e r pretty

. h .

da u ghter thi n ki n g how w ell she looked She wore very

,
.

n early the same cost u me herself an d she k n ew that it ,

al s o looked very well o n her Bee s eyes were shi n i n g .

’

blazi n g with brigh t n ess an d h appi n ess an d love an d f u n

an d yo u th She was n o t a creat u re of perfect featu res or

h
.
,

m atchless bea u ty as all the heroi n es were i n the n ovels

,

of er da y an d she was co n scio u s o f a great ma n y short

h
o ,

co m i n gs from that high stan dard She was n o t tall e n ou gh .

—
whi c h per aps h owever i n view of the defective statu re
,

h
, ,

of Mr A u brey L eigh was n o t so great a disad v an tage

w
.
,

an d she was n either fair e n o u gh n o r dar k e n o u g for a

n o t at all a
h h
M i n n a or a Bre n d a the defi n ite an d disti n ct blon de an d
,

bru n ette whic were the ide al of t e time ; an d she was

are that e r irregu larity an d her mi n gli n g
h
,

of styles an d her possession of n o s tyle i n particu lar were

, ,

her grea t charm s She was n o t a great bea u ty b u t she

.
,

was a very pretty g i r l with the additio n al attraction of ,

 w
I2 T H E SO R C E R E SS .

h
w
t ose bl e diamo ds of eyes the
u parkle of which when
n ,
S ,

my yo g lady a a gry
un s nwhe or n she was excited i n a ny
m ore p l easu ra b le way was a sight to see

w
, .

“
Al l t hat s very well my dear said Mrs K i n gs a
’
rd

w
, ,
.
,

b u t yo u ve n ever an swered my q u es tio n : a n d I hope

’

w
you ll make q u ite q u ite s u re before it s all s e ttled that
’

,
’

o u d like A u brey Leigh above everybody i n t he orld

y “ o .

A l a bom lzeu r e said Bee

”
y o u have called
,
him ,

Au brey at last withou t waiti n g to k n ow ha t papa will

w
,
”
say ; with which words she gave her mother a flyi n g kiss ,

an d was gon e i n a mo men t thi n ki n g very littl e it m u st , ,

be allowed o f what papa might s ay , .

Mrs K i ng s ar d lay still for a l ittle an d thou ght i t all

.

h
over a fter Bee was gon e She k n ew a l ittle better than
the others what er colon el was an d that there were o c
casion s on which he was n o t so easy to deal with as all
.

w h
the yo u n g o n es su pposed She thou ght it all over from .

the mome n t that you n g Mr Leigh had appeared on t e

h
wwhh
. .

sce n e What a comfort i t was t o thi n k that it was the

hw
.

colon el himse l f o had i n trod u ced i m ! O f cou rse as ,

Bee said before prese n ti n g an y on e to i s wife an d

,

family Colon el K i n g s ar d o u l d have ascertai n ed etc

w
, , .
,

etc It was j u st o he wou ld write n o dou bt Still a

.
, .

ma n may i n trod u ce a n other to his wife a n d fam ily withou t

bei n g ready at on ce to acce pt him as a s on i n law On - -
.

the o t her han d Colon el K i n gs ar d k n ew well e n ou gh what

,

is the possible pen alty o f s u ch i n trod u ctio ns Yo u n g as

h
.

Bee was she had already attr acted a good deal of atte n
,

tion thou gh this was t e first time it had actu ally come
,

to an O ff er Bu t E dward m u st s urely ave thou ght of

.

that Sh e was thou gh it seemed so absu rd an d thou gh

h
h
.
, ,

Bee had lau ghed at it a litt l e afraid of her h u sban d He , .

had n ever had an y occasion to be stern yet he ad i t i n

h h
w
,

him to be stern ; an d he wou ld n o t hesitate to qu e n ch Bee s ’

h
w h
you n g roman ce if e thou g t it right An d o n the other

h
.
,

an d Bee thou gh she was su ch a litt l e thi n g su c a Child

, , , ,

so fu ll o f f u n an d n on sen se ad a spirit hich wo u ld n o t ,

yield as h er mother s did Mrs K i n gs ar d drew an other ’

. .

lon g fl u tteri n g sigh before she got u p re l u ctan tly i n

obedie n ce to her maid who came i n with that other white
g ow n n o t u,
n like Bee 5 over her arm to dress her mis , ,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . r3

tre ss She wou ld have liked t o l i e still a li t tle longer t o

.
,

h ave fi n ished the b ook she was readi n g to have thou ght

h
,

w
hw w
over the sit ua ti on a n ythi n g i n de ed t o j u stify her i n keep
, , ,

i n g still u po n t e cou ch a n d bei n g l a zy as she calle d it

h
.

Poor little mother ; she had n o t bee n lazy n o r had the

t o g u e ss y i t as s e h
ch an ce of bein g lazy m u ch i n her l ife She ad n ot begu n
li ke d it s o m u c n o
.

h .

I
Leigh
H AV E w
w whww
awoke the frie n dship an d compa
no
as s o i n teresti n g an d so mel a
CHAPT E R I I

explai n o it as t h at M r Aub rey

to
n chol y an d th u s
ssion an d sec u red the
.

,
.

mi n istration s of the K i n g s ar d fami l y H e was i n deep

w
.

m o u rn i n g for thou gh he was o n ly ei g ht a

,
n d twe n ty he - -

was already a wid o wer an d bereaved besides of his on ly

w
,

C hild Poor you n g ma n ! he had m arried with every a p

h
.

p e a r a n c e o f hap p i n ess an d prosperity ; b u t h is ife had

h
died at the e n d of the first year leavi n g him wit a baby
i s i n experie n ced ha n ds He
,

as a yo u n g m an fu ll o f

w
on

h
.

feeli n g an d con trary to the advice o f al l his frie n ds he

w
,

h ad sh u t himself u p i n i s hou se i n the cou n try an d dedi

‘

ca t e d himself t o his child Dedicated himself t o a baby

h
.

t o mo n ths old !
There was n obody o did n ot con dem n this u n n e c es
s ary self s a c r i fic e
-
H e shou ld hav e gon e away he shou l d

h
, ,

have left the child i n the han ds o f its excelle n t n u rse ,

u n der t e su pervisio n o f that charmi n g perso n who had

bee n s u ch a devoted n u rse to dear Mrs Leigh an d whom .

,

th e desolate you n g widower had n o t th e cou rage t o se n d

away from his hou se H er prese n ce there was a dou ble

h
.

reason people said why he shou ld have gon e away For

,

h
, .

tho u gh his sorrow an d t rou ble was s o great t at n obody

w
for a momen t su pposed that he ad an y idea o f su ch a
thi n g yet the presen ce of a lady an d of a l ady still called

h
, ,

by cou rtesy a you ng lady thou gh Older th an himself an d , ,

o cou ld n o t be treated like a serv a n t i n his ho u se was , ,

e m barrassi n g an d n ot very seemly everybody said ,

.

S u g gestion s were m ade to h er that she shou l d g o away

1 4 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

bu t then she answered that she ad n owhere to go to an d ,

that she had promised to dear Amy n ever to forsake her

Child .

h
The cou n try l adies abou t who took an i n terest i n
the you n g m an thou g t it was j u st like dear Amy wh o
“

had always bee n a rather silly you n g woman to exact

,

hh
,

s u ch a promise ; b u t t hat Miss La n ce wou ld be q u ite j u sti

fie d i n n o t keepi n g it seei n g the child a
,
d ple n ty of p e o
ple to look after her her gran dmother wit i n reach an d
—

her father dedic ati n g him s elf to her .

Miss Lan ce however di d not see her du ty i n the same

w
, ,

way ; i ndee d after the poor little child died ( an d there was
,

n o dou bt she h ad b ee n i n val u able d u r i n g its ill n ess and ,

devoted herself to it as she had d one to its mother! sh e

stayed on still at Leigh Cou rt thou gh n o at last poor ,

Au brey was persu aded to go away The mi n d o f th e .

.

cou n ty was relie v ed beyon d description whe n at last h e

departed on his travels These good people did n ot at all
.

wan t to ge t u p an y scan dal i n their m i dst They did n ot .

very m u ch blame Miss Lan ce for decli n i n g to give u p a

comfortabl e home They only felt it was dreadfu lly

wh
.

awkward an d th at somethi n g shou ld be don e abou t it ,

tho u gh n obody k n ew what to do He had left home .

n early six mo n ths befo re h e appeared a t the B a th with

h
that letter to Mrs K i n gs ar d i n i s pocket an d the Chan ge
.

an d the travel ad don e him good

,

h
.

A you n g m an of twenty eight ca nn ot go mou rn i n g all

-

the d ays of his life for a baby o f eight m on t s ol d an d he

'

,
”
had already begu n t o get over the death of his wife b e
fore the secon d eve n t occ u rred This trou blo u s begi n n i n g
.

of his l ife had left him v ery sad with somethi n g of the

h
,

feeli n g Of a victim far more badly treated than most i n

w
,

the begi nn i n g o f i s c areer Bu t this is n o t l ike real grief

.

which holds a man s heart with a grip of steel An d he

’
.

was i n th e stage when aman is ready to be con soled whe n

h
Bee s bl u e eyes first flashed u pon him The K i ngs ar d s
’

h
.

had received him i n t ese c i rcu mstan ces with more aban

w
h
d on than they wou l d ave don e i n a n y other
melan choly ; i s c on fid en ce s when he began to make
He was so .

h
,

them were so tou chi n g ; his waki n g u p to i n terest a

h
,

h appi n ess so d elig tfu l to see An d t u s before any on e

ad thorou ghly realized it the d eed was d on e They k n e
.
nd
h
.
 h
T HE So R C E R E ss

h w . r5

w
as o shou ld they ? a n d wh a

ww
n o t i n g a b ou t Miss La n ce t

w
—

cou l d she have had t o do with it if they had kn own ?

S o there really was n othi n g b u t that d o u bt o f Colon el
K in gs a r d s approval t o a
’
lloy the pleasu re Of t e party
h h
h
,

an d it as on ly Mrs K i n gs ar d o tho u ght o f

. it .

Cha rlie pooh poohed the idea al tog et er x

-
I thi n k I
sh o u ld k n ow my fath er bet ter than an y on e the yo un g
m an sai d ; with mu c scor n of i s mo ther s hesit ati o n
g
h ,
’

h
.

H e was ver y fo n d a

w
n very prou d of his mother b u t felt

h
,

t at as a man him s el f he probably u n derstood papa b e t ter

t an the l adies cou l d
h O f cou rse he will approve ; why
.

sh ou ldn t e approve ? L e igh is a very dec en t fe llow

’

h h
,

t h ou gh I don t thi n k all t e orl d of him as y ou gi rls d o

’
.
,

Papa of cou rse k new e xactly what s ort o f a fellow e

, ,

was ; a little t oo qu ie t n o t Bee s sort at all N O you

—
’
.
,

m ay cl amor as y ou lik e b u t he s n ot i n the l e ast B ee s

,
’ ’

so rt
I m s u pposed to pre fer a n oisy t rooper I belie ve s aid

w
’

, ,

Well Ishou ld have said that was more lik e i bu t

h t

hw
—

h
,

m i n d y ou th e govern or wou ld n ever ave sen t u s ou t a

,

ma o was n ot good e n o u g h f or a

w hh
n h e re n ythi n g Oh I

h
,
.

”
u n ders ta n d the ol d b o y !
“
Charlie o dare y o u ? cried his mother ; b ut t e
,

horr or was mod ified by a l au gh for an ythi n g more u nl ike ,

an ol d b oy than Colon el K i n gs ar d it wou ld n ot ave

w h hh
b e en very easy t o con cei ve .

“
Well mamma l Y ou wou ldn t h av e me call i m my
,
’

h on ored father wou ld y ou? the you n g m an sai d

”
He

w
.
,

as at O xford an d he thou gh t imself on the whole n ot

,

o n ly by far the most sol id an d seriou s member of the

prese n t par ty b u t on t e whole rat er more experien ced

h
,

i n the worl d than the ge n tleman whom i n the bosom of

h h h w
h h
the f ami l y e still con d escen ded t o call papa "

h
w
.

As f or li t tl e Bet ty who u p to t is tim e ad bee n B ee s

,
’

shado w and o had n ot yet be g un t o feel herself dc tr a

w
p

hh
, ,

s e n o more th a n her sister as moved by an y of these

care s . S e was w ol ly occu pied i n st u dyi n g t e n e
thin g which had s u dden ly st arted i n to bei n g before e r

h er a hh
eyes Be t ty a
.

mu s emen t a
s of opi n ion tha t it was e n tirely g ot u p f or
n d i n s t ru ct i on W en s e an d Bee were
.
 w
I6 T HE S OR C E R E SS.

w
alon e she n ever ceased i n her in ter rogatory O h Be e
, , , ,

when did y ou first begin t o thi n k abou t him like that ?

O h Bee how did y ou first fin d ou t that he a s thi n ki n g

ww
h
, ,

abou t y ou ? O h Bee d on t y ou m i n d that he as on ce i n , ,

’

love b efore ? S u ch were t e qu estio n s that pou red 1 n an

i n c essan t stream in to Bee s ears ; that you n g l ady was ’

equ al t o them all an d she a s n o t u n willi n g t o let her

h
,

s is t er share more or less i n the n e en lighte n men t th a t

ad com e t o herself
When did I first begin to thi n k O
hh h
.

“
f him ? she said .

O h Betty t e first mi n u te I saw him comi n g t rou gh

h
, ,

the gar d e n with C arlie to speak t o mamma ! There w e re

al l those horrid m en abo u t y ou remember i n t ose gau dy , ,

u n i form s a n d their swords a

,
n d sp u rs a n d s o forth su ch ,
—

d readfu l bad taste i n foreign ers always t o be i n u n i

form

w
“
Bu t Bee cried Betty why ? I ve heard y ou say ’

, , ,

O h n ever mi n d what y ou have heard me say ! I ve

’

h
,

bee n silly I su ppose i n my day like almost everybody

h
.
, , ,

Au br ey says he ca nn o t thi nk o they c an live always

w
,

don e up i n those ot sti ff clothes ; n on e of the ease of ,

E n glishme n abou t them

h h
.

“
Papa says they are su ch soldierlike m e n sai d little

w
, ,

Betty o had n o t been co n ve r ted from the ré gim e of t e

h
,

ofi c e r s like Bee ,
.

“
O h well papa !
,
H e is an ofi c er himself ; b u t e
,

hen he c a

ww
n ever wears his u n ifor m n h e lp it y ou k n ow , .

Well said Betty y ou may say What y ou like F or

”

h
, , .

my part I d o love a n ice u n iform I don t wan t ever .

'

agai n t o dan ce w i t a man i n a black co at Bu t Be e .

, ,

you re t o o bad y ou on t say a ord an d I wan t s o t o

’ ’

w
, ,

kn ow how it all came abou t Wh at p u t it i n to you r h e a d ?

w
.

an d what did y ou say to o n e an other ? an d was it he that

began fir s t or was it y ou ?
h
—

”
Y ou little drea d fu l thi n g ! said Bee ; o cou ld a
girl ever begi n ? It sho s how little y ou kn ow ! O f
”
cou rse he began ; b u t we did n t b egi n at all she said ’

h
,

aft er a pau se it j u s t came all i n a mome n t whe n I

“ —

h
,

Wa s n t thi n ki n g a n d n eit er was he

’
.
,

Do y ou mean t o say t at he di dn t i n t end to pr opo s e ’

t o y ou ? s a i d Betty gr ow i n g p al e , .
 Oh !

w
”
sa i d Bee impatien t
h
Do y o u thi n k e j u st came o u t wi t h i t poi nt blan k : Miss
T H E SO R C E R E SS

as if propo si n g as all ! ,
.

-
w ‘
I7

K i n gs a r d will y ou mar r y me ?

h h
’

Well s ai d Betty what d i d e s ay th en if e didn t ’

, ,

say th a t? "

O h y o u li ttl e gOOs e ! s a
h
”
,
id Bee .

I am s u re if he a d said oh y ou li t tle goose to me

‘ ’

sai d B e tty I shou l d never have spoken a word to him

,

aga i n .

“
It is n o u s e t alki ng t o little girls said Bee with a , ,

Y ou don t u n derstan d ; a
“

w
sigh n d t o be su re y ou little
’
.
,

thi n g how cou l d y o u u n derstan d at you r age an d all ?

,
”
—

h
“ ” “
Age ! said Betty i n dign an t t h ere is b u t fiftee n

w
,

h
,

mon ths be t ween u s an d I ve always don e everythi n g wit

,
’

y o u . We v e always
’

had o n n e thi n gs toget er an d go ne ,

t o the same places a n d everythi n g I t i s y ou that are .

ve r y u n ki n d n o y ou have g ot e n gaged ; an d I do believe

like thi big ho rid m a better tha me

w
y o u s r n ,
n .

w
O h y o u li t tle goose ! said Bee agai n
,
.

N O it isn t a big b u t a little horrid m a I made a

’

,
n ,
.

m istake s aid Be t ty ; n ot like Capt ai n K r e u t zn er that y ou

w w w
,

u sed t o like s o m u ch It s small people y ou care for no ; ’

.

n o t yo u r O n n ice people l i ke me a n d m amma b u t a m a n

h
,

th at y ou had n ever heard the n ame of whe n y ou first came

h
here ; an d n o y ou q u ote an d praise him an d make t e
most ridicu lou s fu ss abou t him even to Charlie o is
,

w
,

h
,

far far n icer l ook1 ng — an d on t even tell you r sister

,
’

”
W h at e say s !

w h
T his argu m e n t came to s o high a ton e that mamma
“
called o u t from her room to k n ow a t was amiss It

h
.

d oe s n o t become y ou girls to carry o n you r ol d s c u ffl e s an d

“
qu ar rels s e said n o that o n e of y o u at least is so
, ,

grow n u p an d abou t to tak e u pon herself the r es po n s i bil i

ties Of life

w
.

Is Au brey a respon sibility ? Betty wh i spe red i n her

w w
’
s i s t e r s ears .

O h y ou l ittle silly thi n g ! Bee replied ; a

hw
”
n d presen tly

w
,

M r s K i ngs a r d s maid came i n to say that Mr Leigh

’

h
. .

as i n the s i t t i ng room an d wou ld Miss Bee go to him as , ,

e r mistress as n ot ready ? for th i s was the littl e ficti o n

t a t as kept u p i n thos e day s before Colon e l K i n gs ar d s ’

z
 w
r8 T HE S O R C E R ESS

h
.

letter had b ee n received It will be see n ow ever t at it

was b u t a fiction an d that as a matter of fact there as
.
,
h ,

, , ,

ver y little restrai n t p u t on the you n g people s i n tercou rse ’

.

“
Y o u m u st n ot co n sider that an ythi n g is settled ; y ou

h
m u st n o t thi n k there s an y en g ageme nt Mrs K i n gs ’
o
.
,

ward ad said I n deed i n deed I can t take u pon m e to ’

w
,
.
,

s an ction an ythi n g til l I hear from her papa ”

Bu t virtu .

ally they met as m u ch as they liked an d even i n du l ged

w
,

i n little talks apart a n d meeti n gs by themselves before

, ,

Mrs K i n gs ar d was ready ; so that as a matter of fact

.

this restriction did very littl e har m

h
.

An d i n du e time Colo n el K i n g s ar d s letter was r e

’

w
c e i v e d a d it was n o t u n favorable The colon el s aid that
’

,
.

o n the whole he shou ld ha v e preferred it had Mr Leigh .

waited till they had all retu rn ed home I t wou ld have .

been a se emly forbearan ce an d saved Mrs K i n g s ar d a

'

great deal Of an xie ty ; b u t as matters stood an d as his ,

dear wife approved an d he heard n othi n g b u t good o f Mr

,
.

Leigh he wou ld n o t withdraw the pro v isio n al con sen t

,

h
which she seemed to have give n It will be expedi en t

w h
.

i n t e circ u mstan ces that y o u sho u ld all ret u rn home as

s oo n as possible that I may go i n to matters with t e
,

yo un g m an the colon el added i n th at part o f his l etter

,

hich was n o t i n ten ded to be read to A u brey Leigh An d .

he added as Bee had prophesied Y o u might have bee n

, ,

s ure that I sho u ld n o t i n trod u ce a yo u n g m a n t o my

family an d to you rself my dear witho u t ascertai n i n g

h
, , ,

previo u sly etc etc j u st as Bee had s aid H e added

,
.
,
.
,
.
,

Of cou rse I n ever co n templated an yt i n g o f this sort :

w
b u t on e c a n n ever tell what may happe n whe n you n g peo

p
hl e are throw
t e yo u n g m a
n together Th e property
n u n exceptio n able
is a good o n
from all I c an hear
Th e n Mrs K i n g s ar d s min d was s e t at c as e It seemed
e an d

’
.

,
.

wh
. .

to Bee that her father might have s aid somethi n g o n the

s u bj ect of her happi n ess an d ack n owle d ged Au brey to be
somethi n g more tha n an u n exception able you n g m an It .

as i n con ceivable she thou ght to herself how cool p e o

w
, ,

ple are whe n they come t o that age The property good

h
.

an d t e you n g m an u n exception able was that al l ? Di d —

papa take n o m ore i nterest tha n t h at ? Bu t at al l even ts t e

en gagemen t was n o qu it e permit t ed an d a ck n owled ged ,
an d they might w THE

alk ou t toge ther al l day an d d a n ce to

S O R C E R E SS . 1 9

w
,

g ether all n ight witho u t a word

,
said ; for which Bee f or
g ave a n d i n sta n tly forgot i t was really o f so little i m
—

porta n ce the cool n ess o f papa

—
.

Mrs K i n g s ar d s cu re was over an d by th i s time

“ ” ’

w h h
.
,

m os t people were leavi n g the Bath Ou r party made .

their prepara t ion s f or leavi n g t o o i n t e pleasa n test way .

I t was n ot t o be at all a rapid j ou rn ey whic wo u ld n o t

h
,

h ave bee n good for Mrs K i ng s ar d They were t o make

w
. .

t eir way at leisu re from on e beau tifu l Old city to an other

w h
acro ss the breadth o f Germ a n y stayi n g a d a y here a n d a ,

da y there travelli n g for

,
t e most part i n a large o l d ,

fashion ed carriage su ch as as the c u stom the n with a

, ,

ide hooded seat i n fro n t like the banquette Of a Fre n ch

-
,

d ilige n ce i n which two people cou ld be extremely happy

, ,

seei n g the sce n ery m u ch better tha n those i n side cou ld do

wh
,

or perhaps n o t seei n g the scen ery at all b u t occ u pyi n g

w
,

e ach other q u ite a s agreeably with the e n d l ess talk of

l o v ers which is n o t i n terest i n g t o an y body b u t the m sel v es
,
.

B efore they set o u t u po n this j ou rn ey ho ever w ich , ,

as to hold so great a place i n Bee s life a little i n c i de n t ’

o cc u rred to her which did n o t i n deed appear to b e of very

h
m u ch con sequ en ce b u t which m ade some impression on
e r mi n d at the time a
,

n d vagu ely appeared afterward

t o throw ligh t o n vario u s other eve n ts
,

Th e German .

B ath at which the little story o f her l ove t ook place

i s s u rrou n ded w i th woo ds woods of a ki n d that are —

n ever see n a n ywhere else thou gh they are the special ,

feat u re o f German b aths They are chiefly composed of .

fir trees an d they are arran ged u pon the most strictly

,

h
mathematical pri n ciples with that prec i sion which is dear
to t e Germ an mi n d row u po n row stan di n g close to
‘

h
,

a
h i
g eth er s if they
,
had b ee n st u ck n s o at their prese n t
he i gh t wit s o ma n y c u bic fee t o f air to eac as i n the
, ,

Lon don lodg i n g ho u ses

h h
They are traversed by broad
-
.

roads with be n c es at i n tervals an d at each corn er there

‘

h h
, ,

h h
is a woode n board o n w ich are p ai n ted i n dicat ion s how to
fin d t e n e a rest r es tau r atzon w ere beer is to be ad an d
t e veal Of the co u n try for the Germ an i n h is hou rs of
’

, ,
“
ease an d am u semen t has c on ti n u al occ as i o n t o b e r e
,

Stor ed .
20 T HE S O R C E R E SS.

Bee had gon e ou t early i n t he morn i n g to make a l i ttle

sketch of an ope n in g i n the trees throu g which a village
spire was visi b le There were n ot ma n y poi n ts for t e
h h

w
.

ar t ist i n lan dscape especially on e of su ch moderate

'

powers as Bee an d she was very a nxio u s t o fi n ish this

w
,

to prese n t it I n eed scarcely say t o Au brey as a me

,

me n to o f the pla c e Probably there as some o t er

,

h
h
.

s e n time n tal reaso n su ch as that they had first spoke n

—

ords o f special mean i n g there or ad first excha ng ed ,

looks that were of importa n ce i n their idyll or som e other ,

i n ciden t Of equ al weight She was s eated on on e of the .

be n ches with her little c ol or b o x an d bot t le o f water g i v ‘

i n g the fi n ishi n g tou ches to her sketch Sooth to say Bee

w
.
,

was n o great performer an d the ran ks of the dark trees ,

°

standi n g arithmetically apart to permit o f that littl e

gli mpse of dista n ce were too m u ch for her They looke d

ww
,
.

i n her sketch like t o dark gree n preci pices rather than

like trees an d had come t o a very di ffic u lt poi n t whe n a
, ,

l ady comi n g alon g by o n e of the side walks rou n d the

h
,

corn er past the r es tau r atzon su dde n ly sat do n by Bee s '

’

si d e an d startled h er a l i ttle She was n o t a girl

,
o .

was easi l y fri g hte n ed ; b u t the su ddenn ess of the apparitio n

o u t o f the sile n t mor n i n g whe n she had tho u ght n obody

was i n sight was a little startli n g an d made her han d

shake
h
.

I Op e I am n o t i n tru di n g u po n y o u
”
the l ady s aid
O h n o ! sa i d Bee looki n g u p with her bright face
, .

, , .

She was as fresh as the morn i n g i n her broad Leghor n

hat with the b l u e rib bon an d her eyes that d an ced an d

h
s parkled The stran ger by her side was m u c Older th an
.

Bee She was a a n dsome woman ; dark with fin e ey e s

.
,

h
,

t o o a sidelo n g l ook i n them a

,
n d a c u rio u s h al f s mi l e ,

which was l i ke La Gioco n da that famou s pict u re Bee had

see n i n the Lou vre as we all have S e tho u ght o f L a
,

h
,

. h
G i ocon da at on ce whe n s e looked u p at this lady s face
h h
’

w
, .

She was e n tirely dressed i n black an d t ere cou ld n o t av e

w w
bee n foun d a n ywhere a more perfect con trast to Bee

h
w
.

They g ot i n to con versatio n qu i te easily for Bee was a

h
,

girl o love d to talk The lady gave her several hi nts

.

abou t her little pictu re w ich Bee k n ew e n ou gh to kn o

er e d i c t a ted b y s u perior kn o led g e a n d th en the
y g o t ,
hw
w
T HE S OR C E R E SS 2I

h
.

ta l k i ng qu i t e n atu rally abou t t e pl ace an d the people

o ere there After they had di s cu ssed the society

h
.

an d th e n u mber Of E ngl i s h people at the Bath an d Be e ,

h ad disclosed the hotel at which s e was stayi n g an d man y

detai l s o f her i n n oce n t life which she was no t at al l co n ,

sci o u s Of disclosi n g the stran g er began t o i n q u ire abo u t

,

variou s people It was n o t by an y mean s at on ce that she

.

i n trod u ced the n ame o f Leigh : n o t i n deed t ill she had

bee n over the R e y n ol d s e s an d the Gai n sborou ghs and the , ,

C olli nses u n der Bee s exu ltan t gu idan ce an d fin e power

’

h
,

Of n ar rative ; t hen she sa id te n t atively that t here was , , ,

s e believe d at o n e o f the hotels a fam ily of Leighs

, ,
.

”
O h ! cried Bee her cou n te n an ce fl u sh i n g over with a
,

s u dden brillian t delightfu l bl u sh which seemed to en velop ,

h er from t op to to e She had been l ook i n g u p i nto her

.

co m pan ion s fac e so that the stran ger go t the fu ll ben efit
’

of this su dden resple n den t cha n ge of color She the n .

t u rn ed ver y dem u re l y to her sketch an d said meekly I , ,

d on t kn ow a n y family b u t there is a Mr Leigh at ou r

’

h
, .

h otel

h
.

“
O ,
said the l ady b u t i n a very di ff eren t ton e from
,

Bee s startled o
’
She said it coldly as if recordi n g a
“
fact . I thou ght she said it was the Leighs of H ur st
, ,

leigh frie n ds o f mi n e I may have been deceived by

h h
.
,
”
seein g the n ame i n the l ists .

Bu t I thi n k i n deed I am s u re t a t Mr A u brey Leigh

h
, , .

is co nn ected with the Leighs o f H u r s t l e i g Bee said

w
, .

O ,
a you n g m an a w i dower an i n con solable : I thi n k
, ,

I remember heari n g of him Is that the m an ? ”

.

I d on t k n ow if he is an i n co n sol able crie d Be e wit h

h
’

a qu ick moveme n t o f an ger ; an d the n she tho u ght o

foolish that was f or of cou rse a str an ger like this cou l d
,

h ave n o u n ki n d m e an i n g She added wi t h great gravity

h
w
,
.
,

It is qu ite tru e that he has bee n married before .

w
Poor little Bee ! s e was n ot at all aware how she was
betrayi n g herself She was more vexe d an d i n dign an t
t ha n words c a
.

n say whe n the woman ( o after all co u ld

h h
h
,

n o t be a lady ! bu rs t i n to a lau g O h ! I thi n k I c a n .

s ee o m atters stan d wi th Au brey L ei gh this imper ,

t i n en t i n tru d er crie d .
22 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
C HAPT E R III

h
.

IT was j u s t two days after t e i n terv i ew i n the wood

described abov e that the K i n gs ar d party got u n der way
,

for home accompan ied I n eed n ot s ay by A u brey Le i g h

h w
, , , .

Bee had n o t told him of th at chan ce meeti n g restrai n e d I

h
,

do n ot k n ow by what i n defi n i te feeli n g tha t he wo u ld n o t

w
h
care to hear of it an d also by the sen satio n th at she ad

h
,

as good as told t e lady o was so very d i sagreeab l e ,

an d imperti ne nt as to la u gh wh at chan ge ad take n place

h
w
,

i n Au brey s se n time n ts a nd hat sh e had herself t o do

’

w
,

with that C an ge It was so silly ; oh so si l ly o f her !

.
,

an d yet she had said n othi n g or n ext to n othi n g : an d there

was n o reason why she sho u ld n ot have said hatever she
pleased n o that the e n gageme n t was fu lly ackn owledged
,

an d k n ow n ; i n deed if tha t wom an were i n an y society at

h h
,

al l she m u s t have heard of i t see i n g that as Bee was ,

aware n o t wit ou t p l easu re i t ad a ff orded a very ag ree

— —

able diversion t o the floati n g comm u n ity a pleasan t ,

episode i n the tittle tatt l e of the garde n s an d the we l ls

w
-
.

Bee had n o absu rd obj ection to bei n g talked o f Sh e .

k n e w that i n her con dition of life which was so e n tirely ,

sati s factory as a con dition everythi n g that co n cern ed a ,

family as talked over an d u n iversally k n own It was a .

thi n g i n evitable to a certai n positio n an d a d u e homage ,

of society to its m em b ers Bu t somehow she did n o t .

me n tion it to A u brey n o r i n deed to an y o n e which was

h
, ,

a very u n u su al amou n t of retice n ce She d i d n o t eve n

w
.

give him the sketch t ou gh it was fi n ish e d She h ad

w
, .

bee n q u ite gratefu l for that person s hi n ts at the tim e '

an d eagerl y had take n adv an tage of them to i m prove her

h
w hh h
d rawi n g ; b u t it seemed to her whe n she looked at it n o , ,

t at it was n ot her o n at all t at t e other an d was so

h
,

visible i n i t that it wou ld be almost disho n est to call it

ers This of co u rse
.
as wholly fan t astic for eve n s u p
, , ,

posi n g that person to have give n val u able hi n t s she had ,

n ever to u ched the sketch a

ou t .
,
n d Bee alon e had carried th e m

hh
B u t an yhow her heart sicke n ed at it a n d s e thru st
,

it away at t e very bottom o f the box that M o u l s e y was

,

,
h
packi n g She a .d n o d esire to see the horrid thi n g agai n ;
 w T HE S OR C E R E SS . 23

h
w
I
n a day however Be e had altogether forgotte n
or t o,

h h
,

t at i n terview i n the woo d She had so man y o ther thi ngs .

t o occ u py er mi n d T ere were few rai l ways i n those

.

d ays a n d the p a rty had a lon g ay to trav el before they

h
,

ca me to Cologn e where that method of travelli n g began

h
.
,

T hey all f e l t t a t common life wou ld recomme n ce t here

, ,

an d their deligh t fu l wan deri n g wou ld be over In t e

w
h h
.

m ea n time there was a lo n g i n terval o f pleasu re before

t em T e early breakfast at the hotel i n the first ho u rs
.

o f the a u t u m n al morn i n g ; the f u n of packi n g every o n e

a ay i n the b i g coach ; t he books to be brou ght ou t t o fill

u p corn ers both o f time a an d M u rray then
“ ”
,
n d space

h
,

al on e i n his glory with n o competitive Ameri ca n n o ,

B aedeke r n o Joan n e to share i s reign spread o u t ope n

h
—
, ,

at the right place so t at mamma i n side sho u ld be able

,

t o lay her fi n ger at o n ce u po n a n y village o r castl e that

str u ck her an d a bove all the con trivan ces to be carried
—

“
o u t f o r sec u ri n g the ba n q u ette as Bee said for ou r ~

, ,

selves made a lively begi n n i n g Charlie an d Betty

w
.

'
som eti mes man aged t o sec u re this favorite place if th e at
te n t i on o f th e others flagged for a mome n t an d thou gh ,

m amma ge n erally i n te rposed with a n o d or a whisper to

h
restore it to the priv i leged pair sometimes she as m is
c i e v ou s too a n d co n se n ted to their depr i v atio n a
,

sired them for on ce to keep her compa n y i n side She

n d de
,

h
.

ge n erally however repe n ted of this before the d ay was

w
, ,

over an d begged t at their favori te seat m i ght be restored

,

to them .

For they are really n o f u n at all the poor lady said I ,

.

might as well have t o images from Madame T u ssa u d s ’

.

It had bee n a little hard u pon Au brey at the mome n t of

their departu re to fin d h alf the garrison rou n d the car
r iag e an
,
d bo u q u ets e n o u gh to fil l a separate v e icle h
th ru st i n to every corn er the homag e of tho s e warriors to
the graciou s ladies H e had bee n very cross an d ad.
,

,
h
made a grea t exhi b ition of himse l f especially whe n Cap

h
,

w
tai n K r e u t zn er s faggot O f forget me n ots t i ed with a ribb on
’
- -

like t hat on Bee s hat ad been presen ted w i th i n d e s cr i b

’

able looks What did the fellow mea n by bri ngi n g for
- -
.

get me n ots ? He wan ted to pitc it ou t of the wi n dow as

soon as they ere fairl y started t a .
h
24 T HE SO R C E R E SS

h
.

What an i d iotic cu stom ! he cried ”

What do t e

w w
.

fools thi n k y ou Wan t wi th s u ch l oads o f flow ers whe n y o u

are starti n g on a j ou rn ey ?

h Why it is j u st the n y o u do want them cr ied Betty

,

o had a doze n o r so t o her o n share

an d show u s how m u ch ou r frie n ds thi n k of u s
t o smell sweet
”
,
, ,

w
.

“
They wi l l n ot smell swe et very lon g ; and then wh at

w
will yo u r frien ds thi n k o f y o u ? said the angry lover .

Was it possible that Bee was d etachin g a li ttle kn ot Of

the bl u e flo ers t o p u t i n her waistb an d ? B ee BE E ! his ,

o n propert y who had n o ri g ht so m u ch a s to look a

,
t a n _

o ther man s fl owers ! An d what did she d o seei ng the

’

clou d u pon his face b u t arra n ge a n o t her l ittle bou qu e t

, ,

which wi th her sweetest smi l e the l ittle coq u ette— she

,
—

e n deav ored to pu t i n to his Au brey s bu t ton hole ! H e ’

-

h
, ,

sn atched them o u t o f her h an d i n as o r t o f f u ry DO y ou

w
.

”
wan t me n ever t o forget that eavy bru te o f a Ge r man ?
he cri ed i n his i n dign ation
,

you r heart b u t I shou ld like t o kick him !

,

n atural se n time n ts made Bee lau gh

Y ou may pu t him n ear
.

”
T ese very
which as cr u el ;
h

w
—

b u t then poor Captai n K r e u t z n er had b ee n blotted ou t o f

her life some time ag o an d k n ew his fat e an d had really

hw
w
, ,

n o right whatever t o presen t her with these p a rticu la r

flowers . H is lovely bou qu et with its bl u e ribbo n as
give n t o a girl i n the first vill age an d awaken ed the still ,

more fu riou s j ealou sy o f an other swai n o as les s

easily appeased than A u brey ; b u t this r icochet was n o t

h
thou ght of by the first an d pri n cipal pair
T ere were n ot perhaps so man y rem arkable featu res i n
that j o u rn ey as if it had been throu gh Italy There were
.

great plai n s t o traverse where the Chief sights were c o t

tages an d far m hou ses women goi n g by with great load s
-
,

of fresh l y c u t gr ass fu l l of flowers on their heads fodde r

w
,

for the home dwelli n g cow ; or m e n carryi n g their hops

-

c l i n gi n g t o the pole to be picked at home or l on g strag

h h
, ,

gli n g bran ches o f the tobacco plan t : an d i n the e ven i n g

w
wh
t e postilio n wo u ld h i p u p h is horses an d Charlie i n t e

h
,

ban qu ette or Joh n the m an servan t i n th e ru mble tootl e

-

h
, ,

h
,

u pon a hor n which t e former had acq u ired C l a n dest i n el y

before the par ty set o u t as t ey dashed t rou gh a village
,

or li t tl e t o n i t h lig te d wi n dows a fi or d i n g t h e m m a n y
,
w w
THE SO R C E R F/SS . 25

afl yi n g p ee p of the dom estic li f e of those tran q u il pl ac e s

h
.

A n d i n the midd l e o f the day they stopped to re s t s ome

ere where the i n varia bl e ve al a s t o b e fou n d at some
h
ww
,

g u e st-
ho u se a little better tha n t e ordi n ary where per ,

h aps a bi g ger village stood wi t h all i t s high peaked roofs

w
across a little tran qu il stre am ; and at n i ght rattled i n to
an Old walled tow n with shadowy hi g h hou ses hich b e
lo n ged t o the fou rtee n th cen tu ry an d had n ot cha n ged a

h
,

hit si n c e that time There they stayed a day or t o

w
.
,

va ryi n g the con fi n emen t of t e coach by a co u rse throu gh

e veryt hi n g that was to be see n setti n g o u t i n a party
,

throu gh the rou ghly paved streets b u t partin g compan y ,

b efore lon g s o th at A u brey a

, n d Bee ou ld fin d them
selves alon e i n the shelter o f a ch u rch or i n an i n s i gn ifican t

w
cor ne r by the wa l ls while the others p u rsu ed their sight

w
,

seei n g con sci en tiou sly .

As f or me what I like i s the gen eral aspect said Bee

, , ,

i th an air of su periority I d on t care to poke i n to .

’

e very corn er an d Au brey k n o s the history which is the

w
,

ch ief th i n g .

“
Are they t alkin g all the time o f the history ? s aid

h
Betty overawed

w
, .

B ut this perhaps,
as n ot the opi n ion o f C arlie an d
,

m amma N O ; they did n ot c are very m u ch for the his

.

tor y People are bad travellers i n that stage of l ife

w
. .

They are t o o m u ch i n terested i n the i r o n history They

h w
h
.

we n t abou t like a pair of Philisti n es thro u gh all these

an cie n t streets talki n g o f n othi n g b u t t e thi n gs of t o day

w w
-

h
, .

The most seriou s part of their talk as abo u t the home i n

hw wh
the depths of E n glan d i n w ich they ere e n ceforth to
spen d their lives Au brey had i deas abou t ref u rn ishi n g
.

a b ou t maki n g everythi n g n e It ou ld be imposs i b le .

to tell the reader o bad as the taste of the time an d ,

w i th what terrib l e articl es o f fu rn itu re h e prop o sed to r e

pl ace the spi n dle legs an d marqu etry of i s gra n dfathers

h
.

Bu t the n these thi n gs were the fashion a n d s u pposed to

w
,

be the best thi n gs o f t e time T O he ar them tal ki n g of

h
.

s o fas a n d c u rtai n s an d o f the color for the bo u doir a nd

h
,

t e han gi n gs o f the drawi n g room i n the midst o f all -

h h
t o s e gracefu l Old pl aces was i n co n ceivable Y ou
,

ave s ai d t e s tu pidest u n impres sion able p air talki n g o f

,
ou ld .

,
26 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
u gly modern E n g ish f urn it ure whe n they shou l d h a v e
l

h
,

bee n n oti n g the Old world o f N u r e m berg the u n chan gi n g —

media e val city Bu t y o u m u st remember t at the fu rn it ure

.

was o nly a symbol for their love and their n e l ife an d ,

all the b lessedn ess of bei n g toge t h er an d the e n dless de

h
,

lights of every day The sofas an d the c u rtain s mea n t

w h
.
,

the Vita Nu ova an d the refu r n ishi n g of the O ld ou se a

,

beau t i fu l fabri c of all the on or an d the j oy of life

w w w
.

Then came the great river an d the progress down its

h
sh i n i n g stream an d bet ee n those beau t i fu l ban ks where
agai n they made several pau ses to en j oy t he sce n ery T e
R hi n e is n o t n o t h e river it as the n It as still th e
,

h
.

h
great river of roman ce i n those days Byro n had been —

there an d t e you n g people remembered R ol a n d an d i s

h
,

tower with his lo ve i n the wh ite con ven t opposite : an d

w
,

felt as u dde r at t he t hou gh t Of the Lorelei as th ey floate d

u n der the high a

h w
n d gloomy ban k I dou bt however .
, ,

whether the lovers thou gh t m u ch eve n o f these thi n g s .

They were b u sy j u st n o abou t the garden s whi ch Be e ,

was fu lly mi n ded t O r e m o d el an d fill with everythi n g '

t at was n e an d delightfu l i n the way of flowers .

I shall ha v e masses of color abou t the terrace , an d

every spot co v ered I won der which y ou like best ma

h
,
.

j o l i c a vases o r r u stic baskets ?

”
Bee was sayi n g whe n her
mother called her t o poi n t o u t t e Platz an d Bishop Hat
to s t ower
’
.

O h yes mamma it s very pretty B ut y ou like

’

, , , .

clematis Au brey for t he bal u strade t o wi n d i n an d ou t

, , ,

of the pil l ars Yes yes I c an see it well en ou gh I like

.
, ,
.

e ver y ki n d of clematis eve n the common on e the trav el ,

—

l er s j o y a n d it wo u ld ha n g dow n y ou k n ow over t hat

’
—
, ,

w w
old bit o f wall y ou t ol d me of Do go forward Au brey .
, ,

an d let them s ee y ou are t aki n g an i n teres t I do see it .

al l qu ite well a n d it is very roma n tic a n d we are q u ite

h
,

e n j oyi n g it I c an assu re y ou mamma

, , .

This was o they made their ay down stream ; i n

w
the moon light n ights t hey ceased t o talk o f practical mat
ters an d we n t b ack t o the littl e history of their loves
,
.

Do y ou remember Bee tha t firs t time i n the wood

h
, ,

O h Au brey don t y o u recoll ec t that drive comi n g

’

, ,

back i n t e dark— before I kn e

 T HE S OR C E R E SS . 27

B u t y ou always did k n ow from the very beg i nn i n g ,

”
Bee ?

w
l l
We , perhaps I s spected
u —
an d sed to thi n k
u
Y ou da r l i n g , what d i d y ou thi n k ? an d did y ou really
—

care —
as early as that ?
They wen t on like this hatever happe n ed o u tside giv ,

i n g a careless gl an ce at the heights a t the towers at the , ,

r obbers castle a b ove an d the l ittle vi l lages b el ow ; n ot so

’

m u ch as l ooki n g at them an d yet rememberi n g them ever

after e n closi n g the flow of their yo u n g l ives as it were
, , ,

i n that stron g flowi n g of the R hi n e n oti n g n o thi n g a nd

w
,

yet seei n g every thi n g with the d ou ble sight wh i ch people

possess at the highest mome n t an d crisis of their career
h
w
.

They came at l e n gth to Cologn e w ere this en chan ted ,

voyage was more or less to e nd To be su re they ere ‘

h
.
,

still t o be together ; b u t on ly i n the railway with al l the ,

others ro u n d t em hea ri n g more or less hat they said

, .

They said good b y to the Rhi n e with a l ittle sen time n t a

-
,

delightfu l l itt l e sad n ess fu ll of p leas u re .

“
Shall we ever be s o happy agai n ? said Bee with a
”
,

sigh

h
.

O h yes my sweet a h u n dred times a

, ,
n d happier a
,
nd , ,

happier said t e yo u n g m an ; an d th u s they were assu red

,

it was t o be

h
.

I don t thi n k an y o f them ever forgot tha t arrival at

’

Cologn e They came i n to sight of the town j u st i n t e

.

eve n i n g whe n the l ast glow of s u n set was still bu rn i n g

,

u po n the great river b u t lights begi n n i n g to show i n the

,

wi n dows an d glimmeri n g reflected i n th e water The .

Cathedral was n o t completed the n an d a cran e like some ,

stra n ge weird an imal stood ou t agai n st the sky u pon the

,

h h
t op of the tower The hotel to which they were goi n g
.

ad a covered terrace u pon the river with l ights gl eami n g

w
thro u g the g ree n leaves They decided they wou ld have

hh h
.

the i r table there an d di n e with all that darkl i n g pa n o

,

ram a before t eir eyes throu gh the veil o f t e fol i age the ,

a d

hw
g l ow i n g water t e boats ,
movi n g n passi n g with n o ,

an d then a raft comi n g dow n from the u pper stream an d ,

the bridge of boats ope n i n g to give passage to a fu mi n g ,

h
fretti n g steamboat A u brey an d Bee wen t han d i n han d
u p t e steps ; n obody n oticed i n the half dark
.

o cl ose -
w
28

h
t ey were together T e y p ar t e d ith a close pressu re o f
T HE

h
S OR C E R E SS

w .

w
.

arm ha n ds .

Don t be l on g darl i n g he said as they parted ; o n l y

’

, , ,

for a mome n t o nly to prepare a little for the even i n g to

w w
,

slip i nto a fresh dress to take ou t a n e ribbon ; to mak e ,

on e s yo u thfu l self as fair as su ch u n n ecessary adj u n ct s

’

h
permitted
For
.

at di d A u br ey care for a n e ribbon ? The on ly

'

w
bl u e he tho u ght of was that i n Bee s eye s ’

w
.

I d o n ot thi n k she was more than t en mi nu tes over thes e

w
little chan ges She dressed like a flash of ligh tn i n g
.
,

Betty said who co u ld no t fin d her o n thi n gs half s o

h
,

q u ickly M o u l s e y bei n g occ u pied i th mamma S u ch a

, .

s or t mome n t n o t worth cou n ti n g ! an d y e t e n ou gh more

h
,

th an en ou gh t o chan ge a hole life

'
, .

Bee r an dow n as light as air to t e sitti n g room which -

had been e n gaged for th e party Sh e felt su re that A u brey

h
.

wo u ld h u r ry t o o so as to have a word before di nn er b e

h
, , ,

fore the rest were ready as if the whole day ad n o t bee n —

on e lo n g word r u n n i n g thro u gh every t i n g ,

ligh tly to the door Of the room i n her fresh frock an d e r

She cam e

bl u e ribbon s walki n g on ai r k n owi n g n o s hadow of an y

.

h
h
, ,

obstacl e before her or clou d u pon the j oyfu l tri u mphan t

w
,

sky S e did n o t eve n hear the sou n d Of the s u bd u ed

.

voices the fa i n t l i ttle sob stran gest of all s ou n ds at s u ch

, ,

a mome n t which seemed to come ou t t o meet her as sh e

,

ope n ed the door Bee open ed it on deri n g on l y if A u brey

w
.

were there thi n ki n g of some j i b e to a d dress to him abo u t

,

the le n g th of time m en took to their toilets if s e hap

pe n ed to be ready first .
h
She was very m u ch startled by what she s a H er

hh
.

mother sti l l i n her travelli n g dress sat by the table wi th

w
-
, ,

a letter open i n e r an ds She had n ot made an y prep

whh h
.

aration for di n n er she u su ally so dai n ty so a n xiou s t o —

, ,

g e t rid of the cloaks a n d of th e soi l s o f the j o u rn ey S e .

had take n o ff her hat which l ay on the table b u t as , ,

s till e n veloped i n the shawl hich she had p u t o n to keep

o ff the eve n i n g chills
he had bee n w e n t ey part ed wit hh h
As for A u brey he was exact l y as
i m except that a ll
.
,

h
,

the light had gon e ou t of i s face He was very pale .

,

an d e t oo had a letter i n his han d H e u ttered a stifled .

 S OR C E R E SS

w
T HE 29

h
.

w
e xcl amat i o n when he saw Bee at the door an d lifti n g i s

h
,

arms as thou gh i n protest agai n st somethi n g i ntolerable ,

alked away t o t e other e n d o f the room .

“
O h Bee ! ,
”
said Mrs K i n gs ar d Oh go away my
“
.
, , ,

d ear g o away !
,
I mea n ge t someth i n g to eat y o u an d —
,

Charlie an d Betty an d the n get to b e d Get to bed ! I

, , .

am t oo tired to take an yth in g an d I am goi n g u pstairs at ,

”

w
o n ce .

I tho ught y ou had bee n u pstairs mamma hal f an hou r , ,

ag o What is the matter ? Y o u look like a ghost an d s o

wh
.
,

d oes A u brey Has an ythi n g happe n ed ? Mamma y ou

.

hh
,

o n t look at me an d Au brey t u rn s his back Wha t

’

, .

ave I don e ? Is it an ythi n g abou t me ?

“
W at n on se n se child ! said Mrs K i n gs ar d with a
”
,
.

preten ce at a smile What cou ld y o u have t o do wit it ?

w
.

We have both M r Leigh an d myself fou n d letters an d

—
'

.
—
,

we ar e bu sy readi n g them I am su re the din n er m ust be .

se r v ed We ordered it i n the balcon y don t y ou remem

.
,
’

ber ? R u n a ay an d make Charl ie an d Betty sit down at

o n ce I am t oo tired M ou l s e y will r u n down i n a little
. .

an d get somethi n g for m e ”

wh
.

Mamma said Bee y o u

,
ca n n ot make u p a story ,
.

Somethi n g has h appen ed I am s u re of i t ; an d it is some ,

thi n g abo u t me .

“
Non sen se child ! g o a ay an d ave you r di nn er I
, .

'
wo u ld come if I co u ld Don t y o u see what a bu dget of .

letters I have got ? an d some of them I m u st an swer t o

n ight

w
.

H ave y ou l e tters t o o A u brey ? s aid Bee i n her ,

amazeme n t stan di n g still as she had pau sed arrested by

, ,

th e s ight of them j u st withi n the door , .

“
Bee I m u st beg y ou ill n o t p u t an y qu estion s ; go

w
,

an d d o what I tell y o u ; you r brother an d sister will be

h
comi n g dow n stairs Yes of cou rse y ou c an see that Mr
Leigh has i s letters to read as well as I ”

Mr Leigh ! I wo n der if e have all go n e mad or what

.
.
, ,

.
.

is the matter ? Au brey ! tell me y o u at least if mam m a , ,

won t Y ou m u st have had a q u arrel Mamma why do

’
. . .
,

u call him Mr Leigh ?

y o

hh
.

O h for good n ess s a

,
ke Bee g o g o away ! ,
—

Ia m n ot goi n g away cri e d the girl Y ou av e a d ,

30 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

a qu arrel abo u t some t i n g Come mamma y ou m u s t n o t .

, ,

qu arrel with Au brey If he has don e somethi n g wron g or

.

said som ethi n g silly I will a n swer for him he n ever i n

, ,

ten ded i t Au brey what do y ou mean sir t u rn i n g yo u r

.
, , ,

back both o n m amma an d me ? Come here qu ick an d , ,

ask her pardon an d say y o u will n e ver do it agai n

, .

Poor l ittle Bee s heart was fl u tteri n g b u t she wou l d n ot

’

allow her self to believe there was anythi n g really wron g

She we n t close u p to her mother an d stood by her wi t h .

w
, ,

a h an d u pon her shou lder “ ” “

A u brey ! she said n ever .
,

mi n d if y ou are wron g or n o t come an d beg mamm a s ,

’

pardon an d she will forgive y o u There m u st n o t there

h
—
, .

m u st n ot oh it is t oo ridicu l ou s b e an yt i n g ron g b e

w
— -
,

twee n mam m a an d y o u A u bre y !

h h
,

He tu rn ed ro u n d slowl y an d faced them both with a

face so pale t at Bee stopp e d s ort with a gasp an d co u ld

hh h h
,

n o t say a word more Mrs K i n g s ar d had bu ried her

. .

face i n e r an ds Bee looked from o n e to a n other wit

.

“
a dismay which s e cou ld n o t expl ai n to herself Oh .
,
"
what is the ma tter ? What is the matter ? she said .

CH APT E R IV

w
.

was n o merry di n ner that n igh t i n the veran da

T H ER E
of the hotel u n d er the cli n gi ng wreaths of gree n Mrs
K i ng s ar d we n t u p to her room still with e r heavy s awl

abou t her sho u lders which she had forgotten tho u g it

h .

h
h
.

added somethi n g to her discomfort followed by Bee pale —

h
w w
,

and rigid o ff eri n g n o help followi n g her mother like an

, ,

an gry shadow C arlie an d Betty met the m o n the stairs

h
.

an d stood aside i n con stern a tion u n able to con cei v e wh at ,

had appe n ed Mrs K i n gs ar d gave them a sort of

w w
. .

trou bled smile an d sa i d : Get you r di n n er dears don t

“
, ,
’

wait for u s I am too t i red to come do n to n ight

.
-
.

Bu t mamma
,
they both bega n i n remo n stran ce .

G o do n a n d get yo u r di n n er sa i d M r s K i ng s ar d

h
,
.

peremptorily As for Bee she d i d n o t l ook at them at

h
.
,

al l . Her eyes were fierce w i th som e sen ti m e n t w ich

Betty co u l d n o t divi n e an d a n gr y bl a zi n g as if t e y
, , ,
 T HE S OR C E R E SS 3:

h
.

w
m i g t have set light to the hotel Little Be t ty presse d .

ag ai n st Ch arlie s side as they we nt down st artled an d ’

h
al ar m ed “
Bee has had a qu arrel with mamma she

h
.

“
is
pered ton es of awe in
That s imposs i ble said ’
.
,

C a l ie
r
“
O h n o it s n o t impossible There was
, ,
’
.

on c e It comfort ed them both a little i n the awfu l

c i r c u ms t an ces tha t s u ch a thi n g had perhaps happe n ed

b e f o re They we n t very sile n tly an d m u ch cast down t o

.

th at table i n the veran da whither Obsequ iou s waiters ,

b e c kon e d them and con templ ated with dismay all the ,

l a t s laid all the glitter f the lamps a d the gl asses

'

p e o ,
n .

I s u ppose we m u st n o t wait for them as they sai d s o

w
,

h
,

sai d Charlie sitti n g d own i n his pla c e at the b ot tom of

,

t e table Tell Mr Lei gh tha t is t he other ge n tleman —

h h
. .

—
th at we are ready

h h
.

The ot er gen tl eman s i r said the wa i ter o was , , ,

th e p ride of the establishme n t f or i s E n glis have gon e ,

out

k owi g wh
.

Go e said Charlie n H e co d o ly stare at

ou t ? ul n

H e have h
.

Bet ty a she at him nd at thi k ,

n ot n n to n .

a his le ters oo sir said the waiter ”

w
a d t t in

with
, ,

si g i fica t to e
n n n

Ch arlie also had h

.

H is
let ers What co ld tha h a e t it ! u t v to do ?

a his letters of hem a bill which d on e t

disg ise hfeeli gs a sits

,

he view with a satisfactio

did n ot eve at t e ty ny n; but n n
a a already a m
‘

n le rns to is nd

w
on e u n ,

h
,

d w to di er cheerf lly tho gh he has received a bill by

o n nn u u

ectio betwee Bee s with

.

tpost Charlie s mi d at first co ld

e perceive a ’
n u n ot ny

rey s disappe ara ce It was Betty h

.

c o nn drawal pstairs a
n n
’
u nd An .

b s ggested sitt g in
’
n . o u ,

d ow n very close t o him that it looked as if A u brey an d

h h h
,

B ee had q u arrelled too

’

“
Perhaps t at is what it is s e sai d as if she ad , ,

fo u n d ou t a satisfactor y reason lovers always qu arrel ;

“
,

an d m amm a will have take n Au brey s p a rt an d Bee will ’

be s o an gry an d feel as if she cou ld n ever for give him

w hh
.

w
”
Th ere that is what i t m u s t be

hh
, .

A m an may qu arre l wi th i s sweetheart sai d Charlie ,

“
severely b u t e n eed n t spoil ot er people s di n n er for
,
’ ’

that Ho ever t e y com forted t he m s e l ve s that this

‘

.
,

as t he mo s t like l y expla n ation an d th at al l wo u l d come ,

 '

32 T H E So R C E RE s s .

h
right i n the mor n i n g An d they were v er y you ng an d
.

u n gry havi n g eate n n othi n g si n ce the veal at on e O clo c k

‘

w
, .

An d these two made o n the whole a very satisfactory me al .

The sce n e u pstairs was very di ff eren t Mrs Ki n g s

h h
.

h
.

ward sen t M ou l s e y away on prete n ce of ge tti n g her som e

tea and the n tu rned to e r dau ghter
,
o stood by t e
dressi n g table an d stared blan kly wit ou t seei n g an y
-

thi n g i n to those mysteriou s depths of the glass which

,
,

h
,

are so s ug gestive to people i n trou ble She said fai n tly .

,

Bee I wou ld s o m u ch rather y ou wo u ld n o t as k m e an y

—

”
more qu estio n s to n ight

w
-
.

Tha t is said Bee y ou wou ld lik e t o sen d me aw ay

”

h
, ,

t o be miserabl e by myself witho u t e ve n k n owi n g wh at it

is w ile y o u will take yo u r sleepi n g dr au ght an d forg e t
,

it. H o ca n y o u be so selfish mamma ? An d y ou have ,

made my Au brey j oi n i n the co n spiracy ag ai n st me m y -

A u brey t hat belon gs t o me as papa does t o y ou If y o u .

are agai n st u s i t is all very well thou gh I can t imag i n e ’

w
, ,

why y ou shou l d be agai n st u s ; b u t a t lea s t y ou n eed n o t

i n terfere between Au brey an d me .

O h my dear child my poor d a

“ ”
,
rl i ng l said M r s
, .

K i ngs a r d wri n gi n g her ha n ds

,
.

It is all very well to call me you r poor child whe n i t

is y ou that are maki n g me poor said Bee
She kept movi n g a little first on on e foot the n o n t e
other b u t always gazi n g i n to the glass which prese nte d
,
,
.

, h
, ,

the i mage of an excited girl very pale b u t lit u p with a ,

sort of blaze of i n dign ation an d u n able t o keep still It .

h
was n o t that girl s face however that Bee was gazi n g at
’

, , ,

b u t at t e d i m worl d o f space beyo n d i n which there ,

were fai n t far away reflection s of the light an d the worl d

,
-
.

“
An d if y ou thi n k y ou will get rid of me like thi s a nd
han g me u p till to morrow withou t k n owi n g what it i s
-

h h
,

y o u are mistake n mamma I will n o t leave y o u u n til y o u

h h
, .

ha ve told m e What is i t ? What as papa got i n i s

h
.

head ? What does he say i n t at horrid orrid letter ? I

w wh
,

wish I ad k n ow n when I gave it to y o u I shou l d have .

throw n it i n to the river i n stead o f ever letti n g i t come

i n to you r han ds .

“
Bee y o u m u st k n o this passion is v ery wro ng an d
,

very im pro pe r Y ou ou ght n ot to f ac e e l i k e t at a

. nd ,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS .
33

d e m an d an an swer I am yo u r mother sa i d M r s Ki n gs
.
, .

ward bu t with a falter wh ich was all u n like th at as s u m p

,

h
ti o n o f a u thority ; an d I have n o n eed t o tell y o u an y
t i n g more than I thi nk is for yo u r good
h
h h
.

Ah ! I k n ow where t at comes from cried Be e ; ,

t at s papa s th un der ! that s what he as told y ou t o

’ ’ ’

say ! Y ou don t believe you rself that y ou have a right t o

’

h
h a n g u p a poor girl over some dre adfu l dreadfu l abyss
wh e n she was so appy an d n ever su spected an ythi n g
H er e Bee s voice faltere d f or a momen t b u t sh e qu ickly
’
,

,
.

re co vered herself An d t o drag her away from the o ne

.

per s o n tha t co u ld su ppor t her an d to c u t the grou n d from ,

u n der her feet a n d n ever to tell her what it m ea n s !

”

wh
,

It was at this poi n t that M ou l s ey with a little discreet ,

cou g h t o heral d her approach came i n to the room be ar

w
, ,

i n g at ray with tea a n d a little cover from which ca m e a

,

fai n t b u t agreea ble odor Mrs K i ng s ar d was i n gr eat . .

tro u ble abou t her child b u t she was m u ch exha u sted an d

w
,

h
in an t o f physical su pport an d it d i d seem to er hard

w
,

th at s e might n ot be permitted to eat the smallest o f

c u tl ets b e f Or e embarki n g o n a sce n e su ch as she k n ew
thi s ou ld be O h why did n t papa come a n d say it
’
.
,

hi m s elf when there was s o m u ch that as dreadfu l to

w w
,

h
w
say ?
Shall I fetc some t hi n g for Miss Bee t oo ? said ,

It ai n t a good thi n g f or a you n g creat u re to

w
M o u l s ey
’
.

t
'

g o itho u her di n n er If she s n o t goi n g do n

. ma am ’

, ,

a s o u ld be m u ch the best I ll j u st r un an d fetch a little ’

h
,

som e thi n g for Miss Bee t oo .

I n deed i n deed Bee M o u l s ey is right Thi n k o

, , ,
.

mise rable the o t hers will feel all alon e an d thi n ki n g some ,

t h i n g has happe n ed Do go down dar li n g an d stren gthe n

.
, ,

you rself with a little food an d take a glass of wi n e j u st ,

f o r o n ce t o plea se m e An d after tha t y ou shall be told

h
.

every th i n g all that I kn ow —

.

B e e gr ew paler a n d paler stan di n g t ere before the

gl a
h
,

ss a
,
n d her eyes bl a zed more an d more It is as bad .

as t at the n ! she said u n der her brea th t o herself an d

”

h
,

h h
,

then we n t away from where she was stan di n g t o the

fu rt e r en d of the room I s all wai t ere mamma till .
, ,

u h a v e had yo u r tea I k n ow y o u w a n t it O b g o
y o . . .
, ,

3
 w
S OR C E R E SS

w
T HE .

away M ou l s ey ! L e t me al on e ! N o y ou s h all n ot b ri ng
,

me an ythi n g or if y ou d o I will th r o it ou t of t e
,

h
w
, , ,

i n dow she sa i d stampin g her foot The dark end O

, ,
. f
the room seemed su dden ly l ighted u p b y asort of au rora

w h
borealis with the fire of poor Bee s bu rn i ng e y es and the ’

flashes here an d there of her whi t e frock— o poor hite ,

frock p u t on i n the su n shi n e of life and liap p i n es s to

,

please her love ! and n o tu rn ed i n to asor t of sacrificial

robe

h
.

Take it away M ou l s ey ; I can t eat a

,
n y t h i ng Ican t
’
—
’

w
i n dee d n o mor e t an Miss Bee
—

Bu t y o u m u s t m a a s aid M ou l s ey
h h
“
m M i ss Be e 8
’ ’

, , .

you n g ; she 5 had n ot i ng to drai n away er stre n gt h

’
.

B u t i t s far di ff eren t wi t h y o u after a l l y ou r fami ly a nd

’

h
,

s o weak a s y ou are If Miss Bee ere a real g ood gir l

.
,

as I always thou ght her s e d g o away an d ge t som eth i ng

w
’

herself j u s t f or her poor mamma s sake an d leave y ou ’

alo n e f or a momen t to get a little peace an d rest ”

h
.

“
There is n o rest f or me m u rm u red the poor l ady

w w
.

O h papa papa t a m

w
, , y did n y,
o u come n d tell th e
”
yo urse l f ?
These piteo us ton es we n t t o Bee s heart They move d
h
’

h
.

her half ith co t empt alf with compassion

n — ith some
,

w
thi n g of that high i n dign an t tolera t ion of weak n ess hic

h
,

is on e k i n d Of pi ty If mamma cou l d ea t an d dri n k at.

su ch a momen t why shou ldn t sh e b e left to d o i t ? T e

,
’

girl started u p an d left the roo m i n the qu i ck flashi n g i m

p u lse o f her passion She alked u p an d down i n t e
corridor ou tside her arms folded ove r her h i gh beati n g
.
,

-
h
h
, ,

t u m u lt u ou s hear t Yes n o dou b t she was goi n g to b e

.
,

miserable ; al l her appi n ess Was cu t d own an d w i there d

w
away ; b u t i n her prese n t passion ate impu lse o f resistan c e

h
an d gatheri n g of all her forces t o resist the c atastroph e
w ich she d i d n ot u nders tan d it cou l d scarcely b e s aid th at
she was wretched yet What was i t ? what as i t ? s e
,

h
h
.

was sayi n g to herself It might stil l be somethin g th at

w
.

wou ld pass away which wou l d be o vercome by t e dete r

,

mi n ed impassion ed sta n d agai n st i t which Bee fel t that i t

h
,

was in her to make The thi n g that was wors t of all th a t

.
,

stole away e r cou rage as th at A u brey had fail ed her , .

H e s hou ld h a v e b e en th e re b y her s i d e whatev er h appe n ed .

 T HE S OR C E R E SS 35

h h
.

h
He o u gh t n ot to ave aban don ed h er N O d ou b t

w
e

h h
.

t o u g ht it was more del icate more hon orable mor e some , ,

t i n g or other ; an d that it was his d u ty to leav e er to

b r av e i t alo ne It m u st have bee n o n e of those high
.

fl o n n otion s of ho n or that m e n have H on or ! to leave .

a gi rl to fight for herself an d him alone b u t n o dou bt ,

—
, ,

th a t was what had seemed right i n his eyes Bee walked .

up a n d dow n i n the half lighted passage sometimes a l

h
-
,

m ost p u shi n g agai n st some o n e goin g u p o r down waiters

h h
,

o r c amberm aids or su rpr i sed gu ests who looked after ,

,

e r whe n she ad passed ; bu t she did n ot take any n otic e

o f th e m an d she hear d as she passed her mother s door
h
’

, , ,

l i ttl e s ou n ds of tea c u ps an d dis e s an d M o u l s ey s voice

-
,
’

s ayi n g A little mor e an d her mother s fai n t replies

“ ’

h
.
,

P o or mamma l After all whatever it was it cou ld n o t be

h
, ,

er a fla i r as it was B e e s She wou ld be u n happy abou t

’

h
.

i t b u t n o t all u n h a ppy Sh e had t e others who were

h
, .
,

all right . She had papa It wo u ld n ot shatter er t o .

p iec e s eve n if on e Of t e childre n was to be shipwrecked .

I t was t he shipwrecked on e on ly who wou ld be broke n to

p i eces For the first time i n her life Bee felt the poi g n an t
.

s e n sation the j eal o u s pride t e high desolate satisfactio n

,

o f s u ff eri n g ; the others co u ld all eat a n d d o t e ordi n ary

,
h h
th i n g s She was el ev ated over all that sile n t as on a

w
.
,

peak i n Darie n She felt almost a ki n d Of dreadfu l

h h
.

pl eas u re i n the s it u atio n smili n g t o herself at the sou n ds

,

of e r mother s little meal Sh e cou l d di n e w ile Bee

’
.

as m i serable They cou ld all di n e Charlie (which was

.
,

n at u ral ! ,
Betty eve n A u brey She had n o dou bt that he
,
.

t o o m u st be seated feeli n g as a m a ,
n does that d i n n er
m u s t go on wh atever happen s at the table dow n stairs

h
.
,

After a while whi ch seemed a lon g time to Bee Mou l

h
, ,

sey came ou t wit the tray She was startled an d ex .

,

cl aimed u n der her b reath at the appeara n ce o f t e girl

wal ki n g u p an d dow n i n the corridor : I did thi nk y ou
“

wo u l d hav e had the se n se to g o an d j oi n the others Miss

h
,

Bee . Bee was too m u ch u plifted t oo distan t on her high ,

pi n n acle o f martyrdom to make an y reply b u t w en ,

h
M ou l s e y ve n t u red t o add a word Of ad v ice to the e fi e c t

h
tha t s e m u st be carefu l of her mamma an d n o t wea ry her
wit qu estion s and she so tired an d so weak t e girl h
, ,
36 T HE So RC E RE ss

hh
.

flashed forth all her heat o f i n dign ation S e a s eate n .

“
her c u tlet it appears cried Bee ,
I shou ld thi n k she
,
.

may an swer my qu estion s

w
.

O h l cried the maid who had the privileges of a

"
n Ol d

w
,

servan t have got a heart witho t pity Y a

'

y o u u o u r e

h
.
,
”
j ust l ike you r papa l
Be e swep t pas t e r i n to the room here poor Mrs ,

h
.

Kin g s a r d who after all had eate n b u t a mor sel sat lyi n g
, ,

back i n an e as y chair awaiti n g the dreadf u l con flict whic

-

h
she k n ew was comi n g Poor lady sh e had lost all her
brightn ess t at pretty gr ace o f t e yo un g mother amon g
.

h ,

ww
,

her grow n u p childre n which prom pted so many com

-
,

p l i m e n t s She lay back i n her easy chair feeli n g as she -

,

h h
.

said an y age ; as ol d as an y woma n on the edge of the

grave n o t k n owi n g o she was t o bear the on sla u ght

w
,

th at was comi n g an d how s e as t O s ay what had t o be

,
'

said H e had born e it far better tha n Bee poor Au brey

h
w
.
, ,

poor A u brey ! whom she m u s t n o t call Au brey any more

h wh h
.

He had n o t den ied an ythi n g He ad falle n as i t ere .

, ,

at her feet like a hou se tha t ad been u n derm i n ed an d

w
ad n o sou n d fou n dation s ; b u t Bee as di ff ere n t Be e .

was a to er that ad fo u n dation s agirl that was able t o —

s ta n d u p eve n to papa ; a n d why why had h e n ot come t o ,

give fort h his sen te n ce i n his o n way ?

w hh h
Bee came forward flashi n g i n to the light i n that whi t e ,

frock which shon e an d with those eyes that blazed thro u g

,

all the n eu t r al ti n ts i n the room She did n o t s i t dow n

w
.
,

hich wo u ld ave bee n a little relief b u t seize d a chair ,

an d stood with er han d u pon the back lean i ng u pon it ,

.

“
I hope mamma she said pitiless, ,
that y ou lik e d , ,

yo u r tea an d ate somethin g an d that y ou are better n o

w
,

h
,
.

“ ”
O h Bee l cried the poor l ady If there is on e r e

w
, , .

proach more dreadfu l than an other i t is t is Of bei n g abl e

h
t o eat whe n y ou o u ght to be overwhelmed with tro u bl e

w h
.

Mrs K i n g s ar d cou l d scarcely keep from cryi n g a t t e

h
.

impu tation An d Bee I fe ar kn ew that it as the nu

.
, ,

ki n dest t i n g tha t cou ld be sa i d .

No m amma s e res u med almost ston ily it i s

h
, , ,

time that y o u shou ld tell me what has happen ed We ar .

rived here all q u ite happy i t is j u st an ou r ago —

Here Bee s voice shook a little b u t she comman d e d i t

’

,
w
w
h
ca
i th an efiort I r an u p t o dress f or di nn er an d whe n I
.

me back i n abou t te n mi n u tes I fou n d y o u an d A u brey

it you r le t ters looki n g as if y ou had both b een dead
T HE S OR C E RE SS

,
.

,
37

w
—
,

an d bu ried whil e I was away Y o u wou ldn t an swer m e

’

h h
.
,

an d he n ever said a word Y o u had don e somethi n g to .

i m i n t a t littl e time to m a ke him t u rn away from me

an d ye t y ou ill n o t tell me what it is H ere I am alon e

h
.
,

sa id Bee on ce more with a q u iver i n her voice

,
Au brey .

o u ght t o be sta n di n g by me I s u ppose he is avi n g his .

d i n n er down st a irs t oo an d thi n ki n g n o more of m e I

h
, , .

j u st sta n d alon e n obody cari n g i n al l the world What

,
.

i s t e mea n i n g Of it m amma ?
”

h
,

Bee y o u are very hard u po n me An d poor Au brey

,
.
,

e is havi n g n o di n n er of that I am s u re ,
.

Y ou called him Mr Leigh down stairs

h
. .

S O I did a n d s o I m u st a n d all o f u s ; b u t I ca nn ot

h h
, ,

ave y o u speaki n g o f him like that poor poor fellow ; ,

h
,

an d j u st f o r this On ce O Bee my darli n g don t ’

h h h
, , ,

s tan d a n d look at me s o ! I wou ld rat er hav e died t a n

sa y it either to
i n g I don t k n ow what ; a
,
i m o r to y
’
o u
nd
Yo u r papa as bee n
e has chan ged his mi n d

ab ou t Mr Leigh altogether an d says it m u st n o t be

.
ear .

h
,
.

What m u st n ot be ?

h
w
O h Bee ! O h do n t take it so har d ! Do n t look li ke
’ ’

, ,

t a t ! You r you r e n gageme n t my darli n g H ave p a

— —

h h
, .

t i en ce ; Oh have patie n ce ! ,
He h ad hear d somethi n g .

An d he

w
M en ear thi n gs that e wou ld n ever ear

h
.

d o esn t de n y it Bee O h he doesn t den y it I had a

’ ’
. .
, ,

o pe that he wou ld co n tra d ict it at o n ce a n d fla re u p i n

h
,

arage like y ou an d say it was n t tru e B u t he does n t

’ ’
.
,

d e n y i t poor b oy poor boy ! a n d after th at ca n I sa

w
— o
”
, y
o n e word t o papa ?

h
w
“
My e n gagem en t ? said Bee i n a hoarse voice She ,
.

ad bee n stari n g at her mother as i n a dream on ly par ,

tia l l y heari n g n ot u n derstan di n g at all the rest that as

h
,

sa id “
M y en gage me n t ? He gave his co n se n t It as

wh
. .

al l se t tled Y ou wou ld n ot allow u s till t e letter came

.
,

b u t the n it was c on sen t

h
.

“
Y e s y es dear That was at first H e c on s en ted at

h
. .
, ,

fi t b c use a
rs e a — n d no it appears he has heard somet i n g
s ome on e as ca ll e d u pon h im e has discov e red ; a n d he —
38 T HE S o RC E R E s s .

h
writes t o m e tha t i t m u st be broke n OE Oh Bee d on t ’
.
, ,

thi nk my eart doesn t bleed f or y o u I t hi nk i t will k i l l

’

h
w
.

me H e says it mu st be broken O E at o nce

. .

“
W o says s o ? said Bee i n her passion
”
H e ! On e .

wou ld thi nk y ou were speaki n g of G od tha t c an say Y e s —

‘ ’

t o day a
- n d N o t o morro
‘
an d bu ild th in gs u p an d th e n
’
-
,

s natch them down Bu t I will n o t have i t ! I am n o t a

.

doll t o be p u t i n on e positio n an d then i n an ot her as an y

, ,

body pleases My e ngageme n t ! It is mi n e ; i t is n ot his

h
. .

Bee thi n k ; it is p apa y ou are speaki ng of De ar I

h
.
, ,

feel for y o u Ifeel for y o u ! b u t so does b e O m y

—

h
.
,

darli n g y ou do n t k n ow w at y ou are sayi n g Do y o u

’

w
.
,

thi n k he wou ld do a ny t hi n g to make y o u un happy if e

ww
cou ld help i t you r papa Bee who has bee n s o good t o
—

h
, ,
”
y o u all yo u r l ife ?

no
I d o n ot care o good he has been He is n ot go o d
Ho will it harm him ? He sits at home an d e
.

,
h
h
.

thi n ks he c an d o as he pleases Bu t n ot wi t h me It i s . .

my aEai r more than it is his H e thi nk s he c an break i s .

word an d it does n t mat t er b u t I h av e give n my word

’
—

h
, ,

an d it does matter ”
Break my e n gagemen t ! cried Be e
.
,

her you n g bosom swelli n g the sob risi n g i n e r throat th at ,

It is mi n e an d n ot his ; an d
h
“
wo u ld soon choke h er voice .

n obody i n the world sh all bre a k it Y ou c an tell i m s o

h
.
,

mamma or I wil l wr ite myself and tell h im s o I am

, .

n o t a wax im age t o take a n y shape he

p le as e s W o is

h
.

he ? He is n ot God
Bee e is you r father
—

O h my father ! Yes I do whatever h e tells me

,

he says I am t o fetch an yt i n g I r un l ike a little dog I

,

h If .

h
.

have n ever bee n disobedien t Bu t this— this i s di ff ere n t . .

I am n o t a child any lon ger An d mamm a n ot f or i m .

, ,

n or for a n o t eve n for y ou wi l l I take back m y

wh
n y on e —

word .

Bee ! y ou make me say a great deal more than I mean t

t o say I thou ght y ou wou ld h ave been a good child and
.

see n that papa m u st k n o best My poor poor little girl .

, ,

there is worse behi n d Mr Lei g whom we all thou gh t . .

,

s o m u ch o f

h
“
A u brey Be e m an aged to say thou gh f or n o oth e r
, ,

word cou ld s e comm an d her voice .

 T HE So R C E R E s s .
39

Darli n g he has d eceived u s

h He is n ot wh at he

wh
.
,

ww
s e ems H e has don e O so wron g ! There have bee n

h
.
, ,

t i n gs that y o u o u ght n ever to he ar

—

“ ”
S t Op ! said Bee She ad to speak i n mon osyllables

h h
.

w w
ith her labori n g breath Wait l n ot n ot behi n d h is
.
— —

b ack . She ru she d to t e bell an d ru ng it s o ildly t at

b oth waiter a n d chambermaid appeared i n al ar m ith ,

M ou l s e y ru shi n g i n calli n g f or a doctor a n d tha t her lady

w h
,

as goi n g to fai n t . Bee pu shed the woma n aside an d

t u rn ed to the waiter o s t ood a n xiou s at the door

hh h
,
.

“ ” “
M r Leigh !
. she cried impatien tly the ge n tleman ,

o was with u s ; tell i m to come here —

h
.

T e tall you n g ge n tleman ? said the waiter .

h N o t e other : tel l him he is to com e here i n stan tly

— —

t is mome n t

en tlem a n ? H e ha
.

I beg you r pard on miss said t e m an

v e bee n go n
,

e away th i s
,

half
The other
ho ur
h .

g “
-

h
.

Gon e away ! she crie d An d it seemed to Bee th at

”

w
t e black n ess Of dark n ess close d over her a
h
.

n d the room

h
w h h
an d ever ythi n g i n it She d id n ot fai n t O n o n o su ch

h
, ,
.
,

appi n ess b u t everythi n g grew dark an d t rou gh t e dark

, ,

s e heard her o n voice speaki n g s pe a ki n g and did n ot , ,

kn o w ha t she said .

w
CH APT E R V .

hh
w h
BU T Au brey had n o t gon e away H e had gon e ou t i n

h
.

t e dizzi n ess o f a great dow n fall scarcely k n owi n g o to

,

keep i s feet steady a s e wan dered a l o n g the dark street

h
,

n o t k n owi n g here he we n t The lan dscape that had

h h
w
.

charmed t em all so m u ch was it scarcely an hou r ago ?

,

t e lamps reflected i n the water ; the vera n da w it i ts ,

h
wreaths o f gree n ; the brillia n t yet mysterio u s glimmer
o f t e moo n made his heart si n k to l ook at them n o

w
.

h hh h h
,

H e strayed OE i n to the darkest of the n arrow streets i n t o ,

w
th e grea t gloom Of t e cathedra l s ad ow where e cou ld

h hh
,

see n othi n g b u t a po or l ig t twi n kli n g ere an d there ,

h h
m aki n g t e darkn ess v isibl e O o cert ai n it i s th at
ow e v er swe et they may seem you r si n s will fin d y ou
ou t ! Oh o
.

more tha n certai n if y ou have l et you rself

,
, ,

,
40 T HE SOR C E R E S S .

w
be dragged down on ce on ly on ce i n a spotless life th at , ,

the on e fau lt will be made i n to the ce n tral fact of yo u r

h
whole existen ce If he had bee n a bad dissipated m an
i t wou ld ave bee n on ly fair
.

Bu t this poor you n g fell o

,

h
,

h
.

was like the yo u n g m an whom ou r Lord lov ed thou gh e

we n t away All good thi n gs e had kept from his yo u t h
h
w w h
.

u p ; b u t o n ce o n ly o n ce alf distracted by grief an d b y

h
, , ,

the desire which is s o n atu ral to escape from grief an d

h
,

by i n fern al temptat i on he had falle n o there was n o ,

—
,

n eed t o tell him o he had falle n ! had i t n ot been t e

canker i n his sou l ever si n ce ? An d n o this on e thin g

w
h h
w
,

th i s m iserable m u ch repe n ted fau lt which rev olted d i s

,
-
, ,

g u sted orrified himself was brou ght u p agai n st i m as

, ,

if it were the pattern u pon which he had shape d his life .

An d n o what was left f or him b u t to fall down do n

, ,

i n to the u n fathomable abyss ? The distracted feeli ng s

w
with which he had broken away from home the horror an d ,

dism ay that at on ce belon ged t o his n at u ral grief an d

made the b u rde n of it a thou san d t imes harder to bear al l ,

ru shed back u pon him whirli n g him do n an d down t o ,

dimmer an d more awfu l depths He had partially heale d .

himself i n the i n tolerable n ess of his trou ble by travel an d

chan ge an d the arbitrary forgetfu l n ess which comes f rom
,

abs en ce an d the wan t of an y association which cou ld cal l

,

back to him what was past ; an d the n the tou ch Of Bee s ’

soft girlish han d the sou n d of her voice had su dde n l y

, , ,

called him back i n to an en chan ted lan d where everythi n g

h ad agai n become possible H e had hesitated f or som e
time won deri n g if he might d a re e who had a se c ret
.

—
h
h
,

smirch u pon him which n obody Su spected t o avail hi m sel f —

of this way of salvation The reader will thi n k th at e

had n o t hesitated very lon g poor A u brey seei n g that t e
i n trod u ction the acqu ai n tan ce the love t e e n gageme n t
.

, ,

h hh
, , ,

had all occu rred withi n the small space of on e mon t b u t ,

to the broodi n g spirit the hou rs Of on e i n termi n able day

wh
are lon g en ou gh for a chron icle Somethi n g like the .

phe n ome n aOf love at first sight had occ u rred i n the bleed
i n g yet yo u n g heart which had fel t itself c u t loose from
,

al l the best association s of life Delivera n ce r e creation .

,
-
,

the n e begi nn i n g Of life an d all its possibilities had

gl eamed u pon i m i n Bee s bl u e eyes Her appe aran ce ’

.
 w
T HE S o R C E RE s s .
41

s wept away e very thi n g that was dark and o mi n ou s i n his

l ife Did he dare t o as k f or er han d t o set ou t ag ai n to
.
h , ,

m ake himself a n e career ? He had work e d at that qu es

tion almos t from the first day discu ssin g it with himself ,

f o r the three weeks precedi n g their en gageme n t waki n g

h
,

an d sleepi n g almost witho u t i n termission ; a

,
n d the n i n a
m omen t had forg otte n all con trov ersy a n d le t fort with ,

o u t i n te n tion the words that had bee n l y i n g s o t o speak , ,

an d i n that mome n t al l the

ww h
o n t he threshold of his l ips —

h
c lou ds had bee n swept away H e was on ly eight an d
t w e n ty after all s o yo u n g to ave su ch a past behi n d
im ; a
—
.

h -

w
n d what so n at u ral as that his life sho u ld begi n
ag ai n begi n n o as f or the first time ? H e ad hesitated
,

i n t he first ferv or o f his betrothal whether he shou ld n o t

t e l l all his story Bu t th ere as n o on e to tell it to b u t
.

M r s K i n gs a r d a l ady eve n a yo u ng lady n o t looki n g

w
.
, , ,

m u ch older than Bee herself That is on e o f the draw .

w
b acks of a youn g mother She was still i n the sphere of .

th e girls n ot i n tha t of the ol d ladies whom H ea ven has

,

o rdai n ed t o represe n t the mothers of the race Ho .

cou ld he tel l to her the story of tha t e n tan gleme n t ? If \

C olon el K i ngs a r d had bee n there A u brey was of opi n ion

h h
,

t h at he wou ld h ave made a clean breas t of everythi n g to

h
ww w
im . Bu t I thi nk it very likely that e might n ot h ave
d on e s o He wou ld h av e i nte n ded it an d he wou ld ave
.
,

p u t it Off from day t o day ; an d the n he k n ew how lightly

hm e n o f the worl d look u pon su ch matters

w
Wh at wou ld .

ave horrified Mrs K i n g s ar d ou ld probably call fort h

.

n othi n g b u t a pooh pooh from her h u sba n d -

A u brey as .
,

i t proved was mist ake n there for Colon el K i n gs ar d had

, ,

w
i d eas O f his o n n ot always correspon di n g to those of the
,

o rdi n ar y m a n of t h e worl d ; b u t n o do u b t had he heard

hthe story from that side an d n o t from the o ther he wou ld

h h
ave regarded it i n a very di ff ere n t light
But it was t oo late t o o late f o r t ese reflection s n o
.

hw
, .

w
T e fiat had gon e forth the sen te n ce had bee n pron ou n ced

h
,

b e yon d appeal O h Bee ! Bee ! she was t oo good f o r

h
w
.
,

ma
,

h
n h
i m t oo fre s t oo bright u n su llied by the world for a
o had go n e t hrou g
,

so m u ch already al t hou gh e
, ,

h h
,

as still you n g en o u gh He who had loved an d marri ed .

t ou gh O h how d i Ee r e n t l y l
, ,
poor little Amy o was —
,
 ww
42 T HE So R C E R E ss

hww .

wh
h
n obody whom he had liked for her yieldin g s eetn e s s

h
, ,

s eet n ess which had cost him s o dear ; e o had be e n

a father o had lost his way i n life amid the fogs o f
,

death an d grief how had h e n o dared to t i n k th at

—

s uch a girl as Bee shou ld dedicate her fresh you n g life t o

.

restore him agai n to th e lost possi b il i ti es o f his ? It

seem e d to him the greatest p r esu mption the most dre ad

h h
,

h
w
f ul cyn ical almost bl asphemou s attempt
, ,
It was t e .

way Of the world to t i n k tha t an y woman howe v e r

—

h
,

good migh t be sacrificed to t e n ecessities o f a man s

,
’

restoration whatever he had don e ; e verybody thou g t s o

wh h
,

his O n mother eve n Bu t he Au brey shou ld ha v e

.
, ,

kn own better ; he shou ld have k n ow n that eve n at h is

best he cou l d n ever have bee n good e n ou gh for Bee ; an d

w
t o thi n k that he had dared n o when e was n o lon ger at
his best ! What a fool what a fool he had bee n ! h e ad

h
w w
,

come to be able to en du re the daylight an d get on w e ll ’'

e n ou gh he n he ad arri v ed at the Bath an d see n her first

h h
.

Why h ad he n o t co n te n ted himself w i th that k n owi n g ,

h
that he ad n o right to expect more ? An d n o t ere as
n othi n g n othi n g b efore i m b u t a pl u n ge i n to the n u

w
—

h
u tterable dark n ess darker than ever witho u t any hop e
—

w
, ,

worse almost if worse were possible than when he ad

h
, ,

fled from his home .

H e did n ot k n ow o lon g he had been roam i n g abo u t

w h h
the dark to n p on d er i n g al l these dreadfu l thou ghts .

When he we n t back t o the h o tel which e fi n ally did , ,

worn ou t n o t kn owi n g where else to go on e reproac fu l

w
, ,

aiter w i th eyes that said he o u ght t o have been i n b e d

h
,

lon g ago was waiti n g f or him with a c u r t deman d wh at

w
,

he wo u ld h ave to eat an d all the ou se except that de, ,

s er t e d eati n g room where on e light t

-
i nkled reproachfu l
, ,

like the waiter was sh u t u p H e we nt to his room wh e n

,
.

he had swallo ed some bran dy which was the only th i n g ,

he cou ld fin d to p u t a little warmth i n to his chi l led l im bs

h
an d despairi n g heart an d threw himself miserable u po n

w
,

his bed w ere I h ave n o dou bt he sl ept thou gh he w as

hw w
, ,

n o t aware of i t as Bee did thou gh she had n o i nte n ti o n

—

h
,

o f d oi n g so

hh
.

T e on ly on e o was really a su ff erer i n thi s r e s p e ct

was poor Mrs K i n g s ar d who was ill an d
. o ad b e e n
, ,
 w
T HE SO R C E R E SS

w hw
43

h
.

hh h
w
far more agi t at ed th an e r feebl e s treng th cou ld be a r

h
.

S e it was o la y an d wo n dered al l t hro u gh t e n ight

at she m u st do Was he really gon e withou t a word
h h
wwh
.
,

th u s provi ng o mu ch he was i n t e wrong an d o ,

right the colonel was ? It wou l d have saved h er from a

g r e a t deal o f embarrassme n t b u t I d o ,n o t thi n k Mrs .

K i ngs a r d wished t hat A u b rey mi g ht really h av e gon e

w
.

It was t oo s u mmary it was n ot n atu ral it wo u ld show

, ,

C olon e l K i ngs a rd t o ave bee n t oo righ t O h she b e .

,

l i e v e d he was righ t ! She did n o t d ou b t th at his decision

as f or the best any more than she do u bted that it was

w
h h h h
i n exorable ; b u t st i ll th e heart revolted a little a n d she ,

oped that e mig t n o t be prov ed so u n u tterably rig t

w
as that An d poor Bee poor l ittl e Bee ! She d i d n ot

w
.
,

kn o poor ch ild that there were bitters i n the sweetest

ww
, ,

c u p ; th a t if she had twe n ty years of A u brey she wou ld

w
n o t probably have thou ght q u ite so m u ch Of him as n o ;
t hat n obody as perfect which was a co n viction that had
,

b ee n forced u po n Mrs K i n g s a rd s o n m i n d tho u gh it

’
.
,

as n ot a stron g on e by the passage Of the years An d

, .

t he n the poor lady we n t OE i n to perplexed con sideratio n s

o f what she perso n ally m u st d o M u st b e leave the m all

h
.

at o n ce t rav el home i n a di ff ere n t carriage avoid them

, ,

at t e station s n ot v e n tu re t o com e n ear their table whe n

,

It wou ld seem s o ridicu lou s an d

w
t hey di n ed on th e way ?

w
,

i t wou l d be s o embar rassi n g after t heir very close i n ter

h
c o u rse . Bu t me n n ever thou ght of these little thi n gs
S e fel t su re th a
l e t the t o meet agai n h
t the c ol on el wou ld expect her n ever t o
An d o co u ld she d o that w e n
. h
.

t h ey were both travelli n g the same way ? Besides was i t ,

f air was it j u st wou l d Bee e n du re it n ever t o see him

, , ,

agai n ?

h h Bee woke u p i n all the en ergy of despair It bu rst u pon

h
wh
.

er i n t he first m ome n t of the waki n g that he ad gon e

h h
away t at it was al l over ; b u t her mi n d when it had ti m e

w
,

w
t o t i n k rejected t at idea : he wo u ld n ot co u ld n o t have ,

g o n e witho u t a word ; ithou t eve n sayi n g farewell ; with

h
o t aski g her an ythi n g anythi n g ! to forgi ve him or t o
u n — —

f or g et i m or t o be faithfu l t o i m or n ot t o be l ieve h at

h
, ,

as said agai n st him On e or other of these thi ngs

.

Au brey m u s t s a y to e r before he we n t away Therefor e .

44 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

he cou ld n ot ha ve go n e away an d every thi n g was s t i l l

h hh
,

possible In her passion an d pride she had refu sed l as t

w hh
.

n i g ht to let her mot er tel l her what it was S e ad

h
.

resolved that Au brey shou ld be prese n t ; t at e shou l d

hear the acc u sation ag ai nst him ; that he shou ld give i s
n explan atio n
h
that was on ly j u st she said to herself :
o —

h
,

the poo res t crimi n al ad a right t o that An d Au bre y

h
.

shou ld have i t H e s ou ld n o t whatever papa said an d

w h h
.
,

whate v er mamma said be con dem n ed u n h e ard S e

,
.

dressed i n great haste an d ran g t e bell en ergetically t o

h
as certai n if he had come back Bu t t e chambe rma i d
o a n sw ered Bee s bell was st u pid a n d cou ld n ot u n der
’

stan d what H err it was a bou t who m the yo u ng lad y

.

qu estion ed her so closely H ad he come back ? Oh y e s

w
.
, ,

she believed all the H erren had come b ack there was n o t ,

a bed t o be had i n the ho u se Bu t what Herr was it whom

h
w
.

the graciou s you n g lady sou ght ? The Ol d ge n t l eman i n

the n ext room o was so ill ? she heard that he was a —

h
,

lit t le bet ter this m om i n g or the you n g He rr i n n u mbe r —

w
t en or the Herr whose eyes were so bad
,
o was goi n g ,

to the great doctor at D u sseldorf ? Perhaps poor B e e s ’

G erman was at fa u lt She was stil l attempti n g to ma ke

.

the matter clear when M o u l s e y came i n with the n ew s

that Mrs K i n g s ar d was ve r y poorly an d had n ot sle p t
.
,

at all a stateme n t which Betty ru shi n g i n half dresse d

, ,
-
,

con firmed a n xio u sly Mamma has had a ve r y bad n ight

.
,

an d what is the m atter Bee that we are all at sixes a ,

nd ,

se ve n s an d why did y ou lock you r door ? I came u p as

,

soon as I cou ld as soo n as Charl ie wou l d let me He s ai d

—
.

i t was dreadfu l n obody comi n g down a n d that we m u s t

w w
, ,

ea t t hro u gh the di n n er for the sake of appeara n ces An d .

A u b rey n ever showi n g n ei t her an d me obliged t o slee p

w
,

i n m am m a s room beca u se y ou had locked the door

’
.

“ ” “
I an t to kn o said Bee whether Au brey cam e

h
, ,

back last n i ght

“
O
.

how shou ld I kn ow ? said Betty

, an d y h
h
,
’
shou ld n t he come back ? O f cou rse he m u st have com e

w
back Is he goi n g an ywhere else b u t ome
.
?
I wish p e o
p l e wo u ld n ot get letters said the girl
h Y ou a
ridicu lou s si n ce t ose l e tt e rs c ame l ast n ig t
ar e n ice when they are n ice Bu t O o
r e all s o
Letters
,

m u ch ni cer i t hh h .

,
.
,
w as y e st e rd ay morn i n g whe n y ou had n one an d e were
al l q u i t e happy an d mamma well and Au brey an d y ou
as fu nn y as y ou co u l d b e -
,

There flashed u pon Be e as s e spok e the w ole bright

T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
,
.

h
w 45

w h w
p an oram a of yesterday Not a clou d i n t he sky n or a
“

h
.

t r o u ble i n the world Mamm a as fresh as the mor n i n g

t e ri v er shi n i n g
.

the steamboat thril l i n g throu gh t e h ,

w
,

ater with a shiver o f pleasu re i n its wooden sides every

h
,

g ro u p addi n g am u seme n t a n d they t hems e lv e s a ff ordi n g

h
,

h
i t n o dou bt t o t e rest H o con sciou s they ad bee n

w
.

e n they lau ghed u n der their bre at at the you ng Ger

w
m an pairs tha t they themselves w e re lovers t oo q u ite as

w w
, ,

h appy if n o t so demo ns trati v e O h yesterday yester

,
.
, ,

da y ! Y o u might as ell say las t ce n t u ry f o r a n ythi n g

h
th at resembled it n o
M o u l s ey o stood looki n g on
,
Bee tu r n ed almost fiercely to.

ith that air of k n ow i n g

al l abo ut i t which so Ofte n exasperated the girls an d r e
,

q u ested her to g o dow n stairs im m ediately a n d ask if Mr

h h
, .

Le i gh had come back M o u l s ey hesitated an d protested

h
.

th at t e chambermaid wo u ld k n ow An d y o u t at k n ow .

t e lan g u age Miss Bee

h
,
.

G O down directly a n d i n q u ire if Mr Leigh has come .

b ack . Y ou k n ow the waiter t at speaks su ch good E n g

l ish as well as I do said Bee peremptorily And Mou l ,
.

s e y cou l d d o n oth i n g b u t O bey .

Y e s Mr Leigh had come back ; he had occ u p i e d h is

,
.

r o om b u t was n ot yet u p so far as the atte n dants k n ew

h
, .

There came su ch a cha n ge on Bee s face at this n ews as ’

s tartled bot the c u riou s Observers The l ight gre w less .

fi e rce more l ike the u su al s u nn y brightn ess i n her eyes

,
.

A soften i n g came over her fac e Her color flashed back

h
. .

”
I wan t to k now whe n mamma is com i ng dow n stairs ,

s e sa id M ou l se y o r n o stop I ll go myself an d see ’

—

h
. .
, .

M ou l s ey was so rou sed that sh e ca u ght the you n g lady

by the arm
h
If it was you r papa imse l f my lady sha n t

w
’
.
,
“
An d n ot by y ou M i s s Be e as
‘

b e dist u rbed s e said ,

.
, ,

w
ar e the cau se of it all ; no t if y ou shou ld p u t a k n ife i n to
”
m e afore her door

h
.

H o dare y o u say I am the ca u se o f i t all ?

Becau se i t s the tru th said the e n raged maid S e/
’
. x .
,

as worri t ed e nou gh before by those l etters an d y o u ,

46

w
w wh
comi n g i n like the i n d l ike you r papa himse lf as I al
T HE S o R C E REss .

h
w
h
, ,

ays said y ou ere i s livi n g i mage ; an d sto ppi n g er i n

the middl e of her l ittle b i t o f c u tlet that wou l d ave give n
her stre n g th an d qu estion i n g Of her like adr u m maj or
,
-
,

an d paci n g u p an d dow n o u tside the door l ik e a wild be ast .

Mi n d my words : y ou do n t k n o n on e of y ou how littl e ’

, ,

stre n gth my poor lady s g ot An d you re all s o masterfu l ’

.
’

every on e with mamma here an d mamma t here an d

‘

, ,

you l l n o t fin d ou t t i ll it s tOO late

’ ’

“ “
Bu t mamma s better cried Betty She has take n
’
.
,

her c u re an d she s all ri g h t till n ext year ’

h
.
,
“
I on ly wish as y ou m ay all fin d it so miss s aid Mou l

w w
, ,

sey fol d i n g her arms across er broad chest an d shaki n g

, ,

her head .

Bee was awe str u ck f or a m ome n t by this speech b u t

w
-
,

she kn e that M ou l s ey was al ays a croaker an d it was ,

q u ite tr u e abo u t the c u re She pa u sed a little u n c ertai n .

,

an d the n she res u med i n a s u bd u ed v oice :

w
s

I n ever wan t t o dist u r b mamm a Bu t M ou l s e y e ve .

, ,
’

got to leave here to d ay .

That ca n t be said M ou l s e y dec i s i v ely

’
My lady

h
, .

is n ot fit to trav el after su ch a bad n i ght an d I on t have ,

’

it she said The doctor as p u t my lady i nto m y

h
.
,

han ds an d he says She s n o t t o be overtire d Mi n d I

, ,
‘ ’
.
,

don t respon d f or n o t hi n g if she s ov ertired An d s e

’ ’ ’
.

j u st shan t go That s flat An d y ou may all say what

’
.
’
.

y o u like a,
n d yo u r pap a t o o ,
.

"
N o t to d ay ? sa i d Bee wi th a n other cha n ge of c ou n t e ,

n a n ce I t flashed u pon her that a n other day s d elay wou l d

’
.

give time f or all the explan ation s i n which she cou ld n o t

help hopi n g Her excited p u lses calmed dow n a little

w
. .

She was n o t alarmed a bou t her m other H ad she bee n s o

h
.

it wou l d n o dou bt h ave give n her thou ghts an other di r e c

tion Bu t Bee k n ew n ot i n g of ill n ess m u ch less an y
.

thi n g o f death She as n ot afraid of them In er ex

,

h
h
. .

p er i e n c e people might be ill occasio n ally b u t they always ,

got better Mamma too wou l d be better prese n tly w e n

h
.
, , ,

she g ot u p ; an d the n they cou ld al l meet an d the l etters ,

an d the w ole matter co u ld be disc u ssed An d it seemed .

to b e impossible impo ss ible that from this some better

,

con cl u sion cou ld n ot be arrived at There had be e n s o .

 T H E S OR C E R E SS 47

h
.

w h
mu c con fu sio n last n ight whe n it bu rst upo n them like

h
,

at un derstroke When looked at calmly witho u t fl u rry

hco ld say that all m ght
.

or aste the better mome n t wou ld bri n g be tter views and ,

o u i not yet be well ?

C HAPT E R V I

w w
.

E M BO L DE N E D by this tho u ght Bee we n t dow nsta i r s to

b r e akfa s t wh ich was spread aga i n i n the veran da i n the
,

arm su n shi n e Of the au tu m n al morn i n g The n e hope .

,

th o u gh it w ere a forlorn on e restored her you thfu l ap ,

p etite as we l l as her co u rage an d her ,

co ff ee an d roll were
areal restorative after the lo n g fast an d agitated n ight
B u t there was n o appearan c e of A u brey n either a
table n or i n the passages n or a n ywhere abou t H e seemed
t t e ,

.
h .

t o h a v e d i sappeared as if he had n ever bee n Wh en ’

C h arl ie came dow n from his mother s room where he had

’

bee n sh u t u p with her for some ti me Bee who had n o , ,

ar ic la respect f Charlie s opi io or i cli atio to

’

p t u r or n n n n n
allow him an y a u thority over herse l f s u ch as an elde r

h
,

bro ther i s so metimes s u pposed to have bega n at o n ce to ,

“ “
m
”
q u estio n i Where is A u brey ? she sa i d Why

w
. .

d o es n t he come to breakfast ? Will y ou go a n d look for

’

”
A u brey Charlie ?

h hh
,
“
I n deed I will d o n o s u ch thi n g said Charlie almost ,

I h ope e as had the se nse to go a ay I

‘

ro u g ly . .

s h o u ld j u st like t o see him come calmly dow n to breakfast

as if n othi n g had happen ed An d if he came the n I c an

h
.
,

an swer for it y ou sho u ld n o t be allowed to say a word to

,

i m Bee

w
, .

“
Who sho u ld preven t me ? cried Bee looki n g u p with ,

h er eyes on fire an d her n os trils d i lati n g She had n o t

n oticed before what a clo u d was u po n Ch a
.

rlie s face an d '

h ow heavy an d scowli n g were his brows She adde d .

,

spri n gi n g u p ,
We shall soo n see abou t that I f y o u .

th i n k I shall do what y ou tell me or con dem n an y m an ,

u n h eard
The cad ! He n ever de n ied it Y o u c an as k m am t .

I will n o t a s k a n
y o n e b u t M r Lei g h said . B e e , ,
 w
4 8 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

throwi n g back her head ; an d I advise y ou to 1 1 1 a you r

O n b u si n ess a n d n o t to call n ames tha t may come ba c k

h
,

u pon yo u rs elf .

Stop where y ou ar e Bee I n ever wen t o u t i n to t e

world u n der false preten ces A m an is a cad when e
,
. .

h
h
.

does that

h
.

I s all n ot sto p f or y ou n or any one b u t my pare n ts

h
, ,

said Bee i n a spl en did d u s o f anger her cou n ten an c e

,
.
,

glowi n g er eyes blazin g

,
Stan d ou t of my way O h . .
,

if that is all and y ou wan t t o make a scen e f or the e di fic a

,
”
tion of the tou rists I c an go i n by t he other d o or , .

An d she did so leavi n g Charlie stan di n g fl u shed an d

,

an gry b u t q u ite u n able it n eed scarcely be said t o coerc e

h
, , ,

his sister T O mak e an at t empt of th is ki n d which come s

.

to n ot i n g is con fu si n g an d h u miliati n g H e looked rou nd

h
.

an grily f or a mome n t to see if it were possible to i n terce p t

w
her ; the n yieldi n g to n ecessity sat down w ere Betty
, , ,

eager and f u ll of a thou san d qu estion s sat calli n g f or ex ,

plan ation s That is th e good of a family party there i s

.
,

al ays some on e rea d y to hear what y ou have to say .

Bee wen t at on ce to the E n glish speaki n g wait e r an d -

,

asked for Mr Leigh whom the m an c u riou s as all look

.
, ,

ers on are at a social drama goi n g on u n der their eyes

-
,

declared to be stil l i n his room She se n t him o ff i n stan tl y .

with a message an d s t ood i n the hall awaiti n g his ret ur n

, ,

a ng ry an d brave like the rose i n George Herbert s poe m

,
’

yet soon getti n g shamefaced an d trou bled as the people

h
co mi n g an d goi n g travellers visitors atte n dan ts stared
at er an d bru shed agai nst her as they passed Bee n ever
,

forgo t all her life the gleam of the river at the foo t of the
, ,

.
,

s teps o f which she had a glimpse throu gh the doorway

the Rhi n e barges slowly crossi n g t hat little S pace of visio n ,

the little boats flitti n g across the gleam of the rosy morn
i ng a n d the stro n g d owi n g tide the figu res goi n g u p a
-
nd

h
, ,

down bre aki n g the prospect The m an came back t o h er

w
.

after a time looki n g alf symp athetic hal f maliciou s

w
h w
, , ,

with the message that the gen tlem an was j u s t goin g ou t

h
.

J u st goi n g ou t ! she repeated th e words half con sciou sly .

Was it A u brey that sen t her that message ? Au brey ! o

h e r everyw ere h
yesterday wou ld n ot le t her ou t of his sigh t o fol lo
saw every sign she made heard ever y
,
ed ,

,
w
p a n
rd almos t befor e i t was spok en ! T e su rpr i se a
o
g together
u p s tairs a
made her h e
n d k n ock at his door a
a r t sick
nd call
She
T HE

co u ld n o t
i m ou t impera
So R C E RE s s

nd t e
ru sh .
.

h
h
49

h
h
w
t i v e l y to tell her imme diately what i t a l l mean t ; a t least

h
,

t o u gh it occu rred to her that this wou ld b e the m ost n at

ura

h
l thi n g t o do she did n ot I n timidat e d by t e cir
c u ms ta
,

n c e s by the half impert i n e n ce o f t e aiter by

.

h
w w
-
, ,

t e stare o f the peopl e abo u t she reflected f o r a momen t

h h
,

b re athless l y that h e m u st come ou t this way a n d that if ,

e re m ai n ed there she m u st see i m ; b u t Bee s i n st i n ct

w
’

w
s

hh
o f ayo u n g woma n n o for the firs t time awake ned m ade

w w h
, ,

e r shri n k from th is Whe n sh e was on ly a little gi rl s o

h h
ww
.
,

v ery s or t a time a g o ! she did n o t mi n d o looked at

h
S e
er

h h
,
o p u shed p a st Bu t n o everyth in g was di ff ere nt
.

e n t away stil l holdi n g her head high t ha t n obody

.

h h
,

( above all n o t Charlie a atchi n g her t rou gh the

w
o s

h
,

g l ass o f the vera n da ! s o u ld g u ess t at her co u r age was

h
d r o opi n g ; a n d goi n g i n to the deserted sitti n g room w e re

w
-
,

w
l a s t n ight that blow ad fallen u pon her sat down and

ww
,

rote to her lover a hu rried little n o t e

h h
w w
out
w
h
h O

h h a

wwh, Au b r e y
rd ? DO y ou t
, at i s t matt e r ? H av e y ou d e s e rte d me it
e
ink I am li ke t h em to take u p a

w
o ny r e
o ? I d o
hh
t k a t r r i I d t k o wh a t
’ ’

w
p r t n n o e p o r t t e e s o n n —

i t is t hi s te rr i b l e thi n g t a t as c om e b et e e n u s What i s

w w h hh
. .

I ill take y o u r ord an d n o b o d y e l se s

w w h
I d o n t b e li e ve
’

it?
’

h
.

y o u h ave d o n e an y t i n g t a t i s r o n g A u b r e y ! C o m e a n d

h h
.

tell m e ou t o f y o u r o n mou t I t ol d m amm a l ast n ig t I

.

o u l d ear n ot i n g u n l e ss y o u e re t h ere b u t y o u w ere g on e ,

a ay t h e y s ai d ; an d n o y o u s e n d m e wor d t at y o u ar e g oi ng
,

ou t a nd ca n t s ee me
’

G o in g o u t a n d ca n t s e e me! What ’

w
.

d oe s it a l l me a

w w
n?

h
If i t is s om e f ad Of h on or o f n o t s e e i ng m e ag ai n s t tlzezr w i l l

hw
'

h
w
,

th o u g h I d o t in k y ou r firs t d u t y is t o me Au b re y b efore

w
-

h h
, ,

an y on e el s e i n t e w orl d b u t if it s h ou l d b e s o m am m a il l

w w
—

h
,

b e d o n e re a t t e lve O c l o c k a n d I i n vit e y ou t o m e e t
’

w
—
er

h h
,

at i s s ai d t o ans e r f or y o u rs e lf an d f or m e If

w
to e ar
hh
w w
.
,

hav d a hi w a t d s t a t m a t t r ? d t ’

w
t n n n

w
y o u e o n e n y g r o g o e e o

hh h
,

we al l d o wron g ? an d y s o u l d it co m e b e t e e n y o u a n d

h h
me ? Am I wit ou t s i n t h at I s o u l d t hro sto n e s at y ou ?
h h
Au bre y y ou c an t t r o w e ve ry t i n g a ay
’
i t o u t a ord

h hh
.
,

Y ou ca n t d es e r t m e i t ou t a o rd I can b e ar an y t
'
'
.

an y t ing rat e r t an thi s Y our

, . B
4
 w
w
5 0 T HE So R C E R E s s

h
.

perti n en t waiter o hh
Bee poor child shran k fro m i n tru st i n g this to t e i m
,

ad a leer i n his eye as if he were

defen di n g his o n side from the import unities of th e
,
,

other She we n t ou t fu rt ively i n to the hall an d stu died

w
.

the n u mbers Of the rooms an d n ames of the te n an ts u po n

the board n ece s sity qu icke n i n g her perception s an d the n

h
,

h
,

she stole u pstairs an d gave her poor little appeal i n to the

w
han ds of t e sto u t chambermaid o watched over th at
part of the hotel It was for the Herr i n No : 1 0 and th e
.
,

an swer was t o be bro u ght immediately to the l ittle sal o n

N O 2 0 do n stairs
. E i n e An twort
over agai n in her imperfect S peech
she said over an d
Sc n el l sch n ell !
.

. h ,

w
This with the aid of a thaler for it was before the days
,
—

o f the mark prod u ced perfect u n d erst an di n g i n the mi n d

w
—

w
o f the maid who with becks a n d wreathed smiles a ccept e d

h
,

the comm i ss i on an d i n a shor t time brou gh t her back th e

w
answer f or hich she waited with feveris anxie ty I t .

as v ery m u ch shorter than her o n :

not t

p
I
e a

my da
h
rh
h
w w
hw
w wwwwh hh h
I am

hh
il l
h
g e

rl i n g I i l l
ou
n ot

y
n ot s n c e
o
i
,
r e r
o

s
rt
ake ad van tag e o f y ou r i n n o c e n c e ;
alt o e t r t an n d u a
y
it
o
y

u
t o

s ta
st

il l it
an d b e fo r e y o u

so .l
n d u p b e for e y o u r m o t e r a
t en
nd sa
At
y w at
t
.

l
I c an n o t an d I mu st
b e tt e r I s o u l d d i s a

e v e O c o c k,
’
at t

,
p
ey s ay .

,
Bu t
Be e,

I c an f o r m y s e lf B ee m y o n d e a r e s t m y on l y op e !

h
.
, ,

The last was scrawled across the paper as if e had p u t

w w h
i t i n after the despair of the former part It was this that .

the poor little girl fixed u pon the sweet words to which s e ,

had bee n accu stomed which her heart was fai n ti n g for , .

It a s n o t on e wo u ld have sa i d a ve r y cheerfu l n ote for

‘

, ,

a love letter Bu t Bee was ridicu lou sly cheered by it

-

h h
. .

So lo n g as she was his o n dearest his hope his darl i n g

h
, ,

s o lo n g as there was n o chan ge i n i s love for e r

wh
—

why then i n the lon g r u n whatever was said ever yt i ng

, , , ,

m u st come right .

I n eed n ot follow Bee t o her mother s be d side whe n ’

Mrs K i n gs ar d woke an d f o r the first mome n t did n o t

w
.
,

remember what had happen ed .

Is that y o u Bee ? s e sai d smili n g n o t thi n ki n g

, ,
, , .

h
Ar e y o u better m amma
”
?
,

O yes j u st i n m y u su al said M r s K i n g s a
, , rd And ,
.
.
 T HE SO R C ERESS 5 1

hhadhoa eghher h
.

w
t en a f ller sigh
s e da ght s face
c u t u t of er u er
’

h
.

Be e s al pretty color the l igh

n n her of u u ; t in
ey was like fire
es mother gave a little fe bl cry T e e e

h
.
,

a nd amome t a in lo ger her s al lost n s no n in u u but in

h Bee h
,

t feve ish mis s

e a ro ble far
r gr at her to t of t u t oo e f or
bear . Bee “
O , ! o ,
!
”

W had be ter a a ythi g abo t it m am ma t

w w
e n ot s y n n u , ,
to
ag i t ate y ou I h ave told him y o u will be r eady a t twelve

h
.

O c l o ck that I may k n ow what the story i s a n d what he

’

, ,

as t o s ay ”
.

M rs K i n gs a . r d st r u ggled u p t o a S i t ti n g posit i on .

A t twelve O clock ? n o ! I can n ot I cannot ! th en she

’”
,

dr o p pe d back u pon her pillo s sobbi n g Oh Bee spare , , ,

m e I am n ot eq u al to it There is Charlie c an read

w
.
,
”
you r papa s letter Bee Bee l ’

hh
.
,

cried Bee with a flash o f fu r y Who is

h
w
.

Ch arlie th a t e s ou ld sit i n j u dgm e n t on Au brey an d me ?

If e has an ythi n g to d o with i t I tell y ou mamma I ill

h
, ,

h
,

g o a way I will g o with

. A u brey I will n o t hear a word . .

Bee ! cried Mrs K i ng s ar d holdi ng o ut her ot

”

h
O ,
.
, ,

fe v e rish han ds I am n o t fit for it ! I am n ot fit for it !

“

w
,

If I am t o travel to morrow ask M ou l s ey I ou g t to - — —

s t o p i n bed an d b e q u iet al l day .

”
I don t see that it m at t ers said Bee st e r nly whether
’

, ,

e travel to mo r r ow or i n a week T o go home will be

-
.

”
n o pleasu re to m e

h h
.

If we w ere there the n p apa cou ld man age i t all him ,

s e l f ; he is t e proper perso n On a j ou rn ey is n ot t e .

ti m e t o settle thi n gs S O importan t I will write an d tell

w
.

h im I have p u t it all o ff an d have n o t said an yth i ng till

h
, ,
”
h e co u ld do it hi m self .

Bu t that will n ot be tru e cried the yo u n g R a dama n ,

th u s i n exorable ith her blazi n g eyes

h
.
, ,
“
Oh Bee ! y ou are dreadfu lly dreadfu lly hard u po n
, ,
”
m e ! t e poor yo un g mother said This is the drawback Of .

bei n g s o you n g a m other j u s t as you n g as y ou r grown u p ,

-

ch ildren It is v ery delightfu l when al l is su nny an d

.
.
,

br i ght b u t i n a great e merge n cy like this it i s tryi n g for

,

al l parties whe n a girl s mother is o n ly so t o speak a

h
’

h
, ,

girl like herself Bee l ifted u p er abs ol u te you n g he .

a n d g ave fo rth er u ltima t u m u n mov ed .

 T HE S O RC E R E SS

h
.

my h c tha h
Well mamm a i t m u st be as y ou choose If y ou t i n k

headache to yo rself I h a e at rally oth

w
, , .

appi ess is of less co seqn ch a ce n u en e n t e n of a

Ah eadache That was all h

g more say u v n u n in to

a was ready by twel e o clock m c h

, .

k ew ! S e n .

Mrs K i n gs rd v
’
.
.

,
u
agai s n t M ou l s ey s
will who dressed her m stress der ’

, i un
prot e st I ai n t on e t o i n terfere with what s goin g o n
.
’ ’

i n a family said M ou l s e y as she combe d o u t the lon g

, ,

locks tan gled with the restlessn ess of a trou bled n igh t
, ,

which were as silky an d as smooth as Bee s I m on l y ’

.
’

a servan t an d I kn ows my place ; b u t you re not fit to

,
’

stru ggle among t hem you n g on es The n u rsery c hildre n .

,

it s all very well ; if they re n au ghty y ou whip th em or

’ ’

y o u p u t them i n the cor n er an d there s a good cr y an d ,

’

all r i ght agai n Bu t whe n it comes t o a b u si n ess with a

h
w
.

you n g lady an d a gen tlem an the colon el ou ght t o hav e ,

come himself or e o u ght to have p u t it OE till we all go t

h h
,

home .

O I wish I wis he had ! Mrs K i n g s ar d sai d

,
”
,
.
,

sighi n g I am n o t i n the l east what I u sed to b e M o ul

.
,

sey ; don t y ou thi n k I am very di ff ere n t from what I u se d

’

h
”
to be ? I h av e n o t half the stre n gth .

“
T ere Often is said M ou l s e y a time whe n a lad y

h
, ,

isn t s o strong after all these childre n an d everythi n g It

’

h
,

h
.

takes a deal ou t of y o u it do An d I don t hold m u c ,

.
’

with them foreign c u res I m on e t at stan ds for ome .

’
.

An d there s where y ou ou ght to be m a am whatever any

’ ’

h
, ,

o n e may say .

I am su re it is where I wish to be said t e poor l ady , ,

b u t we m u st n o t be u n j u st M o u l s e y My c u re did m e a ,
.

great deal of good an d I liked be i n g ou t an d seei n g every ,

thi n g j u st as m u ch as the girls .

That is j ust it ma am said M ou l s e y ; you re a dea l ,

’

,
’

t o o m u ch the same as the yo u n g ladies a n d can t make u p

’

you r mi n d as y ou ha ve n t the stre n gth f or it Im n ot ’

.
’

on e to ask a n y q u estio n s b u t I can t help seei n g there s

’ ’

h
,

somethi n g wron g Do n t y ou give i n to Miss Bee i n .

’

everythi n g I wou ld n t go dow n t o make u p t e qu arre l

.
’

if I was y ou Leave e m to themselves an d it ll all com e ’ ’

hh
.

ri ght Bless u s lovers q u arrels is n othi n g i t wou ld n t

.
,
’
—
’

be a lf t e f u n if it wasn t f or that ’

\
.
but
it w
M k n ew very well this as n o lovers qu arrel ;
ou l s e y
h
it s e emed to e r a good way of satisfyi n g herself wh at
as
T HE SOR C E R E SS

w .

’
53

h
.

“ ”
Oh,
if that were all ! sighed the poor lady M ou l .

s e y y ou a
,
re an ol d frie n d a nd t a ke an i nterest i n t e family .

Y o u ha v e k n ow n Miss Bee si n ce ever she was born I .

d o n t k n ow why I shou ld n t tell y o u I is n o q u arrel ;

’ ’
t .

i t s somethi n g the colon el has heard abou t Mr L e i g

’

w h
.
,

All lies ma am I don t make n o man n er o f dou bt ’ ’

h
, , .

DO y ou thi n k so M ou l s ey o do y o u thi n k s o ? Have ,

—
,

y o u eard an ythi n g ? Y o u ofte n k n ow more heari n g the ,

h
s e r va n ts sp e ak t ha n

u al l my life
e do

t r o w on the s u bj ect Oh d o so d o !
If y o u hav e an y light t o
,

I S hall be gratefu l t o , ,
.

y o

h h
.

I don t kn ow as I h av e an y light t o throw I kn ew as

’
.

t e re was some trou ble a t the time t e poor you n g lady

h
d i e d some frie n d of hers as Mr Leigh bei n g a ki n d
h
—
.
,

ea r ted ge n tle m an cou ld n t t u r n ou t of t e ho u se an d it ’

—
,

m ade a talk ; b u t if there was an ythi n g wron g y ou take

m y word ma am it was n o n e o f his fau lt
’

, , .

Ah it s s o e asy t o say that M ou l s e y ; b u t the man

,
’

,
”
m u st bear the blame .

“
I ve always heard ma am as i t was the woman that
’ ’

h
w
, ,

g o t the blame ; an d right e n o u gh f or they Ofte n deserve ,

i t t e most M ou l s e y said , .

O h I wish Iwish whoever was to bl a — me that it was

w
, , ,

n o t I tha t had t o clear it u p

”
poor Mrs K i n gs ar d said
:

,
. .

h
.

O
h r cu s ed s pi t e
h
w
, ,

T a v r t e e I as b o rn t o s et it r i g t .

h S wo ld
h ave tho gh it u
e
S
have said this poor l ady She wou ld
ea
u
ring a
not
n d u n becomi n g f or a woma n s
,
.

l i p s ; s t ill H amlet s se n time n t was hers with m u ch

,
’

w
s t r o nger r eason She looked like an yth i n g b u t a stron g

h
.

re prese n tative of j u stice as she wen t dow n stairs Charlie .

a d com e t o give her his a rm a

w
n d tho u gh he was v ery

h
,

t e n der of her Charlie had n o idea Of spari n g her a n y more

h
,

t an Bee H e t oo tho u ght that it a s o n ly the risk o f a

h
.
, ,

e ad a che a n d t ha t a headache was n o s u ch great matter

,

C a r l i e s i dea a s how e ver that what the govern or

’

, ,
w w
54

as of all thi n gs earth the most import an t t o b e c ar

T HE SO R C ERE SS .

w
on

h
, ,

ried out especial l y he n it did n o t con cer n h imself

—

h
.

Bee was S itti n g at the wi n dow looki n g o u t u pon t e

h
,

h
river se e i n g th e reflection s flash and the boats pass T e
steamer h ad j u st started ith its lively freight t e ste am
boat which had b rou ght t em dow n the stre am yesterd a
,
.

hw
h h
,

with all its chan gi n g grou ps an d the pairs of Germ an

w
,

lo ver s with t e i r ar m s abo u t each other i n t e beatitu d e

.

h
of t he betrothal All j u st the same bu t how di ff ere n t

hw w w w
,
.
,

o di ff ere n t ! She did n ot rise bu t on ly tu rn ed e r ,

hea d when her mother came i n She as the o ther si de . .

She did n o t see w ith so m an y other thi n gs i n her he ad

, ,

o fragile Mrs K i n gs ar d looked Betty as the on l y

. .

o ne who perceived at all that mamma as less stro n g

h
w
than u su a l an d eve n Betty took n o n otice for she t o o
, , , ,

was o n the other side As for C arl ie he stood b ehi n d

h
wh
.
,

her a sort of represe n tative o f execu tive force at the b ack

h
,

o f J u stice backi n g her a u t ority u p It was h e o ar

h
.
,

ran ged er chair her foot stool the shawl M ou l s e y h ad -

h
, ,

i n sisted she shou l d wear an d which Charl i e o kne w , ,

n othi n g abo u t s awls h u ddled u p abo u t her n eck n o t u n

h hh
, ,

l ike the j u dge s ermi n e He did it all n ot with sym p a

’
.
,

thetic t ou c es as the girls wo u ld have don e had t ey n o t

been o n the other side b u t rather with an eye t o e r ,

dign ity as a represe n t ati ve o f the law

w
.

An d the n j u st as the ho u r of n oon so un ded from all the

,

ch u rch clocks A u brey came i n He was very pale b u t

h
, ,
.

dressed with care 1 1 0 symptoms of n eglect abo u t him with

, ,

an air o f preparat i on which became a m an

.

o was goi n g

h
to stan d his trial Bee j u mped u p from her seat an d we n t
h h
w h
.

u p to i m p u tti n g er ha n d thro u gh i s a
,
rm a n d Betty , ,

frighte n ed with a gla n ce at her mother O ff ered i m a

w
, ,

timid han d She sat dow n behi n d them on a chair th at

.
,

was ran ged agai n st the wall The defe n dan t s side as ’

w hhw
.

her S ide Sh e wan ted t o S how that an d yet n ot t o g o

.
,

agai n s t mamm a Charlie took n o n otice at all of the n e

.

comer b u t stood scowli n g looki n g at n obody behi n d h i s

, , ,

mo t her s chair Mrs K i n g s ar d frighten ed at er o n

’
. .
,

dign ity an d breathless with agitation cried O Mr

h
, , , , .

Leigh ! which was a ki n d of sal u tation She had som e

”
.

p pa e rs i n her lap o ver whic her ha n ds fl u t te red restlessly

, ,
 T HE SO R C ERESS 55

h h
.

ok d at h
h s a d l tt r a somethi g l b i des and s e

w
nd
’
er u b n s e e n e se es

f h
,

c lpr whom h
,

lo e gro p b for her with a littl

t e u e e e d u bi ou s s mil e

m ch agai st hwill
,

a ki g p ado
s n r nhad O t e u it s e co m e h e re Oh , ,

so u his life
n er ,
t o try f or .

No m amma sai ,
a ch f l , d Be e , i n ee r u v oic e , we ar e
q u it e re ady Au brey ,
an d m e

CHAPT E R VII

www
.

h
w
M K IN G S W AR D S open i n g speech a s a on d e r t o hear
’
RS

h
. .

S e sat a n d looked at them all f or a mome n t , t r yi n g t o

h
s teady herself , b u t there was n othi n g t o st e ady her i n
s e saw be for e her Au brey an d Bee , the pair .
at
o had
b ee n SO swe e t to s e e , su ch a diversion i n all circu mstan ces ,
h
s o am u si ng i n their m u t u al absor ption , s o delightf u l i n
h
w
t h e ir roman c e It all flashed back to er mi n d the ex
c i tem
.
,

w
e n t o f Bee s first proposal the pleasu re o f s e ei n g
’

,
“

w
her bairn respected like the lave thou gh Mrs Ki n gs

h
.
,

ar d might n o t have u n derstood what th e se words mean t

h
,

t e little tri u mph it was t o se e her child e n gaged at n i n e

t e en whe n e v er y body said ther e
,
as n ob od y for t e girls
t o marry an d n o to have that tri u mph t u rn ed i n to
—

h u miliatio n an d dismay ! And t o thi n k of Bee s bright

w
’

fac e o vercast an d her happi n ess over an d poor Au brey

w
, ,

thrown ou t i n t o the u ttermost d ark n ess H ad she see n

'

h
.

Ch arlie it might have give n her some su pport f or Charlie ,

as t e imperson ation of immov able se v erity ; b u t Betty s ’

istfu l little face behi n d the other pair c om i n g ou t from ,

A u brey s shadow by mom en ts t o fix an appeali n g look

’

u p on her mother was n ot calc u lated t o mak e her a

h e r voic e
.
,

stron ger She cleared her throat s e tri ed hard t o steady

”
Sh e said O h my dear childre n falteri n g ;
.
ny
— h
, , ,

an d then the poor l ady en ded i n a bu rst of sobbi n g an d

tears It gave her a littl e sti n g an d stim u lan t t o see

h
wh
.

throu g h her weepi n g that thou gh little Betty r an toward

h er with kisses a n d soothi n g Be e took n o n otice b u t stood

ard an d un a ff ected i n h er opposition holdi n g close to
A u bre y s arm Mrs Ki n g s ar d i n deed g ot n o sy mpathy
’
. .
,

,
,

e x c ept from little Betty Ch arlie p u t i s han d impera .

 6 T HE S OR C E R E SS
s .

ti v e l y pon her shou ld er recalli ng her t o h e rs elf and

u

h
, ,

Bee n ev e r move d stan di n g by th e side o f Au brey Leigh

h
ww
.
,

(T e mother th u s d e serted
,
pl u cked u p a littl e S pi r i t i n ,

t e mid s t of her w e ak n ess .

Bee she said I d o n ot t hi n k it i s qu ite n ice of y ou

, ,

t o sta n d there a s i f you r o n people were ag a i n st y ou .

We are n ot agai n st y ou There has bee n I fear a great .

, ,

mistake made which Colon el Ki n g s ar d ,

”
here she —

tu rn ed her eyes t o Au brey has fou n d ou t i n i n time ; —

thou gh it is a pity a sad pity that it was n ot fou n d o u t, ,

before If Mr Au brey had on ly bee n fra nk and said at

. .

on c e b u t I don t see what diff eren ce that wou ld have

’
—

mad e Papa says that from what he has heard an d dis

.

cove red thi n gs m u st n ot g o any f u rther H e is sor ry an d .

,

so a m I that they have gon e s o far ; a

,
n d the e n gageme n t
”

w
m u st be b roken Off at o n ce Y ou hear what I say Bee ? .
,

I heard y ou say s o last n ight mamma b u t I say it i s , ,

my e n g age me n t an d I h ave a right t o k n ow why I d o

h
, .

n ot mea n t o break it O E
—

ca how c an I e nter
“
Oh o ,
n I make expl an ation s —

i n to s u ch a qu est i on ? I appeal to y ou Mr Au brey tel l ,

.
—

her

hw
.

“
She ou ght n ot t o ask an y explan at i on s She is a .

mi nor u n der age My father has a right t o d o whatever

,
.

he pleases an d she has n on e t o ask why

w
— .

This was o Charl i e reason ed o n the height of h is

o ne a-
n d twen ty years-
Charlie was the i n tolerable ele
.

m en t i n all this qu estion Au brey cast a look at him

h
.
,

an d forcibly closed his o n lips to keep i n somethi n g

t at was bu rsti n g forth Bee defied him as was n at u ral

h
w
.
, ,
”
o n the spot I will n o t have Charlie p u t i n his Opi n ion
.
,

she cried H e has n ot i n g to d o with me E ve n if I

. .

obeyed papa I certai n ly shou ld n ot Obey him .

Let Au brey say himself said Mrs K i n gs ar d

w
, .
,
”
whether y ou ou ght t o be told everythi n g Bee , .

I t is cru el to ask m e said A u brey speaki n g for the

w
, ,

first time If Bee co u ld k n ow all if y ou cou ld k n ow all

.
, ,

Mrs K i n gs ar d Bu t how cou ld I tell y o u all ! Part o f

. .

this is tru e an d part is n ot tru e I cou ld speak to Colon el .

Ki n g s a r d more freely I am goi n g OE t o n ight t o L on .

-

d on t o s ee him It will free y ou from embarrassment

.
,
 T HE So R C E RE s s

w
.
57

a n d it will give m e perhaps a cha n ce I did n ot wan t to .

p u t y o u t o this tria
‘

l I a m ready t o p u t
. myself u n r e

s er v e dl y i n Colo n el K i n g s ar d s h an ds ’

w
.

” “
The n said Bee hast ily it seems I am O f n o sort o f
, ,

i mpo rtan ce at all to a n y on e I am tol d my e n gageme n t

h
.

i s broken OE a n d then I am told that I am n o t t o k n ow

,

y,
an d t he n g o the n A u brey —
as that is yo u r choice
, , ,

an d fight it ou t with papa if y ou pleas e She loosed her .

ar m from his with a slight impu lse pu shi n g him away

, ,
.

“
Bu t j u st mi n d this e ve r ybody
. she cried , y o u may , ,

t hi n k little o f Bee b u t my e n gageme n t S hall n ot be

—

b ro ke n by a n ybody b u t me a n d it shall n ot be kept o n by ,

an ybody b u t me ; an d I will n either give it u p n or will I

hold t o it n either o ne n or the other u n til I k n ow why

h
, .
,

The n the j u dge an d the defen dan t looked each other i n

t e face They were as may be s u pposed on opposite

w
,
.
,

s ides b u t they w e re the on ly two t o con s u lt each other i n

h
,

this e mergen cy A u brey respon ded b y a movemen t Of .

i s head by a sli g h t throwi n g u p o f his han d t o the

, ,

q u estio n i n Mrs K i n g s ar d s eyes .

’
.

Then y ou shall k n ow as m u ch as I c an tell y ou Bee ,

.

h
Y ou r father had a letter last week from a lady telli n g
i m that she had a revelation to make
you r father H e felt t hat he m u st k n ow what it mean t
.
The letter alarmed
,

.
,

H e cou ld n o t go himself b u t he se n t Mr Passavan t the

h
, .
,

l awyer The lady said that she had l ived i n Mr Leigh s

. .
’

ou se f or years i n th e time Of his late wife She said

, .

M r Leigh had had behav ed very badly to her

.
—
.

That I do n ot believe said Bee ,

.

The words flashed ou t like a k n ife They m ade a stir

h
wh
.

i n the air as if a s u dden g leam a d come i n to it An d .

the n all was still agai n a stran ge dead qu iet comi n g after , ,

i n which Bee perceived Au brey sile nt coveri n g his face ,

ith h is han d It came across her with a su dde n pan g

w
.

that s e had heard somebody say this morn i n g or last

“ ”
n ight H e did n ot den y i t
,
.

An d that he had promised her marriag e that he — —

h h as en gaged t o her as good as as good as married t o

h
—
,
'

er ; whe n e had the cr u elty O my dear child my dear , ,

child ! to come t o y ou .

Aub r e y took his h an d away from his whit face

;
.
5 8 T HE So R C E RE s s .

w
That he s aid i n a stra nge dead t u n eless voice
, , , , ,

n ot tru e

h
.

O h more shame to y ou A u brey more shame t o y o u

h
, , , ,

cri ed Mrs Ki n gs ar d forg etti n g er j u dicial ch aracter i n

.
,
“
her i n dign ation as a woman if it is n o t tru e ! S e ,

pau sed a mome n t to draw her breath the n added Bu t , ,

i n deed y ou were n o t s o wicke d as y ou say for it is tru e ,

.

An d here is the eviden ce

w hh
Oh she cried with tears i n .
, ,
“
her eyes it m akes you r con d u ct t o my child worse ; b u t
,

it S hows th at y o u were n ot then n ot the n as bad as y ou , ,

say .

Bee had drop ped i n to the chair that as n ext to er ,

and there sat f or her limbs had s o trembled th a

,
t s e
cou ld n o t stan d watchi n g him n ever taki n g her e y e s
, ,

from him as if he were a book i n which the i n terpre t at io n

w
,

o f this mystery was

Never mi n d abou t me he said hoarsely I say n o th

w
, ,

i n g f or myself Allow me t o be as bad as a m an can b e ;

.

b u t that is n o t tru e An d h at i s the eviden ce ? Y ou .

n ever told m e there was a n y evide n ce .

“
Sir said Mrs Ki n gs ar d fu lly rou sed I told y ou
,
.
, ,

w
all that was i n my h u sban d s letter last n ight ’

h h
.

Yes that she a sort of sh u dder se e med to r u n ov er

—
,

i m t o the kee n sight of the watchers

,
that s e said —

so Y o u don t k n ow as I d o that M at is n o eviden ce Bu t

.
’
.

y o u speak n o as i f there was somethi n g more ”

.

She to o k a piece Of folded paper fro m her lap Th e re

w
is this sh e said a l etter y ou wrote t o her the morn i n g
,
:

y o u we n t away .

I did write her a letter he said ,

.

Mrs K i n g s ar d held it o u t t o him b u t was stopped by

w
,
.

Charl ie who p u t his han d on her ar m

,
Keep the d oc u
men t mother Don t p u t the evide n ce agai n st him i n to ’

h h
.
,

a man s power I ll read i t if Mr Lei g h thi n ks proper

’
.
’
. .

O n ce more A u brey a n d Bee t og e t er i t a S im u lta n e

o u s imp u lse looked at this i n tru der i n to their stor y .

Mamm a l se n d him away I shou ld like t o kill him ! .

said Bee betwee n her cli n ched teeth .

Be q uiet Charlie Mr Leigh I am re ady t o p u t thi s

,
. .
,

or a
”
n y other evide n ce agai n st y ou i n to you r han ds .

H e bowed very gravely an d the n stood on ce more as i f ,

hwch reh
e
mu
m ad
e sto e
a itated face fl shed
er
, g
i n a low fl u tteri n g voice,
u
e of
“
It begi
My d e ar little wife
ns she
T HE

ar d faltered very
n
said
.

,
SO

M
R C ERESS

rs . K i n gs
.
.

w '

,
59

w
Then there came a very stran ge sou n d i nto the agitated
s ile n ce f o r A u br e y Leigh on tr ial f or more than his life
, , ,
”
h e re lau ghe d What more what more ? he said
.
, .

N O it is n ot that
,
It is Id on t want m y dear li t tle
— .
‘ ’
—

ife to b e trou bled a b ou t an ythin g It c an all be don e .

q u ite easily and qu ietly wi t hou t givi n g an occasion for

w
,

p e ople t o talk ; a settleme nt made an d ever ythi n g y o u

c ou ld desire I s hall make arran gemen ts abo u t every
.

It is sign ed A L an d it is i n you r han d

ww
thi n g t o day -
. . .
,

riti n g Be e y o u c an s e e it is i n his h an dwriti ng look

. ,
,
—

"
f o r you rself .

Bee wou ld n o t tu rn her head She th ou gh t she saw the .

r iti n g writte n i n fire u po n the air a l l his familiar tu rn s

w
—

i n it
. H o wel l she k n ew the A L b u t she did n ot look . .
,

at it wou ld no t look
,
She had e n ou gh to do looki n g at
.

h is face which was the letter the book she was stu dyi n g

ww
—
,

no .

NO do u bt it is my han dwriti n g he said o n ly i t was , ,

-

ad dressed not t o an y other woman b u t t o my wife ”

,
.

You r ife died t o years ag o Mr Leigh ; an d that

w
.
,

i s dated Christmas this ye a

"
r —
.

That is a lie he cried ; the n restrai n e d himself pai n

f u lly Y o u k n ow I don t mea n y o u b u t the date a nd
’
—
.

the assu mption is e ntirely a lie Give me time an d I ill .

tel l y ou exact l y when it was written I remem ber the .

l etter It was when I had promised Amy to provide f or

.

h er frie n d on con dition that she S ho uld be sen t away f or —

she mad e my ho u se miserabl e .

“
An d yet a n d yet Mr Leigh oh don t y ou s ee how
, ,
.
—
,
’

the thi n gs con tradic t each other ? She made you r hou se
m iserabl e a when you r wife was de ad an d y ou

w
n d yet ,
—
,

were free

h He looked at her g rowi n g paler an d paler

e said
,
An d yet !
I k n ow what y ou mean That is the i n fern al
.

ar t of it M y o n folly h as cu t the grou n d from be n eath

.
.
.

my fee t an d pu t w e apon s i n to every han d agai n st me I

hh
.
,

know I kn ow
. .

Agai n t here ca me i n t o Bee s mi n d the words s e ad ’

60 T H E SOR C E R EGS

h
.

h e ard las t n igh t : H e d oes n o t den y it An d y e t e

w
.

was de n yi n g it with al l his mi g ht D enyi ng a n d n ot .

de nyi n g what ? The girl s brai n was all i n a m a

—
ze
’

an d sh e cou ld n ot tell .

“
Y ou see said Mrs K i n gs ar d g en tly
,
Oh I am . .
,

sorry for y ou i n my heart Perhaps y ou were led i nto— a .

conn ection tha t y ou feel n ot to b e desirable That I c an —

.

u n d erstan d Bu t that y ou sho u ld t hi n k y o u cou ld save

.

you rself by mean s of an i n n oce n t girl almost a child an d , ,

impose you rself n a family that had

o n o s uspicion s Oh
—
,

Mr Leigh Mr Leigh ! y ou ou ght t o have died s oon er

.
, .

”
than have do n e that

h
.

H e looked at her pit e ou sly f or a momen t a n d the n a ,

dreadfu l sort of smile came upon i s face I allow he .

,

said that that wou ld have been the best

,
.

An d there fell a silen ce u pon the room The s u n was .

shi n i n g ou tside an d the sou n d of the water g u rgli n g

,

agai n st the side of boats an d of all the commotion of th e ,

lan di n g place an d o f the h u n dreds Of voices i n the air

-
, ,

an d o f the chimi n g O f the clocks cam e i n an d filled th e ,

place An d j u st the n there b u rst ou t a carillon from on e

.

o f the steeples setti n g the whol e to m u sic harmon izi n g

w
,

all the discords an d sweepi ng i n to this sile n ce with a

,

su dden ru sh of sou n d as if some bodily prese n ce had come

in . It was the tou ch t oo m u ch for al l these excited an d
trou bled people Mrs K i ng s ar d lay back i n her chair. .

an d began to weep silen tly Au brey Leigh t u rn ed away

h
.

from where he was stan di ng an d lea n ed his head u pon

w
the wall As f o r Be e , S e sat qu ite stil l dazed n ot abl e
.
, ,

to u n derstan d b u t cru shed ou t o f all her you thfu l self as -

h
,

sertion an d deter mi n ation t o clear it all u p She to clear .

it u p who did n ot eve n u n derstan d it

—
o cou ld n ot ,

fa thom what was mean t That there was somethi n g more .

th an met the eye somethi n g that was n ot p u t i n to words

w
, ,

seemed to show vag uely throu gh the words that were said .

Bu t what it was Bee cou ld n o t tell She cou ld n ot u nder .

st an d i t a t all An d y e t that there was a fatal O bstacl e

.

risi n g u p bet e en her an d her l over somethi ng which n o ,

o n e co u ld disperse o r clear away ; n o t a mi s take n ot a

h
\ ,

falsehood n ot a thi n g that cou ld be passed over t r i u m

,

p a n t l y an d forgotte n n o t as yo u th i s s o q u ick to b—eli e v e ,

 T HE So R C E RE ss . 61

amere severity tyrann y arbitrar y con cl u s i on O f papa— she

w h
, ,

felt i n every fibre of her frame She cou ld n ot den y it or

w
.

stru ggle agai n st it ; er very bei n g seemed para l yzed

w h
w
.

The mean i n g we n t o u t of her face her absol u te certai n

w w h
, , ,

h
i m p erio u s you thfu l n ess died ou t Of her She o loved
‘

t o av e her o n way who had j u st protested that s e

w w
,

o u ld n either give u p n o r hold fast except by her o n

h h
ill an d u n derstan di n g n o sat d u mb vag u ely stari n g
s eei n g sha dows p a ss before her an d eari n g Of thi n gs
, , ,

ww
,

h ich w ere u n de n iable mig ty thi n gs far more po erfu l

, ,

th a n her l ittle hot reso l u tion s an d determi n atio n s Bee .

h ad n ever yet come face to face with an y trou ble wh ich

w
co u l d n ot be smoothed away There as her o n .

n a u ghti n ess there were Charlie s escapades at school a nd

’

c ollege — some of which she had k n own were seriou s .

Bu t i n a l i ttle hile they had bee n passed over a n d f or

g otte n
,
an d everythi n g had bee n as before O n e time she

h
.

rem embered papa had threate n ed n ot to l et Charlie go

h h w
back to H arrow w ich was a d readfu l thi n g exposi n g
, ,

im a n d his n a u gh t i n ess t o all the world Bu t after a .

wh ile papa had cha nged his mi n d an d every t i n g had gon e

w
,

s m oothly as before Cou ld papa chan ge his m i n d n o ?

h h
.

Wo u ld ti m e m ake it eve n if he did as it was before ? Bee

wh
, ,

ad n ot me n tal power e n ou gh to t i nk these th i n gs or ask ,

th ese q u es tion s of her o n will Bu t they we n t throu gh .

h er m i n d as people come i n an d go ou t by an open door .

It as A u brey who was the first to speak The carillo n .

s topped or else t ey g o t used to th e so u n d a n d took n o

f u rther n otice Of it an d he collected himsel f an d c ame '

w
,

forward agai n to the mid d le o f the room H e said : I

w
.

k n ow it wil l be a relief that I shou ld go away There i s

w
.

an aftern oon trai n which I shall take It is slow b u t it .

,

does n ot matter I shall be as ell there as an ywhere

.

o r as i l l. I shall go direct to Colo n el K i n g s ar d an d l ay

m y whol e case before h im He ill perhaps con fron t m e

h
.

with my acc u ser I hope s o i f n o t he wil l at least hear —

w
—

w at I have to say for myself

h
“
O h Mr Le i gh ! O
, .

t i n g b u t well whatever whatever may be don e !

h
A u brey ! I ca n t wish y ou an y
”
—
,
.

Thank y ou Mrs K i n gs ar d I looked f or n oth i n g less

, .
,

fr om y our ki n d h e art Wi l l y o u g iv e me that le t t e r ?

.
”
62 T HE SO R C ERESS

w
.

She p u t i t i n to his h a n ds wi t ho u t the l e a s t h e sitati on

an d he exami n ed i t— with a sort o f s trai n ed s mil e u po n i s
face “
. I shou ld like to take this back to Colon el K ing s
h
,

ward he sa i d The n added q u ick l y i t h a short lau g h

,
.
,
“
No I forgot ; there might b e su spicion s Se n d it bac k

h
.
,

t o him please by the first post that he may have it whe n

w
, , ,

I g e t there H e g ave the l ett e r back an d the n e looked

.
,

h
”
rou n d wistf ully May I say g oo d b y t o Bee ? .
-

She got u p at t e word s feeli n g herself va gu ely called ,

u pon yet q u ite du ll d u mb

— ith all sorts of thou ghts
, ,

goi n g goi n g an d c om i n g thro u gh t hose wide Open doo rs

,
-

of her mi n d thou ghts l ike strays which she se e med t o

—

see as they passed E ve n Au brey himself appe ared a

h
.

ghost She got u p an d stood awaiti ng him when he ap

.

p r o ac e d her n o t p u tti n g o u t a,
fi n ger Nobody i n ter .

fe t ed n ot eve n Charlie who was fu mi n g i n tern ally yet

, , ,

somehow did n o t move Au brey we n t u p t o her an d p u t .

his han d s u pon her shou lders H er u n respon siveness .

se n t a chill to his heart .

Have y ou give n me u p Bee he cried alre ady al

h
, , , ,

h
”
ready ? with an gu ish i n his voice She cou ld n ot say a

ww
.

word S e shook her head like a m u te looki n g at i m

.
,

with her dazed eyes

She does n ot u n derst a
.

”
n d it n ot a word ! he said —
.

h Bee shook her h ead agai n I t as all she cou l d do

N O s e did n o t u n derstan d except that it as a ki n d o f
. .

h
, ,

dyi n g someth i n g agai n st which n ob o dy cou ld stru ggl e

, .

h
An d the n he k i sse d e r on her forehead as g ravely as
t ou gh he had bee n h er father ; a n d the n ext mome n t was

g o n e was —
i t o n ly o u t o f the room o r o u t O f the worl d , ,

o u t Of l ife ?

C H APT E R V III .

IT was a low trai n The slowest trai n that there i s

S .

h
w
is o f cou rse f ar far qu i cker th an an y ot er mode o f con
, ,

h
,

ve y an c e practic able i n a la n d j ou rn ey b u t it does n o t ,

seem so It seems as i f it were delay i m p e r s on ified t o t e

h
.

ea ger traveller especially o n the Con ti n e n t In E ngl an d

, .

whe n it stops a t am u l tiplicity o f littl e s t at ion s a t hic

 T HE So R C E RE ss . 63

h
t ere is n othi ng t o do it at least goes on agai n i n most

w
,

c ase s after it has dropped its h alf passe n ger o r t ake n i n -

i ts empty bag Of letters Bu t this c an nev er be said Of a

hh
.

G e rma n o r even of a brisker Belgian trai n The o n e i n .

ich Au brey was mea n dered abou t Liege f or i n sta n ce , ,

t i l l e had mas te re d ever y aspect of t hat smoky b u t i n

t e r e s t i n g place It stopped for what lo oked like an ho u r

h
.

at every little roadsi d e statio n i n ord er appare n tly that ,

t e g u ard might hold a lon g a n d excited co n versation

w h
ab ou t n othi n g at al l with the he ad m an Of the place An d

h h
.

al l t e while the litt l e electric bel l wo u ld go ti n gli n g

w
,

t i n gli n g u pon i s ve r y brai n Th u s he ma d e i s slow an d

.

e ary progress thro u gh th e aftern oo n a n d eve n i n g stop ,

p in g lon g at l ast at a mid n ight station where everythi n g

w
as wrapped i n sleep an d dark n ess for the arrival o f the

wh h
,

express i n which the latter part of th e j ou rn ey was t o be

a c complished more qu ickly I f there ad bee n an ythi n g
.

a n ted t o comple t e the e n tire overthrow Of a spirit i n

h
w
p ai n it was su ch an experie n ce All as dismal beyon d

h
.
,

w o rd s at the place w ere he had t o wait o n e poor light —

sh owi n g throu gh t e g r e at u n iverse of dark n ess t e dark

‘

w
,

b i g world that en compassed it a rou n d on e or t o bel at ed ,

p o rt ers wan deri n g thro u gh the blackn ess doi n g mysterio u s

p i eces of bu sin ess or preten di n g to do them A poor lit
,
.

t l e waili n g family a mother a

,
nd t o childre n p u t o u t ,

t here u pon a be n ch from some other trai n o n e O f the ,

babies waili n g vagu ely i n to the dark the other calli n g ,

u p on mamma mamma drivi n g the poor mother fran tic

, ,

were waiti ng li ke himself It gave A u brey a mom e n tary

.

co ns olatio n t o see somethi n g tha t appeared at least to the

w h
extern al eye more forlorn th an h e He remembered too .
, ,

th at t here had on ce bee n a baby cry that we n t to i s heart ,

an d thou gh al l the association s co nn ected with that had

w h
no t u rn ed i n to gal l an d bitter ness so that th e sou n d ,

seemed l ike a spear pen etrati n g h is very bei n g an d e ,

walked away as far as the bou n ds of the statio n wo u l d al

lo ,
t o get if possibl e o u t o f heari n g Of i t
, ,
yet pity a —
,

bet t er i n spiration at last gai n ed th e day He we n t u p

h h
.

h
,

an d s poke to the woman an d fou n d that s e was an E n g

,

lis workman s wife maki n g her way home with e r chil

’

dre n t o a mother who was dyi n g They had t u rn ed her .

64

ou th n
thh abies
er e ,
trai which was carry to
w i
on the g e n t l e ma
slow slow creepi n g third class hich on l y started i n th e
— -
er b
wait ah n ot f or t e e x pr e s s
n b u t f o r the
T HE

,
SO

to

-
RCE RE SS

w ,
.

,
~
h
mor n i n g an d which wou ld after other lon g waits at o ther
, ,

places re ach E ng lan d some ti m e b u t she co u ld scarcely

h
, ,

t ell when .

An d m u st y ou pass t he n ight ere ou t i n the col d ?

s aid A u brey .

“
It is n t n ot t o call a cold n ight sir said the wom a n
’

h
, ,

meekly an d they ve g o t ple nty on t o keep them warm

,
’
.

I ll try an d g e t them to open t e waiti n g room f or

’
-

y o u s aid A u b rey

h
.
,

O h n o sir tha nk y o u ki n d l y b u t don t t a ke the tro u bl e ’

, , , , ,

the rooms are th at s t u Ey It s better f or them i n t e O pe n .

’

air an d they ll go to sleep i n a little while Baby will

,
’
.

be qu ite warm on my lap an d Joh n n y lyi n g agai n st ,

me .

An d what is to become o f y ou i n this arran gem ent ?

w
said A u brey looki n g pitifu lly with eyes th at had k n o w n
,

the experie n ces both Of h u sba nd an d father u pon this littl e

pl u m p h u man b e d which was to stan d i n the place o f

h
,

d o n pill ows for the chil dre n .

O h I ll do very well sir when t hey go to sleep

’

, s e , , ,

sai d looki n g u p at him with a smile

h
,

An d whe n d oes yo u r train go ?

h h
w
N o t till six i n the mo r n i n g S e rep l ied b u t pe r

w h
, ,

aps that s all t e better for Il l be abl e t o get them s om e

’ ’

h
,

bread a n d milk a n d a good was before we start

,
.

Well i t was n o t m u ch Of an i n du lgen ce f or a m an

, o
as well OE H e m ight have thrown it away o n an y
.

trifle an d n obody wou ld have wasted a thou ght on t e h

s u bj ect H e got hold Of on e of th e wan deri n g ghosts o f
h
hh
w
.

porters an d got him with a do u ce u r t o chan ge t e poor , ,

woma n s c e ap ticket for her i n to on e for the express an d

’

h
,

com m issio n ed i m if possible to get her a place i n a

w hh
, ,

sleepi n g ca rriage where I fear S e as n o t likel y t o b e

, , ,

at all a warmly welcomed addition t o the l u xu rio u s yo u n g

m e n o r delicate ladies i n these con veyan ces
that there was on e fou n d for e r which as almost empty
when the trai n c ame u p H e scarcel y k n ew if S e wer e
H e saw

.
h .

o un r O ld — t ho u gh i n d eed as amat t er of f act t e o

y g o
p o r , ,
 T HE So RC E R E s s . 65 ,

w
h
l ittle mother b ewildered by her s u dde n e levation a mon g
t e g e n tlef o lks a
,

h
n d n o t q u ite s u re t at she wo u ld n o t hav e h
h
pre fe rred to remai n w ere she was an d pick u p i n the
m o r n i ng er n at u ra l third cl ass trai n was bo th you ng a -
nd
h
,

h
pre t ty a fact that as remarked by t e o n e lady i n the

w
,

c ar ri age who saw t e you n g m an thro u gh the wi n dow at

her side an d recogn ized him i n a flash of the g u ard s
'
’

l a n t er n with deep asto n ishme n t to see him h a

,
n di n g i n
s u ch a oman an d su ch childre n to the privileged p l a c es

w
.

h
H e disappeared himself i n to the dark a n d i n deed took
i s place i n the corn er o f a smoki n g carriage where his
c igar was a fai n t soother Of pai n In his h u ma n short .
,

h
s ight e d n ess

,
poor Au brey also as con soled a lit tle I
,

t i nk b y the tho u ght that this poor fellow passe nger was
co m fo rtable she and her ch i ldre n an d that i n stead of
-
,

h
, , ,

s l u mb e ri n g u n easily o n a be n ch sh e was able to lay the

w
,

l ittl e t i n gs i n a bed It seemed to him a good ome n a

w
.
,

l ittle relaxatio n of the b on ds of fate an d he we n t away

w
,

ch e ered a little an d e n cou raged by this simpl e i n ciden t

h
an d by the armth Of the ki n dn ess that was i n his heart
H e S poke to t em agai n o n o n e or t o occ a s io n s o n t he
.

hww w
ay se nt the poor woman some tea i n the m orn i n g
, ,

b o u ght s o me fr u it for the chi l dre n ; a

w
n d agai n o n the
ate a

h
m b o at crossi n g whe n he liste n ed to the accou n t Of
they ere goi n g o n from Dover
,

it a certa i n i n h
h w
o

h h
, ,

ter es t W e n they par ted at the trai n he shook ha n ds

h
.

it the mother opi n g she wou ld fin d her re l ation bet

a
hh
,

n d p u t a sovereig n i n t o Jo n n y s l ittle f a
’
t er t han d

h
,
.

T e lady o ad bee n i n the sleepi ng car riage kept her

e y e u po n him all t e time She was n ot by an y me ans a .

m ali c i ou s o r bad woma n b u t she d i d n ot believe the poor

w h
,

w o man s story Of the ge n tl eman s ki n dn ess She was I

’ ’
.
,

am s or ry to say al ady who was apt to take t e worst view

h
,

Of e very tran saction especially betwee n me n an d wome n

w
.
,

Peopl e o do so are bo u n d i n ma n y cases to be r i g ht ,

an d s o are con firm ed i n their odio u s opi n ion ; b u t i n ma n y

ca s e s they are wron g yet always hold to it with a faith

wh
,

hich wou ld do credit t o a better i n spirat i on I tho u gh t .

y o u n g Mr Leigh was .goi n g to marry agai n she said to ,

afri e n d whom she met goi n g u p to town .

O h so he is ! T O the n icest g irl Bee K i n g s a

,
rd t e —
,

S
66 T HE SO R C E RE SS .

dau g ht e r o f one of my de are s t fri ends s u ch asati s fac t ory —

thi n g i n every way .

“
Wasn t there somethi n g s aid the lady of the s l eep
’

i n g carriag e abou t a woman down at his place i n the

, ,
”
cou n try ?

h
“
O h I do n t th i n k there was ever a nythi n g agai n st
’

w
,

him T ere was a wo man who was a great frie n d o f h is

.

poor wife an d lived with them The wife was a goose

h
,
.
,

don t y o u kn ow an d co u ld n o t be made to see what a

’

foolis thi n g i t as My Opin ion is that he n ever co u ld .

abide the woman an d I am su re she made mischief b e ,

twee n them Bu t I believe th at silly li t tle Mrs Le i gh

. .

poor thi n g we sho u ld n ot speak ill Of those th at are go n e

h
,
'
— made him promise on her death bed that this Mis s -

Somethi n g or O ther s ou ld not be se n t away from th e

- -

hou se It was a ridicu lou s arra ngeme n t an d n o woman

.

that respected herself wou ld have don e it Bu t s e was

poor an d it s a comfortable place an d , perhaps as there
’
,

. h
, , ,

was n o frien dship between them she may have tho u ght it
was n o harm .

Perhap s she tho u ght she wou ld get over him i n time
an d make him marry her .

O h I can t tell what she thou gh t ! H e ru shed O E 1 n a

’

w
,

h u rry at a mome n t s n o t ice n obody kn owi n g what he i a ’

te n ded after the poor b aby died the very d ay of its

h
, ,

fu n eral Not m u ch to be won dered at poor you n g m an

.
, ,

after all he had gon e throu gh I don t k now o thi n gs .

’

were settled with Miss Lan ce b u t I belie ve that she has ,

gon e at last An d I am delighted to hear Of his en gage

.

me n t S O will all his n eighbors i n the cou n ty b e

.

I shou l d n ot like a dau g hter of mi n e to marry a m an

like that .

“
Why ? I wish a dau ghter of mi n e cou ld hav e the
chan ce E verybody likes him at home Do y ou k n ow

w
. .

a n ythi n g of A u brey Leigh ?

H e did n ot k n ow i n the least tha t this talk was goi n g
o n as the tr a i n we n t ru shi n g o n to town ; h is ears did n o t
ti n gle H e as i n the n ext car ri age divided on ly by a
.
,

plan k from these two l adies i n their compartme n t The

h h h
.

woman who took the bad view of everythi ng did n ot wish

im a n y harm S e di d not ev en t hi nk badly of i m . .
 THE So R C E R E ss . 67

She tho ugh t i t was only h u man n at u re an d that you n g

w
,

m e n will d o that sort of t hi n g however n ice they m ay be

w w
, ,

an d whatever y o u may say Of morals an d so forth I do

h
.

n o t thi n k thou gh she had made that little co n ve n tio n a l

,

s peech that S e ,
o u ld at al l have hesitated t o give her
o n da u ghter t o A u brey provided that she had a da u ghter

h
, .

H is advan tages ere so eviden t an d the disadvan tages

w w
, ,

after al l ad so little to do with actu al life

h
,
.

Au brey d i d n ot prese n t h ims elf before Colon el Ki n gs

ward that n ight H e did n ot propose to fol low i m t o
h
w
.

K i n gs a r d e n the Ol d ho u se i n Ke n t wh ich as t e sole

w
,

rem n an t Of t e rritoria l property belon gi ng to the family

w
.

H e wan ted to have all his wits abou t him to be coo l an d

ww h
,

self possessed an d able to remember everythi n g he n he

w
-

s a the m a n who ad give n him Bee an d then had with

d ra n her from h is arms H e alrea d y k n ew Colon el

hh
.

K i n gs a r d a little a n d k n ew him as a m a
,
n f u ll of ba n/zom

mze pop u l a r every here am an Of experie n ce ad

'

—
o

h h
, ,

b ee n abou t the world who k n ew m e n By this time

w
.
,

A u brey had recovered is spiri t s a little H e t ou gh t it

h
.

impossible that s u ch a m an whe n a you ng er than himself

h
,

l aid bare his heart to i m cou ld f a il to u n derstan d It ,

.

as tru e t at the colon e l was probably a m arti n et i n

h
m orals as he was i n his professio n an d Au brey had that
be i n d him which he co u ld n o t de n y He wo u ld n ot at
tempt t o gloss it over to make excu ses f or it H e wou ld
,

.
,

lay his life i n this man s han d as if h e had bee n his c on ’

f e s s or An d s u rely su re l y the ack n owle d ge d s i n wo ul d

h
.
, ,

fin d absol u tion the exte n u ati n g circ u mstan ces wou ld b e

co n sidered the lie wit which that acc u satio n was accom
,

h
,

p a n i e d wo u ld recoil u po n th e acc u ser The yo u n g m an .

bu oyed himself u p with these thou ghts t rou gh th e lon g

eve n i n g H e did n o t g o ou t or to his cl u b or an ywhere
.
,

where he was k n ow n In September there are n ot s o

h
.

ma n y i n d u ceme n ts to stray abou t Lo n don H e sat i n his .

room an d t o u ght of Bee an d wrote little letters to her , ,

which were a relief t o h is m i n d thou gh he k n ew he cou l d

n o t sen d them By this time he reflected they m u st have
.
, ,

started They were begi nn i n g their jo u rn ey as h e en ded

.

his H e hoped th at Charlie that lo u t wou ld have the

.
, ,

s en se t o t ake care o f his mother t o see that she su ff ere d ,

 w
68 THE SO R C ERE SS .

wh
as li ttle as possible to preve n t her from havi n g any trou ble

h h
,

— which I fear was n ot the vie at all t at Charlie took Of

i s d u ty t o his mother Au brey like al l o u t s iders ad
.
, ,

a clearer view of Mrs K i n gs ar d s conditio n than her .

’

family had ar rived at He was very sor ry for her poor .

, ,

delicate te n der woman an d grieved to the botto m of his

,
—

heart that this trou ble shou ld have come u po n her thro u gh
him Bee was d i Eer ent ; there wou ld be so man y w ays
.

please G od if all we nt we l l a n d he cou ld n ot bri n g im h ,

w
—
,

self t o thi n k that al l w ou ld n ot go well i n which he co u ld

w
—

make it u p t o his Bee Fi n ally he permi t ted h i m s elf t o

.

write a little letter to meet his darli n g on her ret u rn , an d

i n c l osed it i n an ot her to Mrs K i n g s ar d directed t o .
,

K i ngs a r d en They wou ld recei v e it whe n t hey e n tered

w w
.

their ho u se and by that time s u rely by that ti m e ! his

—
,

letters wou ld n ot be any longer a forbidden t hi n g

w
.

That morn i n g it rai ne d an d the Lo n don skies h u n g

w
,

v ery l o The world had the e Eec t Of a room with a l o

.

roof stifli ng an d w i thou t air H e set ou t to walk to Colo

,
.

ar d s offi ce I forgot whether the i n t e l ligen ce

w
n e l K i n gs
’
.

departmen t Of the War O ffi ce as i n existe n ce at that

time or if it has al ways bee n i n existe n ce o n ly n o t s o
,

m u ch heard Of as i n ou r vociferou s days If it did exist

w
.

the n i t was of cou rse i n Pall M all as we all k n o

, , , .

Au brey s e t o u t t o walk b u t soon recollec ted that m u ddy ,

boots detracted from a man s appeara n ce especially i n the ’

eyes of a S pic k an d span perso n like Colo n el K i n g s ar d

- -
,

who n ever had a spec k u pon an y garmen t an d accordi n gly

w
,

he g ot i n to a han som It did n ot g o an y faster than th e

.

beati n g of his heart an d yet he cou ld ha ve wished t hat i t

,

sho u ld on ly creep alo n g l ike the hea vier cabs H e wou l d .

have p u t OE this i n terview n o had he bee n able T O ‘

.

thi n k that y ou are withi n an hou r at most Of the mome n t

whe n you r life shall be settled for y o u absol u tely by an
other person s will an d that y ou r happi n ess o r u n ap
’
h
h
w w
,

p i n es s rest u po n the ma nn er i n which he will look at t e

q
hu estio n the ,
perceptio
t e i n sight i n to you r heart
n

if y ou k n o little of the person

he will h ave o f y o u r d i ffi c
is a terrible t i n g ; especially
o has th u s becom e e u
u
—
l ties

h h ,

d owed a s it were with the power Of life a n d death over y o u ,

n ot k now if his un ders ta n d i n g is a l arge o r l i mi t ed

‘
6
 S O R C E RE SS 69

w
T HE

hh h
.

on e , if e as any h u man n at u re i n im or on ly mere ,

c o n ve n tion ality a n d the S hell Of h u man n at u re It is sel

w
.

d o m perhaps that on e m a n is th u s c on scio u sly i n the po er

Of a n other an d y et it m u st c ome to that more or l ess

w
—

h h
, ,

e ve r y day .

Colon el K i ngs ard was i n i s room se ated at i s writ ,

i n g table with piles Of books a

-
n d maps a n d mass e s Of
spap ers all rou n d him H e was an excell en t l i n g u ist ;

w
ne .

an d there were Fren ch papers an d German papers R u s ,

sian Scan di n av ia n — all ki n d s of stran ge l an gu ages an d

,

stran g e little b roadsheets b ad ly pri nte d black with ex

w h h
, ,

c es s i v e i nk or pale ith imperfect impression o n th e

h
,

floor an d the ta ble H e ad a large paper kn i fe at i s

w
-
.

han d i n ivory with t e n atu ral brown u pon it looki n g

, ,

lik e aweapon hich cou ld cu t a m an n ot t o say a book

ww
h
, ,

i n pi ec es H e l ooke d u p with an as pect which A u brey

.
,

w ose heart was i n his mou th cou ld n o t re ad hether

w
, ,

it was m ere polite n ess or somethin g more an d bade Mr ,

h
.

Leigh be se ated pu t t i n g aside deliberately as h e did so

w
h
,

t e paper s with which he as en gaged An d the n he

w
.

t u rn ed rou n d with the air Of am an o says : N o y o u

h ave my e n tire atten tion and looked Au brey i n th e face —

.

The you n g m an was faci n g the l ight hich came i n from

a large high ,
i n dow reachi n g n early to the roof The .

e l der m a n had his back half t u rn ed from it s o that his r e

h
,

ard was less easy to read It was t q ite fair A brey

hw
g n o u . u .

ad everythi n g agai n st him ; his agitation his a nxiety an , ,

expressive tel l tal e face an d the light searchi n g every

w
-
,

cha n ge that took pl a ce i n it ; while his oppon e n t was calm

.

as i s o n paper k n ife i mpassive w i th a cou n ten an ce

-
, ,

form ed to con ceal his emotion s an d the l ight behi n d him , .

It as n ot an equ al match i n an y way

w
.

“
I have come direct from Colog ne A u brey said , .

Ah yes I believe my wife says s o i n her letter

, . .

Y ou have n ews from them t o day ? I hope that Mrs -

h
.

w
K i n gs a

w
r d is better

h
w
.

My wife n ever at an y time speaks m u ch Of her ealth .

S e was a littl e fatigu ed a n d re m ai n ed an other day to rest

”

h h
.

“
She is ve ry delic ate S i r s aid Au brey He did n o t , ,
.

k no y u n l e s s
,
it a s rel u cta n ce to beg i n what he a d
to sa y .
7 0

h w T HE

I am perfec tly acqu ai n ted with Mrs K i ngs ar d s c on

d ition said t e colo n el i n a to n e which was n ot e n cou r a
”
SOR C ERE SS .

.
’

w
, g
i ng . H e added : I don t s u ppose y o u t ook the trou bl e t o ’

come here Mr Leigh i n order t o speak t o me abou t m y

ww
.
, ,
”
wife s health ’
.

“
NO I t is t ru e I o u ght n ot to aste t he t ime y ou

w w
. .

have accorded me I d o n o t n eed t o tell y ou Colo n e l

.
,

Ki n g s a rd hat I have come abo u t

,
.

“ ”
I thi n k y ou d o said the colon el calmly,
My le t te r
to my wife h i ch I belie v e she comm u n i cated t o y ou
, ,

con veyed all I had to say on the matter I t was n o t .

written withou t reflection n o r ithou t every possible e Eor t

w w h
to arr ive at the tru th Con sequ e ntly I have n o desire t o.

reope n the su bj ect It is i n my m i n d con cl u ded an d p u t

.

aside .

”
Bu t y o u ill hear me ? said A u brey Y ou hav e .

heard o n e stateme n t su rely y ou ill hear the ot er N O

, .

ma n i s co n dem n ed u n heard I have come here t o throw .

mysel f u pon yo u r mercy to tell y ou my story Howe v er —

prej u diced y o u ma
.

y be agai n s t me
“
A mome n t Mr Leigh I have n o prej u d ice agai n st

w
.
, . .

y o u .I a m n o t the j u dge of yo u r co n d
righ t t o d eci d e f or my da u g ter that is all I have n o
prej u d i ce or feeli n g a g ai n st y ou
u ct I claim the
h —
.

h
.

“
Colon el K in g s ar d cried A u brey f or God s sake , ,
’

”
liste n ! Hear what I ave to say

h
.

The colo nel looked at him agai n Perhaps it was th e .

passio n of earn est n ess i n t e you n g man s face that tou ched ’

w w
him Perhaps he felt that it was u n wise to leave it t o be
.

said tha t he had n ot heard both sides The e n d was that .

he waved his ha n d an d said :

My time is n ot my o n I have n o right to spe n d i t .

o n merely private i n terests ; b u t if y o u ill make you r

story as short as possible I will hear wh at y ou have to say .

C HAPT E R IX .

story wh i ch A u brey Le i gh had t o tell was i n deed

T HE
made as short as possible T o describe the most pai n fu l .

crisis i n you r life the mome n t which y ou you rs e lf s h u d

,
 T HE SO R C ERE SS .
7 1

d e r to l ook b ack
s e lf s u r pr ise horror a
at which awake ns i n y ou tha t fu ry o f
,

n d wo n d e r whic asu dde n depart ure h

w
-
, ,

f r o m all the habits O f yo u r life bri n gs a f ter i t when it i s

i l is t a e a y hi g b t it s ppl i es t e e expres

w
g u t ,
n o n s t n ; u u rs
s io n s a n d ra p idity o f n a rration There is no desire t o .

d ell u p o n t he de t ai ls a n d t o t ell a stor y s o deeply a f

h
,

f e c t i n g o n e s self t o a politely u n sympa t hetic lis t e n er

’

o does n o t a ff ec t t o be m u ch i n terested or a t all moved

b y t he s u b tle self defe n ce which ru n s t hrou gh every s u ch
-

s t ateme n t ,
i s still more co n du civ e t o bre v ity Au brey .

h
l aid bare the tempes t tha t had swep t over h im with a

h
b reat less v o i ce a

w
n d broke n word s H e c o u l d n o t pre

h
.

s erve is eq u a n im i t y o r l ook a s if it were a n easy thi n g

h
,

f o r i m t o do H e made the most h u rried description of

.

t e visitor who h ad take n posses sion o f his hou se sayi n g ,

n ot a ord b eyo n d t he bare fact It h ad been deeply em

h
.

ba rr a s s i n g that she sho u ld be there t hou gh at first i n the

h h
,

w
m el an choly Of his wi dower ood he had n ot thou ght of it ,

o r care d W o was i n t he o u se Afterward he was pre

h h
.

v e n te d fro m doi n g an yt hi n g t o dis t urb her b y his promise

t o h is dyi ng wife The n ad come the an x i ety abou t t e

h
.

b a b y the averi n g of tha t little life i n which the forl orn

w
,

y o u n g fat er h ad co m e t o t ake a little pl eas u re She had .

b e e n very ki n d t o the chi l d watchi n g o v er it ; a n d whe n

h
w
,

th e lit tle thi n g d i ed whe n the misery of the fresh d esola

-

h
,

t io n a
,
n d t e pity Of it a n d the over h elmi n g Oppressio n
,

O f t e sad ho u s e had q u ite overcome the spirit Of its yo u n g

m as t e r the n she had thro n herself u pon h im with all

, ,

th e sig ns of a s u dden passio n of sy mpathy an d ten dern ess

h h
.

Ha d a n y co n f essor skilled i n th e a

wh
ccou nts of h u man s u ff er
i n g eard A u brey s broke n t ale he cou ld have fo u n d n oth
’

i n g b u t tru t i n i t a n d wo u l d have recog n ized the s u btle

w
,

seq u e n ce O f e ve nt s which had led to that down fall Bu t

hh h
.

C o lo nel K i ng s a r d t o u gh n o t u n learn ed i n m e n liste n ed

, ,

like a m an of wood playi n g wit t e large paper k n ife

,
-
,

h
an d n ever looki n g t oward the pe n iten t o t old his story ,

w
w i t su ch a strai n Of the labori n g breast an d agon ized
S p irit Ha d a you n g Omc e r i n whom he had n o partic u lar

h
.

i n teres t th u s explai n ed a n d acco un ted f or some d ereliction

hh
Of d u ty h e might have u n derstood or sympat ized Bu t
e ad no i s h to u n derstan d Au brey ; his on ly desire
.
w
7 2

h
T HE SO RC ERE SS

as t o bru sh i m o ff as qu ickly as possi b le to be d o n e

with his ri dic u lo u s st ory to h ear Of him n o m ore He
.

w
, .

might be as little gu ilty as he described himself Wh a t .

’
the n ? Au brey s character was n othi n g t o Colon el Ki n gs
ward except as i t aEect e d his dau gh ter H e had c u t hi m
, .

O E from all co nn ectio n with his dau ghter a n d it was n o ,

qu ite immaterial t o him whe t her the m an was a weak

fool or a deceiver Probably from as m u ch as he heard
.
,

while t h u s listen i n g as little as he cou ld Leigh was i n

h
w hw
,

t he former class ; a n d certai n ly he did n o t i n te n d to take a

weak fool who had show n imself t o be at the mercy Of an y

h
d es i g n i n g woman i n to his family as the h u sba n d Of Bee
Give i m the ben efi t Of the do u bt an d allo that it h ad ap
h
.

w
pen ed so tha t the woma n was m u ch more t o blame tha n t e

h
,

ma n; a n d wha t then ? A stu rdy si nn er on the wh ole as

n ot less b u t more easily pardo n ed t an a weak fool
This is all very well Mr Leig ”
Colon el K i n g s ar d h .

h
, .
,

said an d I am sorr y tha t y ou have thou ght i t n ecessar y

,

to e n ter i n to t ese pai nfu l details They may be q u ite

w
.

tru e I will n ot O ff en d y ou by dou bt i ng that y ou believe

h
.

t hem to be qu i t e tru e Bu t how t he n do y ou accou n t

h
.
, ,

for t e l etter which my wife I belie v e showed y ou an d , , ,

which came direct from the lady s o n a n d t o mi n e ? ’

h
The letter was a letter which I wrote t o my wife two
years ag o There ad been d i sc u ss ions between u s on
.

h
h
this very s u bj ec t I promised o n con di t ion t at Miss
.

La n ce s ou ld leav e u s to make s u ch arran gemen ts for h er

,

comfort as were possible to me to se t tle a yearly i n co m e —

,

u pon her e n o u gh t o live on

,
”
Was that arra geme t ever carried ou t

w
n n ?

No ; my wife became i l l i mm ed iately aft er I fou n d .

her on my ret u rn i n Miss La n ce s arms implori n g th at S O ’

lon g as she lived her frie n d sho u ld n ot be take n from her .

What co u ld Id o ? An d tha t prayer as chan ged on my

h
poor Amy s dea t h b ed to an oth er that I wou ld n ever sen d
’
- —

Forest leigh an d watc over the c ild

-
h h
M is s Lan ce away; that s e sho u ld always ha v e a home at

h
”

I don t wi sh to arou se agai n su c pai n fu l recollection s

’
.

h
especially as t hey c an be Of n o adva ntage t o an y o n e
—

b u t how d oes this letter come t o ave the date Of last

Ch r istmas more than a year after Mrs Leigh s death ?
,
.
’
 h w w
h
Ho a I tel l that sir ? how c an I tell o the dev il
c n
i s web was wove n at all ? The n ote had n o date I s u p
pose an d the person o co u ld u s e it f o r t his p u rpose
T H E SO

,
R C E R E SS .

h w ,
73

w
,

wou ld n ot hesitate at s u ch a trifle as t o add a date .

Mr Leigh I repeat the whole matter is t o o pai n fu l t o

.
,

be treated by me Bu t how is it if y ou regarded this lady

.
,

ith those sen time n ts that y ou sho u ld have i n a momen t ,

cha n ged them a n d to p u t the mil dest i n terpretation u pon

, ,
”
you r proceedi n gs th u s pu t you rself i n her power ?

hh
,

The you n g man s fl u shed an d an xiou s face grew dea d ly’

p ale . H e t u rn ed his eyes from the i n qu isitor to t e igh

b la n k light pou ri n g i n from the large wi n dow G od .

k n ows he said th at is wh at I can n ot explai n or rather

, ,
—
,
”
I shou ld say the devil k n ows ! he cried wi t h veheme n ce
, .

I was e n tirely OE my gu ard thi n ki ng heave n kn ows —

h
, ,

o f n othi n g less .

The devi l is a safe sort Of ag e n cy t o p u t t e bl am e on

w w
.

W e can n ot i n ordi n ary aEai r s accept him as the scapegoat

h h
whh
,

Mr Leigh exc u se me f or sayi n g so I will n ot refu se to

.
—
.

sa y t at I allow t ere may be exc u ses for y o u with a ,

oman m u ch alive to her o n i n terests an d ready f or ,

an y vent u re Y ou did. rite t o e r owever on the day , ,

y “o u left .

I wro t e t o her telli n g her the arran geme n t I had p r o

,

po s ed t o m y wife i n t e very letter which she has sen t t o h

u th a t I wo u ld ca r ry it u t at o n ce a n d that I hoped
h
—
y o o ,

h
sh e wou ld perceive as I did t at it was impossible we
s o u ld remai n u n der the same roof or i n deed mee t
agai n ”
.
, ,

, , ,

That was on what date ?

The even i ng before my child s fu n eral Nex t day as ’
.
,

s o o n as it was o ver I left the h ou se an d have n ever set

h
, ,

foot i n it agai n .

Yet this lady to whom y ou ad y ou say se n t s u ch a

, , ,

letter was a t the fu n eral an d stood by the child s g rave ’

h
w
, ,
”
lea n i n g on yo u r arm .

“
More t an that cried A u brey with a gasp Of his , ,

l abori n g bre ath She cam e u p to m e as I stood there

.

an d p u t her arm as if to su pport me ,

ith in m i n e ,
.

The colon el co u ld n ot restrai n an exclamation By .

n g m i n ded wom a n if this is

”
J o ve ! he said she is ,
a stro -
,
i

74 T HE SO R C ERESS

h
.

t ru e .DO y o u mean to say that this was after s e h ad

”
yo u r letter ?
I su ppose s o I sen t it to her i n the morn i ng I was

w
. .

an xiou s t o avoid any scen e .

“
An d t he n on yo u r way to Lo n don on that day y o u
, , ,

we n t to you r solici t ors an d gav e i n str u ction s i n respec t ,

’
t o M iss Lan ce s an nu ity which y ou say n o had bee n —

”
determi ned on lon g before .

It was de t er mi n ed on lon g before

w
.

Bu t n ever me n tion ed t o a n y on e u n t il that time .

I beg you r pardon ; on the day on which I wrote tha t

wh
le t ter t o my wife I we n t direc t to my lawyer an d talked
the matter over freely with Mr Morell o had k n ow n .
,

me all my life an d k n ew al l the circu mstan ces an d ap

,
—
”
proved my resol u tion as the bes t Of t o e v ils he sai d , ,
.

“
This is the most favorable thi n g I have heard Mr ,
.

Leigh H e will Of cour se be abl e to back y ou u p i n

.
, ,
”
what y ou say ?
Mr Morell . A u brey spran g to his feet with a star t o f
”
dismay I thi n k he c r ied all the powers of hell m u st
.
, ,
”
be agai n st m e Mr Morell is d ead . . .

They looked at each other f or a mome n t i n sile nce ; a

half smile came u pon the colon el s face thou gh eve n he ’

was a l ittle overawed by the despair i n the cou n ten an ce o f

w
the you n g m an .

I don t k n ow that it matters very m u ch he said f or

’

w
, ,

after all Mr Leigh you r a n xiety to get r i d Of you r wife s

,
.
,
’

compan ion might have t o i n terpretation s Y ou migh t

h
.

have b een si n cerely desirou s to free you rself from a

te m ptation to ard an other woma n which wou ld ave ,

give n Mrs Leigh pai n A m an does n ot sacrifice two

. .

h u n dred a year withou t a stron g motiv e An d su bsequ e n t .

eve n ts make this a f ar more likely reason than t he desire

t o get rid of a
”
.
n u n welcome i n mate .

I can n ot tell whether my motive was likely or n ot I .

tell y ou sir what it was, ,

.

Ah yes b u t u n fortu n ately withou t an y corroboration

w
—
,
—
an d t he story is very d i Ee r e n t from the othe r side It .

appears from that that y o u wished to establish rel ation

h
Ships d u ri n g you r poor wife s life an d that it was the ’
—

dv o was moved by pity for y ou i n a mom en t o f

whe

“
T HE SO R C

akn ess ; w i ch i s m u ch more accordi ng to t e ru l e i n

s u ch matters
It is a lie Au brey said
.
E R ESS

Colo n e l K in gs ar d y o u
.

w
h
75

h
, .
,

ar e a man an d an honorable m a
—
Ca n y o u im a gi n e an

w
s n .

h
ot er man with the same pr i n cipl es a
,

s u c vill an y as that ? Can y ou be li eve

s yo u rs e lf gu ilty o f

Mr Leigh sa i d the oth er i t is u nn ec e ss ary to ask

.
,

, ,

m e wha t I c a n b elieve ; n or c a n I argu e from what I o u ld

d o as t o wha t y ou wo u ld d o
,
That m ay b e good Chris
.

ti an i t y y ou k n ow
,
b u t it is no t te n abl e i n life
,
Man y .

m en a re ca pable en ou gh of wha t I say ; an d i n de ed I d o ,

h h
, ,

y o u the cr e d i t to believe that y o u wer e willi n g t o keep

t e temp t a t ion a t a distan ce ; to m a ke a sacrifice i n order
to e a se t e mi n d Of you r wife I S how a great d eal of .

faith i n y ou when I s ay that An other m an might say .

tha t M rs Leigh had e xacted i t fro m y ou a

. s athi n g n eces
s ary t o her peac e ”

w
.

A u brey Leigh ros e u p agai n an d began t o pace the

h
,

ro o m from on e side t o the other H e cou ld n o t keep sti l l

w h
.

in i s i n t olerable impatie n ce a n d scor n of the n e t which

as tighte n i n g a
h
bo u t his feet An ger rose u p like a
wh irlwi n d i n i s mi n d ; b u t t o i n d u lge it was t o lose f or
.

h
e ve r t he ca u se which i n deed as alrea d y lost
, ,

ad gai n ed con trol o v er himself an d his voice he said We

h ad n eighbors ; we had frie n ds ; ou r life was n ot lived i n
W e n he
“
,
.

w
a corn er u nk n own t o the worl d There is my mother ; .

ask th e m they all k n ow

—

Does any one o u t side k n ow wha t goes on between a

h u sb an d an d wife ? said Colon el K i n gs ar d
”
S u ch d i s .

eu ss ion s d o n ot g o on before wi tn ess e s If poor Mrs . .

Leigh

w w
Sir ,
cried A u brey stu n g be yon d b ear i n g
,
I will ,

n o t permi t a ny ma
”
n t o pity my wife

h h
.

It was beyo n d my provi n ce I allow ; b u t on e u ses the ,

word f or those
h
o die yo u n g I don t k n ow f i f
’

y ; or

h
,

all is tru e that we profess t o b e lieve t ey ce rtai n ly have

h
t e best of i t

h
.

ad any su ch bu rde n on er m i n d a h
Wel l ! if Mrs Leigh to speak by the bo ok
h
.
’

n d really fel t her

, ,

h
,

ap pin ess t o d epend on t e ba n ish m e n t of th at dan gerou s

h
O
co mpanion it is n ot likely t at she wou l d s peak O f it ei th er
,

t o you r n ei g bors or t o yo u r mother .

7 6 T H E S O RC R SS E E

th h
.

h
w w
W My mother was
n ot ? a mi of t nd, t hou g n ot

hw
y
f or that villa o s reaso my mother

h
n u ew n ;
k n ew eve ry bo dy agreed with m e i n wis i n g e r gon e I
,
hh
kn , every bo d y
.

appeal t o all
n o t a frie n d I h
o k n ew u s Colo n e l Ki ngs
ave
ard !
,
There i s
o di d n o t compass ion a t e me f or

w
Amy s i n s ensate aEec ti on G o d forgive m e th at I S ho u l d
’

h
w
.

say a word agai n st my poor lit tl e girl b u t it was an i n ,

fa tua ti on as all er frie n ds k n ew

—
.

Don t y ou thi nk we ar e n o ge tti n g i n to t he regi on o f

’

the extravagan t ? Colon el K i n gs a

”
r d said
“
I can n ot

w
.

sen d o u t a royal commission t o take the e v iden ce of y o u r

frie n ds

h h
.

A u brey had t o pau se agai n t o master hi m sel f If th i s .

ma n with i s contemptu ou s acce n ts i s cool disda i n ere , ,

n ot Bee s fa t her b u t he was s o a nd therefore m u st

’
—

h
, , ,

n o t be d efied H e an swered af t er a t ime i n a su bdu ed

.

w
voice Will y o u allow me to se n d on e or two Of t em

h
.

t o tell y ou what t hey k n ow ? There 1 s F a ir fie l d w i th whom ,

are acq ai ted already there i Lord La gtry t ere

ww
y o u u n s n , ,

i s Vavasou r who was with u s con st a nt ly

,

h
“
To n on e of these gen tlemen I presu me ou l d Mrs , , .

”
Leigh be likely to u nfold er mos t i nt imate s en tim en ts

hh
.

T o of th em have wives
om s
said Au b rey deter mi n ed t o
e saw fam iliarly daily co un t ry n eig
, ,

h
w
hold fast , ,

w
bors .

“
I m u s t repea t M r Leigh I cann ot sen d ou t aroyal

w h
.
, ,

commission t o t ake t he eviden ce of you r frie nds

w
.

“
Do y ou mean that y ou ill n ot ear any evide n ce ,

Colon el K i ngs ar d ? tha t I am con dem n ed already ? that

it does n ot matt er hat I have i n my favor ?
h
”

h
Colon el K i ngs ar d rose to dismiss his su i t or
al rea dy sa i d Mr Leigh t at I am n ot you r j u dge I h I a ve

w
.
, , .

ave n o righ t t o co n dem n y ou You r accou n t may be all

h
.

tru e ; yo ur earnestn ess an d air Of s i n cerity I allow i n a , ,

c ase i n w ich I was n ot person ally i nv ol v ed wou ld g o far

to ard maki n g me bel i eve it was t ru e
h B t wha t the n
u ?

h
.

w
The matter is si mply t is : Will I allow my dau ghter t o
marry a m an of whom s u ch a q u estion as been raised ? I
say n o ; an d there I am withi n my clear ri ghts Y o u m ay
be able t o clear you rself m aki n g ou t t e l ady t o be a sort
o f demon i n h u ma n sh a pe My frie nd
.

o saw her sai d

hh .

,
.
,
 T HE SO R C ERE SS 77

h
.

s ewas a v y attr a c tive woman Bu t re al l y this is n o t

er

h
.

th e q estio
u n I am n ot a ce n sor of pu blic morals an d on
.
,

h
w
th e whole it is a ma t ter of i n d i ff ere nc e t o me whet er y o u
are gu ilt l e s s or n ot The sole thi n g is t at I will n ot per

h
.

m i t my you n g dau g ter t o p u t her foot where s u ch a h

s c a n dal a s bee n I have n othi n g t o d o with y ou b u t
.

e ve r ythi n g with her An d I thi n k n o t a t al l as bee n

said ”
.
. h h ,

That is y ou will n o t hear an ythi n g more ?

,

Well i f y ou l ike to p ut i t s o I prefer n ot to h ear

— —

w
an y more

www
.

N o t if Bee s happi n ess sho u ld be i n volved ?

’

My da u ghter s happi n ess I hope does n ot depe n d

’

, ,

u po n a m a n whom she has k n o n o n ly f o r a mo n th She

w
.

ma
‘

y thi n k S O n o B u t she ill soo

. n k n ow better Tha t .

i s a qu estio n i n to which I decl i n e to e n ter with y o u

w
.

M e n have died a
“
nd orms have eate n them b u t n ot ,
”
f o r love ,
said Au brey ith a hoarse lau gh H e t u rn e d .

as if to go away Bu t y ou do n ot mea n that this is fi n al

w
.
,

C olo n el K i ngs a rd n ot fi n a l ? N o t forever ? Never t o

—

b e revised or reco n s i dered eve n if I were as bad as y o u —

”
th i n k me ?
Ho n eedless is all this I have t old y ou you r char .

acter d oes n ot con cern me an d Id o n ot s ay that y o u are —

bad or thi n k s o I am sorry f or y ou Y ou have got

,
.

i n t o a rather dreadfu l position Mr Leigh for a you n g ,

.
,

ma n Of you r age .

An d yet at my age y ou thi n k I shou ld be c u t OE for

w
e v er from eve r y hope O f salvatio n
“
Not s o ; this is al l extravagan t— ri dicu lou s ! An d if

w hh t

w
y o u w i ll exc u se me I am partic u larly b u
,
sy his morn i n g ,
”
ith a h u n dred t i fig s to do

w
.

Poor Au brey wou ld ave killed w i th pleas ure kn ocked ,

h
do n an d t rampled u pon the immovable m an o f the worl d
o th u s dismissed him ; b u t to be h u m b le eve n abj ect
as his o n ly hope I will try then to fin d some mome n t
.
, ,

O f leis u re a n oth er ti m e .

It is u nn ecessary Mr Leigh I shall n ot chan ge my ,

. .

m i n d ; su rely y ou m u st see tha t i t i s be tter f or all parties

h
t o give it u p at on ce
I s all n ever give i t u p
.

.
7 8 THE SO R C E R E SS

h
.

Poo h ! on e n ail dri v es ou t a not er Y o u don t s e e m ’

h
.

t o ha v e be en a miracle o f con s t an cy i n yo u r p rev i o u s r e

la t i on s i ps Good morn i n g I t ru st t o hea r s oon t hat y o u
h
-
. .

h ave made as satisfac t ory aset t leme n t of al l ot e r clai m s .

C HAPT E R X

h h
.

O T H ER cl aims ! W a t other claim s ? Au b re y L e i g

we n t ou t of the O ffi ce i n Pall Mall wi t t ese wor ds cir
cli n g thro u gh his m in d They see m e d to have n o t hi n g t o
hh
h
.

do with that which occ u pied him which filled ever y ,

tho u ght . H is dazed memory an d imagi n ation cau g t

them u p as he we n t forth i n the fu ry of s u ppressed an ge r ,

an d the dizzy stifled se n sat i on Of complete fai l u re

, He .

had felt su re eve n whe n he felt least su re that whe n i t

w
, ,

was possi b le to tell his tale fu lly m i serable stor y as i t ,

was the m an to wh om h e h u mbled himself th u s n o t

w w h
, ,

bei n g a recl use or a mere formalist a m an of the world , ,

wou ld at least to some degree u n dersta n d an d perceive o

h
l ittle real g u ilt there might be even i n s u ch a fa u lt as h e

h
w
ad comm it t ed It as n o t a story which cou ld be r e
.

a i a woma n s ears ; b u t a m a o k n ew more or

’

p e t e d n n ,

less wh at was i n m an th e mome n tary lapses th e su dde n

— :

h
,

imp u lses the aber ration s of i n tolerable trou ble sorro

w
, , ,

an d despair A u brey did n o t take i n to acco u n t t e fac t

—

h
that there are som e me n to whom s u ch a con dition as t hat

hh
i nto which he hi m self h ad fallen i n the desol ation o f i s

w
s ilen t hou se hen death cam e a secon d time wit i n t e
sad year an d his you n g sou l felt i n the first sen satio n o f

ww
,

despair tha t he cou l d n o t bear it that he was a m an

h
,

si n gled ou t by fate to whom it as vai n to stru ggle t o

, ,

whom l ife was a waste an d eave n a mockery was i h ,

—

con ceivable Colon el Ki ng s ar d as certai nly n ot a m an

.

like that H e wo u ld have said to hi m self that the mo t h er

h
.

bei n g gon e it was only a blessin g an d adv an tage that th e

child shou ld g o t oo an d h e wou l d have withdraw n i m

h h hh
,

h
sel f decorou sly to his Lon don lodgi ngs an d his cl u b an d
i s frie n ds wou ld all ave said that it was on t e wh ol e a
good thi n g f or him and t hat e was youn g an d i s l i fe
,

, ,
 T H E SO R C ERE SS 79

h
.

w h
s ti l l before i m S o i n deed they had sai d of Au brey
.
, , ,

an d S O p oo r Au brey had p roved f or himself Ha d t e re

h
.

n o t bee n th a t t e rrible momen t behi n d him that i n tol er

h
,

abl e blackn ess an d midn i ght of despair i n hich an y an d

h
th at gr ipped h is cou ld lead i m till t e ligh t o f m orn i n g h
h
w
,

h
b u rst u po n i m a
ad b ee n led !
,
n d showed i m whither i n his misery he

h S atisfy o t her Claims ? The words blew like a n ox i ou s

h
w
h h
i n d t ro u gh h is brai n He lau ghed to imself s oftly as

h hw w
.

e we n t a l o n g What claims had e t o satisfy ? H e had

h
.

d on e a l l tha t honor a n d scorn co u ld do t o satisfy the harpy

o had d u g her Cl aws i n to i s l ife Shou ld he try to

w
.

p ropi t i a te e r ith other gifts ? N O n o ! Th a t o u ld ,

b e b u t t o prolon g the sca n dal t o giv e her a motive f o r ,

c on ti nu an ce t o make it appear that he was i n her power

h
, .

H e was i n her po er alas ! fatally as i t proved if i t S ho u ld

w h
,

h
,

be s o tha t s e had made an e n d of the happi n ess Of his

l ife She ad blighted t e forme r chapter o f that e x ist

w h
w
.

e n ce bri n gi n g o u t all tha t was petty i n the poor littl e brid e

h
ww
,

o ver hom she ad gai n ed s o complete an asce n de n cy ,

s h o wi n g er h u sb a n d Amy s worst side the aspec t o f her

’

h h
,

h ich he might n ever have k n o n b u t f or th at fa t al com

hw
h h
p a n io n ever n ear A n d. n o had s e r u i n ed i m alto
g e th er r u i
—
n ed him as i n Old stories t e Pa m elas Of t e

h
village were r u i n ed by a v i llai n o took adva n tage Of

w
their simplicity What lovely woman . o had stooped

t o fo l ly cou ld be m ore r u i n ed than this u n h a ppy y ou n g

w w h
ma n? H e la u ghed to himself at this horrible travesty of

w hw h
tha t Old familiar eightee n th cen tu ry tale This as t e

w h
-

h h h
.

a zécl e versio n o f it h e s u pposed the versio n i n w i ch

'

fi
’
—
n e r

h
.
,

Of h
it as t e design i n g woman
eakn ess an d the m an
o seized u po n t e mom e n t

o s u Ee r e d s ipwreck of every

w
th i n g i n co n seq u e n ce There as a horr i ble sort Of ri di
.

w
c u l e i n it which wrou g t poor Au brey almost to madn ess .

Wh e n the wom an is the v i cti m however sorely s e may

w w
,

be t o blam e for her o n disgrace a sort of pathos an d

h
,

rom an ce is abou t h er an d pity is wi n ged with i n dign ation

h h h
,

h
ag ai n st the m an

h hh
Of er

h h h
o is s u pposed t o have take n a

eak n ess Bu t w e n it is a m an
.

T e n t e mildes t con dem n ation e c an look for i s t e

d v an t age
o is t e v i ctim !

coa r s e a
l gu o f c o n t em p t the i n ex t i n,gu i s able r i d i cu l e
 w
80 T HE SOR C E R E SS

h
.

w
to whic eve n 1 n fictio n it is t o o great a risk to expose a
hero He as n o hero b u t an u n happy you n g man falle n
h
w
—

h
.

i nto the mos t dreadfu l position i n whic m an cou ld be

wh
hh
,

sh u t ou t of all ope o f ever recoveri n g himself marke d ,

by the comm on scorn n o ordi n ary si n n er a m an

—
o ad ,

profa n ed his o n home an d al l the mos t sacred prej u dice s

o f h u ma n ity H e had fel t al l t at deeply he n he ru s e d
.

from his hou se a man dis tra u gh t n o t kn owi n g where e

h h
, ,

we nt An d t hen morn i n g an d eve n i n g an d t he dews an d

.
,

the calm an d the fresh ness an d el asticity i n alien able from

yo u th had drive n despair an d horror away H e had fe l t .

i t at last i mpossible that all his life alife which b e de —

sired to l ive ou t i n d u ty an d ki n d n ess an d de v ot i on to ,

G od a nd ma n shou ld be spoiled forever by his momen t

—

ary yieldi ng t o a horrible t emptation He had thou gh t at .

w
first that he n ever cou ld hold u p his head agai n Bu t .

rad u ally the impressio n had bee n soothed away a n d he

g ,

had vai n ly hoped that Su ch a thi n g might b e left behi n d

him an d might be heard Of n o more .

N OW he was u n deceived n o he was conv i nced th a t

—

h
for what a m an does he m u st a n swer n o t on ly a t the bar
Of God where all t e secrets Of the heart are revealed b u t
also before men There are times i n which the , form er
,

w hh
.

j u dgme n t is more easy t o thi n k of tha n the latter f or —

w
God kn ows all every t i n g t at is i n f avor O f the c u lprit
, ,

while men k n ow on ly what is agai n st him A m an wi t h

h
.

sorro i n his heart f or all his shortcomi n gs c an e n d u re

w h
,

u pon his kn ees t at a l l embraci n g gaze of i n fi n ite u n der

-

standi n g an d p 1 ty Bu t to s t an d before m en o miscon

w wh
.

h
s tru e mis see misapprehe nd how d i Eer e n t a thi n g it is

w
-
, , ,

-
o do n o t k n ow the e n d from t he begi n n i n g to w o m

h h
,

the tru e balan ce an d perfec t poise of j u st ice is almos t i m

possible ,
o ca n j u dge o n ly as they k n ow a nd o ca n ,

k n o only the h u sk an d shell o f fact the ex t e r n al aspect

w
,

of a Ea i r s by t he side which i s vis i bl e t o them Al l these

w w
.

thou ghts we n t throu gh Au brey s mi nd as he wen t l ist ’

hw
lessly abou t t hose familiar streets i n their au tu m n al qu iet ,

n o cro d abou t n othi n g to i n te r ru pt the progress o f the

,

ayfarer He we n t across the Gree n Park which is bro n

h
,
.

i n t he decade n ce of su mmer almost as solitary as if h e ,

ad bee n i n i s O n d esolate glades at home Lon don .

 T H E SO R C E RE SS 81

h
.

rest after h
a a soo hi g
s sometimest ch a ill s
n e Eec t
y on su st unn

h h
,

a t m day whe i seems

u u n wor y a n t to t e r nd

h a e b rs all h
,

a a strai
e t all its frivolity a folly
nd n Of
soft nd T e

pale yet i is s sh h
.

z lu
o li es makes the trees t dar a the
e ut n too k nd

h
,

s ky t oo i ea ; g whic wraps t un n n d no t fo
l t b t

w
a dscape eve hat la dscape which li e wee

w
t n

w
e n ,
—
n es n
P all Mall a Piccadilly soothed nd yo a a . It ou r un g m n
li ttle i n the despair Of his thou ghts S u rely s u rely at

h h
.
, ,

ei g h t an d twen ty e verythi n g co uld not be over

- -
Bee

h h
.

o u l d i n a y ear o r t o e the mistress O f er o n ac t io n s .

S e was n ot a meek girl to be coerced by er f a t her She

h
.

w o u l d j u dge for herself i n su ch a dread fu l e merge n cy ;

after all that had pass ed the w ole facts O f the c ase wou ld

h
h ave t o be s ub mit t ed to her which was a thou gh t t at e n ,
h
v e l op e d
f o r herself a
i m as i n flames Of shame Yet she wo u ld j u d ge

h
n d her j u dgm e n t wo ul d b e more li ke t at o f
,

h e ave n th an like t at of eart h A ki n d Of celestial ray .

.

h
gl eamed u pon him i n this tho u ght

w h
.

An d as f or these other clai m s we l l ; if a

— ny claim were
for h wo u ld n ot shri n k wo ld t ry m
h
w
p u t t e u n o t t o c o —

promis e wou ld n ot hide i s shame u n der piles of gold

w
.

h
,

No h e had n o motive f or con cealme n t he wou ld face i t ,

out a n d have the q u estion set straigh t i n t e eye o f d a y .

T O be s u re for a m a n to acc u se a oma n is agai n st the

hole con v en t ion al code of hon or T O acc u se al l wome n .

i s the common place o f every day ; b u t t o p u t the blame o f

h
s e du ction u pon o n e is what a m an d are n ot d o save i n t e h
s o l it u de Of i s ch amber or i n s u ch a private i n q u isition
h
—

as A ubrey had gon e throu gh that day This is on e of t e

proofs tha t there is m u ch to be said on both sides an d t a t
i t is t he u n scru pu lo u s O f ei ther side who has t e m ost
.

h h
power t o h umble an d to destroy Bu t the bravado did

h
.

h im good f or the mome n t let her make her claim what —

,

ever er claim was ; an d he wou ld meet it i n the face Of

day !
O ther ideas c a
hh
m e rapidly i n to A u b rey s m i n d when he
’

w h
strol l ed l is tlessly i n t o i s cl u b an d al m ost r an agai n st the

w hh
,

frie n d i n w ose hou se he ad first met Colon el Ki n gs

w ard an d throu gh whom con sequ e n tly all t at had after
,

Fa
“ ”
ard happe n ed had come abou t i r fiel d ! e cried .
,

i t h a gleam of su dden hope i n his ey es .

6
82 T HE SO R C ERE SS

h
.

Leigh ! Y ou here Ithou ght y ou were p il an der i ng —

o n the ban ks of some Germa n r i ver or other Well ! and

5 0 1 hear I have t o con gr a
.

t u late y ou my b oy an d Im ,
—
’

su re I d o so with all my heart

w
Y ou migh t have don e so a week a a
“
g o n d I s ho u l d ,

hav e respon ded with all mi n e Bu t y ou see me fallen .

agai n on darker days Fate s agai nst me it seems i n

.
’

, ,

e v ery way .

“
Why hat s the matter ? cried his fri en d
,
’
I ex .

t d t see tri mph a n t Wha t has go w o g ?

w
o y o u u n n
p e c e e r .

N o t settleme n ts alread y eh ,

Settl eme n ts ! They are free t o make wha t s ett le me n t s

t hey like so far as I am con cern ed

w hh
.

K i ng s a r d s a ve r y cool ha n d A u brey Y ou m ay
’

, .

lose yo ur head if y ou like b u t he alwa y s k n ows w at e

h
,

is abou t Y ou are an excellen t match

.

Y o u thi n k so said poor Au brey ith a l a u g N ot

w
, , .

badly OE a mild domest i c fellow with n o devil i n me at

h
, ,

all

h
.

I shou ld n ot exactly say t at A m an is no m an with .

o u t aspice of the devil W y what s the matter ? N o

h
’

h
.
,

I look at y ou i n stead Of a victoriou s lover y ou h a v e t e

, ,

most miserable an g dog

w
-

“
H an g dog that is i t a rope s e n d an d all over
-
,
—
’

, .

Ha n g it n o ! I am n ot goi n g to give i n
,
Fa i r fie l d I .
,

do n t wan t to Speak disrespectfu l l y Of a

’
n y woma n

w
.

“
Is it Mrs K i n gs ar d who is t oo you n g herself to

w
.

thi n k of e n ac t in g the part o f moth er i n l aw s o soon as - -

w
”
this ?
Mrs K i n gs ar d is a sort of an an gel F ai r fiel d if i t

h
,
.
,

ere ot O ld fashio ed
n n t o say s o an d alas ! I fear sh e
- —
,

i ll n o t en act a n y par t lo n g w ich is s o m u ch the w ors e

wh h
,

for m e

h
.

Y o u don t say s o ! That pretty crea t u re with all h er

’

pretty ways an d her dau ghter s j u st the sam e age as s e !

,
’

Poor K i n g s ar d Au brey if a m an shows a l ittle impa

.
,

t i e n c e with yo u r raptu res i n s u ch circ u msta n ces I d on t

'
,

thi n k y ou o u gh t to be ard u pon i m

h w
.

I don t believe he k n ows what are th e ci rcu ms t an c e s

’

nor a n y Of them It is n ot from t at ca u se F ai r fiel d

.
, .

Y ou k n ow M iss La nce , poor Am y s fri end

” ’
—
 THE SO R C ERESS 83

h h h
.

w
O n ce mor e e grew ot all over as he n ame d e r n ame

h
,

an d t u rn ed his face from his frien d s gaze ’

.

R emember her ! I s ou ld t hi n k so a n d all y o u had

h
,

t o bear o n t hat poi n t Old m a n We have Often said M ary

h
w
.
, ,

an d I that if ever there was a ero

,

Fa
“
i r fiel d l t hey ave got u p a tale tha t it was I who
kept her at Forest leigh agai n s t p oor Amy s ill an d that ’

h
,

m y poor wife s l ife a s made miserable by my atte n tion s

’

w
t o that 5 Fien d he wou l d ave said b u t he chan ged ,

i t t o wo man which mean t t o him a t that mome n t the

,

s ame thi n g .

Fa i r fiel d stared f or a momen t was he t aki n g a n e —

i dea i n to his commo n place mi n d ? The n he bu rst i n to a

l ou d lau gh . Y ou c a n call th e whole co u n ty t o bear wit
n ess t o t hat he cri ed,
Atten tion s ! Well I s u ppose
.
,

y o u were civil which was re,

ally more tha n a n y o n e e x

p e c t e d from y o u

h
.

Y ou k n ow a nd everybod y k n ows what a thorn i n the

, ,

fl esh it was My poor Amy ! wit ou t that there wou l d

.
,

h ave bee n n o clou d on ou r life ; an d it all arose from her

h
w
b est qu ali t ies her te n der heart her faithfu l n ess
, ,

A du biou s s ade came over F ai r fie l d s face Yes n o ’

.
,

d o u bt ; a n d Miss La n ce s flattery an d bla ndishmen ts ’

.

A u brey I don t mi n d sayi n g it n o that y ou are well

,
’

q u it Of her tha t was a woman to persu ade a fellow i n to

—

h
'
a n yth i ng I sh ou ld n o more have dared t o keep her es
.
,

p e c i al l y aft e r i n my ho —
u se a n d to expose myself t o ,
er
wiles
“
They n eve r were wiles for m e said Au brey agai n

hh
, ,

tu rn i n g his head away It was tru e tru e ! far m ore tr u e

h
.
,

t a n t e fatal con tradiction of it wh ich lay u pon his h eart ,

like a ston e I n ever came n earer to ati n g an y Of God s

.
’

creatu res than that woma n She made my life a b u rde n .

t o me She took my wife fro m me She In eed n t get ’

w hh
—
. .

dithyrambic o n the su bj ect y ou all k n ow — .

O h yes we all k n ow ; b u t y o u were too soft hearted

, ,
-
.

Y o u shou ld have risked a fit of tears from poor Mrs .

Leigh exc u se me f or sayi n g so n o

— an d se nt e r away —
.

I tr i ed it a doze n times Poor Amy wou l d h ave

h hh
.

b roken her heart She threate n ed eve n to go with e r

. .

An d t e y s a y wo m e n d o n t m ak e fr i en ds wi t e
’
ac oth er !
”
84 T HE SO R C E R E SS

h
.

Fai r fiel d g his sho ld rs al l

s ru g I ed u e i tt e s nEer my

some dear Clara other p ti g h

.

“
self from my wife s frie ds he said there s always
’
n , ;
’

ut t et

w w
ab or j o t m ak n le ou t o f in ,

i ng me search heave earth whe her s a ybody n an d n t e

’
n to

Se se hwas goi g
di er
nn t o fin d
dd a M ary has some
an O m n Bu t

f those h
.

n e say sto p d shortn to ,

but p e . M rs .

h
Fa a had o c ded o g ag o

wh
i r fiel d s on e O o c n lu l n
t at dear Amy was a lit tle goose taken sad ad van t age Of ,

by her persist en t frie n d .

Fa i r fie l d said A u brey
, y o u co u ld d o me a g re at
,

service if y ou wou ld Colon el K i n g s ar d as j u st tol d

.

me that he can t sen d ou t a royal commission t o examin e

’

my frie nds on this su bj ec t Y ou see him som e times I

h
.
,

s u ppose I kn ow y ou belong t o on e of his cl u bs Sti l l

. .

more he s a t h is o ff i ce all the morn i n g an d y ou kn ow im

,
’

well en ou gh t o look i n u pon him there

w hhw
.

Well said F ai r fiel d d u bio u sly

,
.

Cou ldn t y ou st retch a po i n t f or my sake an d g o an d

’

h h
,

tell him the real state O f aEai r s i n respect to Miss L an ce ,

an d o u n tr u e it is o ridic u lo u sly u n tru e that s e

ww
, ,

was kept a t Forest leigh by any will of mi n e ? Why it

-

h
,

was a t hi n g as y ou a v e j u st said that all the cou n ty

, ,

k n ew ! an i n fatu ation a n d n othi n g less t a n t he ba n e of

—

my whole mar ried life .

Yes I k n ow everybody thou ght S O Mr F ai r fiel d

,
—
,
.

said That n e idea

. as it perhaps germi n ati n g fai n tly
—

i n his mi n d ? n o o n e had thou ght o f a

—
n y other expla n a

a
tion b u t yet

h
,
“
If y ou were on ly to say s o on ly as m u ch s that
—

t at all my frie n ds recogn ized the state of the case .

I cou ld say th at said F ai r fiel d with hesi tation ; don t ’

w h
,

thi n k me u n frie n dly Au brey b u t it s a littl e awkward

, ,
’

f or a m a n t o i n te r fere i n a n ot er man s a Ea irs ; an d it s

’ ’

n ot on ly yo u r a Ea i r s that I k n ow S O well b u t y ou s e e

h
,

Ki n gs a r d s t oo
’

“
I am aware of t at F ai r fie l d ; still to break OE what I
,

bel ieve i n my heart wou ld be f or his dau ghter s happi n e s s ’

too
“
be s u re there s t e yo u n g lady t o be t ake n i n to
To ,

con sideration said F ai r fiel d d u bio u sl y

’
h .
,

It wil l b e a
s w ell to ca r r this i n ci den t to i ts com l e ti on
y p
 R C ERE SS 85

w
T HE SO .

w
at O nc e M r F ai r fiel d at the last allowe d him s elf t o b e

wh
. .

C o n vi n c e d ; a n d he we n t that aftern oon t o the cl u b to ,

hic he stil l belon ged by some early military exp er i

h
e n c es

h
an d where Colon el K i n g s ar d was on e of t ho s e
,

o r u led s u preme He kn ew exactly whe n t o fin d him

h
.

at t e cl u b where he st rolled i n after leavi n g his Ofii c e t o

,

h
w
r e fr e s him se l f with a c u p Of tea or someth in g e lse i n its ,

w
p l ace .The i n ercessor we n t u
p t o the tabl e at which t e
c o l o n el s at with the even i n g pape r an d conversed f or a ,

l i ttl e on the topics of the day After these had be en r u n .

O ver a n d the prospects O f ar slightly disc u ssed f or

w
—
,

C o l o n el K i n g s a r d had n ot m u ch respect f or Mr Fair .

fi e l d s opi n ion on th a t su bj ec t the latter gen tlema n sa i d

’
—

ab r u ptly :
I say K i ngs ar d I am v ery s orr y t o he ar there is
, ,

s o m e hitch i n the ma r riage which I was s o glad t o hear o f

l as t week .

“
Ah Oh ! S O Leigh has been with y o u I pres u me ?
, ,

the co l on el replied .

“
Yes ; an d u pon my life colone l there is n ot a word

h
, , ,

O f tru th i n a n y talk y o u may have heard abo u t that Miss

Lan ce We all k n ow qu i t e well t e whole b u si n ess
. .

Y o u shou ld h e ar Mary on the s u bj ect O f cou rse he can t

’
.
,

say t o y ou poor fellow that his first wife was a little

, ,

qu eer an d that that woman made her her slave

, .

“
N O i t wasn t t o be expected that he wou ld tell me
’
—

”
that .

Bu t it s tru e She g ot completely the u pper h an d Of

’

h
.

that poor l ittle thi n g The h u sban d had n o i n fl u en c e I . .

”
b elieve e hated her like the devil

wh
.

Y o u thi n k so said the colon el with a stra nge smile

,
-

, ,

yet i t s a cu riou s thi n g that he en d u red her al l the same

’

a nd a lso that a wife shou ld in sist s o i n keepi ng an o ther

oman i n her h u s ban d s con stan t comp an y an d an at ’
—

tra ctive wom an as I he ar

w
.
,

O a de v il Of a wom an cried F ai r fie l d
,
I was tell ,
.

i ng A u brey I shou ld n o more ha v e ve n tu re d to expose

y o u k n ow t at y o u
round th eir l i tt l e fi n ger
ca nn,
ot abide h
mys elf t o her blan dishme n t s ! One Of those sort Of women
yet o ca n t u r n y ou

.
,
h ,
86 T H E SO R C ERE SS .

An d wha t did he say to that ? the colon el ask ed st ill

h h
,

with that smile .

“
Oh ,
e s aid she n e v er ad an y charm f or him a nd I —

believe i t— f or wha t with poor little Mrs Leigh s whim s .

’

an d vagaries an d the other s flat t eri es an d adu l ation an d

’

comp l et e empire over her his life was m ade a bu rden t o

h
’
,

him Y ou shou ld hear Mary on tha t s u bj ect n on e of t e —

h
.

ladies cou ld keep t hei r patie n ce .

w
Ye t it appears Mr A u brey Leigh kept his u nt il e .
—

g o t t ired said ,
the col o n el Belie v e me F ai r fie l d. whe n , ,

there is s u ch an u nn at ural situ ation as t ha t there m u st b e

w h hh
,

more i n it th an meet s the eye .

Fa i r fie l d a good s t eady sou l o ge n erally ad i s

w
, , ,

ide as su ggested t o him we n t away v ery se r iou s from t hat

,

i n t ervie It was very stran ge i n d eed tha t a woman

.

S ho u ld prefer her frie n d t o her h u sban d a

hw
n d make t h in g s

w
,

wre t c hed f or him i n order t o keep her comfortabl e— « i t as

h
ve ry c u riou s t hat with a woma n s o m u ch su perior t o Amy
i n t e hou se a woma n O f the ki n d t ha t t urn me n s heads

w
’

, ,

that mil d A u brey Leigh o as n ot disti n g uished f or

,

w
force O f character shou ld have n e v er sou gh t a mome n t s
,
’

relief with her from po or Mrs Leigh s qu eru lou s n ess ’

h
. .

Fa ir fiel d a ccelerated h is departu re by an hou r or t o i n

order not t o meet Au brey agai n before he ad pou red
those s tran ge dou bts an d s u ggestion s i n t o his o n M ary s ’

ea rs
.

w
h w
CHAPT E R XI
h h
.

T HE party Of t rav ellers whose progress ad hi t er to

been like th at Of a par t y of pleasu re o h ad be e n i n t er ,

es t e d i n e v erythi n g they saw a

ww
n d hailed e v ery n e place ,

with delight as if th at had been the h av e n Of all their

,

homes trav elled home from Cologn e i n a very d i Eer e n t

,

K i ng s a h
spirit F or o n e thi ng it cou ld n ot be con cealed tha t Mrs
rd as ill which was a thi ng that s e h e rself
an d the whol e family stou tly on e stan di n g by a
,

n o t her
.

, ,

had hitherto been able to den y She had n ot go n e f ar n o t

h
.
,

an hou r s j ou rn ey whe n she h ad t o aban don her sea t by

’

t e wi n dow where i t had always been her deligh t t o s ee

—
 wh
T H E SO R C ERE SS 87

hlieo dotry h
.

t
an d
r
e c

e pared
un

f or wi h s
every vill age t o her c il dren
an d poi n t
n u pon the temporary cou ch whic
her t hawls an d c u shio n s
ou t

a lo n g
M ou l s e y
n side
h
p o e
O f the c a rriage S e cr i e d ou t agai n st herself as sel f
.

i n d u lge n t an d lazy b u t she did n o t resist this arran ge

” ”

h
,

m en t It e Eec tu al l y t ook any pleasu re that there mi g ht

hh
.

ave bee n ou t of t he j ou rn ey ; f or Bee as may be su ppo s e d

h
, ,

t o u g she was not mel an chol y an d wou ld n o t ad m it

'

, ,

e ve n t o Betty i n t he closest co n fide n ce that S e was at

w
, ,

al l afraid Of the u ltimate iss u e was cer tai nly self ab ,

-

s o rbed and glad n o t t o be called u pon to n otice the

,

s c e n ery b u t allowed t o s u bside i n to a corn er with her

w
,

o n thou ghts Charlie was i n the opposite corn er ex

.
,

c e e d i n gl y gl u m an d n o t con versible Bee wou ld n o t

h h
.
,

s peak t o h im or look at him a n d eve n Bet t y t hat l ittle , ,

th i n g ad said O h Charlie o cou ld y ou be so n asty

, , , ,
”
t o A u brey ? f or her sol e sal u tation that morn i n g He

h
.

w as n o t su re eve n th at his mother tho u gh he had stood ,

er s ide a n d backed her u p was pleased with him f or

w
on ,

this . She talked to him it is tru e occasion ally an d , , ,

m ade him d o li t tle t hi n gs f or her b u t rather i n the way

h
,

i n which a mother si n gles o u t the pariah o f the family ,

the one o is boyco t ted f or some domestic OE en c e t o ,

S how him that all are n o t agai n s t h im than i n the to n e

w
,

which is u sed t o a champion an d defen der S O it was n ot .

won d e rfu l that Charlie was gl u m ; b u t t o see him i n on e

h
h i s m u s t ache with ,
h
corn er biti n g or t ryi n g to bit e the few h airs that he called
,

i s brows ben t do n t o his chi n a

i s chi n s u n k i n the collar o f h is coat a n d Bee i n a
nd

w
n —

other v e r y d i Eer en t i n deed her face glorified with

, ,

dreams an d her eyes fu ll O f late n t ligh t ready t o flash

, ,

o u t at a n y mome n t was n o t cheerfu l f or the others

—
.

Mrs K i n g s ar d looked at them from one to an other

.
,

and at li t tle Betty betwee n b u sied i n a little book with ,

h
,

that baffl ed feel i ng which arises i n the m i n d Of a delic ate

woman when the stron g i n divid u alities an d wills Of er

w hw
childre n become first developed before her after that ,

time Of t heir you th whe n all were gu ided by her decision

and m a
h
mma s leave was asked f or everyth i n g How
’
.

fi erce o self wi l led o determi n ed i n his opposition

,
-
,

Ch a r l i e looked like his father n o t t o be moved by a

,
ny ,
 88

w w h
h
T HE

thin g ! An d Bee o possess ed by t ose y ou n g ope s o f

,

her o n which t e mother k n ew wou ld be Of n o ava i l

SO R C ERE SS .

h h
w
agai n st the fiat gon e forth agai n st her ! Mrs K i n g s ar d
k n ew her h u sb an d bet t er than her chi l dre n did S e
k n ew that havi n g t ake n u p i s position he wou ld n o t giv e h
.

. h
in And Bee with all that light of resistan ce i n her eye s

hh
.
, ,

Bee as little wil l i n g t o give i n as he ! The i n valid tre m

bled when she tho u ght of t e cl as of arm s that wou ld r e '

sou n d over her head of t he stru ggle which wou ld re n d

—

her cheerfu l hou se i n two She did n ot at all realize that .

the cheerf u l days o f that hou se were n u mbered that soon —

it wou ld be redu ced i n t o its eleme n ts as a somewhat ,

cl amorou s restless t oo en ergetic brood of children and a

w
-
, , ,

father v ery self w i lled who hitherto had k n own n othi ng

w
-
,

O f t hem b u t as happy a n d obedien t creat u res whose i n di

h
,

vidu al determi n ation s con cer n ed games an d lesson s an d

w
,

o s o far as th e co n d u ct o f life was a Eec t e d we r e of n o

\

p artic u lar acco u n t Mrs K i n g s.ar d was n o t ye.t awar e

ww
that this was the dolorou s prospect before her hou sehold

w
she on ly thou ght H o am I to man age them all an d
, .
‘

felt her heart fail before Charl ie s ill h u mor an d p ar t: p r i s ’

an d before the bright defian ce i n Bee s eyes Poor

h
’

h
.

A u brey hom she had l earn ed to look u po n as on e of er

,

o n half a s on a
,
n d half a brother poor A u brey who ad ,

gon e s o ron g an d yet h ad S O man y exc u ses f or him a ,

victim rath er than a sed u cer what was happe n i n g t o —

h
Au brey thi s fin e Septem b er mor n i ng ? It made her heart

h h
sick i n her bos om as S e t hou g ht o f all these n ewly raise d
con flicti n g powers an d s e s o little able to cope with them
f

, .

If she did n ot get stron g soon w at wou ld all these chil ,

dren d o ? Ch a r lie wo u ld g o back to college a n d wo u ld b e !

.

o u t o f it .H e had so stron g a will an d was s o det ermi ne d ,

to get on that little harm wou ld h appe n to him an d b e

w w
—
,

sides he was e n tirely i n accord with his father which was ,

a great matter Bu t Bee Bee ! It seemed t o M rs Ki n gs

w
.
, .

ward that i t was on the card s that Bee might take matters

h
i nto her o n han ds an d r u n aw ay ith her lover if her
fat er wou l d n o t yield What else was th ere for these .

you n g creatu res ? Mrs Ki n g s ar d k n ew th at she herself

,

h
.

wou ld have don e so i n the circu msta n ces had lzer lover i n
sisted ; a nd s e kn ew t hat he wou ld n o more ha v e c on
 T H E SO R C ERE SS 89

h
.

h
w
s en t e d t o su c asen te n ce n ever n ever ! th an he had don e

h hh
, ,

tO a n y t i n g he disliked all h is life An d Bee was like

‘

i m t Ou g she had n ever h itherto bee n an ythi n g b u t a n

h
-

o b e die n t child Mrs K i n gs ar d cou ld n ot help pictu ri n g

. .

to ers elf as she lay t here t he elopemen t Bee s room

, ,
—
’

fou n d empty i n the mor n i n g the n ote l eft on her tabl e

w
, ,

the s o easy so certai n explan ation which already she felt

,

h erself to be readi n g An d the n her h u sban d s wrath

’

h
.
,
“
his un al terable verdic t on the crimi n al : n ever to en t er
”
t i s ho use agai n ! Poor mother ! She foresaw as e all ,

d o tor tu res f or hersel f which she was n ever t o be called

,

u pon t o bear

h
.

As f or Betty it was the m ost tiresome j ou rn ey i n all

w
,

er litt l e experie n ces ; a lon g j o u r n ey was ge n erally f u n

h
t o Betty . The sc u ffl e of gett i n g away of seei n g tha t all
t e little packets were right of ab u si n g M ou l s e y for
i n g a ay the l u n cheon basket u n der the r u gs and the
id ,
,

h
books in some locked bag the tro u ble of secu ri n g a com ,

p a r t m e n t arra n g i n g u mbrellas an d other t hi n gs i n the

h
,

v acan t seats to make believe tha t e very place was fu ll

h
,

t e watch a t every statio n to preve n t the i n tru sio n of

s tr a n gers t e ru n n i n g from o n e S ide t o a n other t o see the
,

p r e tty village or the Ol d castle or the f u n n y people at the

h
,

c o u n try statio n s a n d the q u eer n a m es the l u n cheon i n —

t e middl e o f the day which was as good as a pic n i c -

h
,

al l t hese thi n gs m u ch di verted Betty who loved the rapid

ww
,

m ovemen t throu gh t e air a

w
n d to feel the wi n d on her ,

h
fac e ; b u t n on e o f these delights were t o be had to d ay

w
.

S e was i n o n e o f the middle places betwee n Charlie so ,

g l u m a n d i n a temper an d Bee lost

an d withou t a ord t o say an d opposit e t o mamma
i n,
her o

as s o m u ch more seriou s th an u su al g i vi n g little Betty

n

,
tho u ght s

o h ,

a sm ile from time t o t ime b u t n o t abl e t o speak lou d ,

e n o u gh t o be heard t hro u gh the d i n of the trai n She

w
.

tri ed to read her book b u t it was n ot a very i n teresti n g,

book ; an d i t was short too an d evi d e n tly wou ld n o t h alf

h
,

l ast o u t the j ou rn ey Betty was the on ly member o f the

.

p a r t y o had a free mi n d The commotio n o f the .

rom an ce between Bee an d Au brey h ad been p u re am u se

m e n t t o her It wou ld be a bore if it did n ot e n d i n a
.

s p e e dy ma r riage with all the exciteme n t Of the presen ts

,
 R C ERE SS

w
9 0 T H E SO .

h
w
the trou sseau the dresses (especial ly the bri desm ai ds
,
’

dresses ! t e w eddi n g day itself the i n creased dign ity of

,
-
,

Betty as Miss K i n g s ar d the pleasu re of talki n g Of my “

wh
,

m arried sister the pleasu re Of v isitin g Bee i n her o n

,

hou se an d shari n g all her gran deu r as acou n ty la dy

,
.

To miss al l this wou ld be a real t ri al b u t Betty had c on ,

fid en c e i n th e fitn ess Of thi n gs a n d fel t it as impossib l e

ww
,

that she shou ld miss all this An d she was a t ease i n er

h
.

little mi n d an d the presen t dreari n ess o f this u n am u si n g

, ,

u n attrac t ive j o u rn ey h u n g all the more e avy u po n her

con sciou sn ess no .

They ar rived n ex t day havi n g slep t at Bru ssels t o break ,

t he j ou rn ey f or Mrs K i n g s a rd a n d the colon e l met t hem

.
, ,

as i n d u ty bou n d at Victoria He gave Charlie his han d

,
.
,

an d allowed Bee an d Be t ty t o kiss him b u t his whole ar

h
,

te n tion as was n atu ral was f or his wife

, ,
.

Y ou l ook dreadfu lly tired he said with t at half , ,

t on e o f o Ee n c e i n which a m a n shows his disappo i n tme n t

at t he aspec t o f an i n val i d Y o u m u st have bee n worried .

”
on the j o u r n ey to look so tired .

O h n o I have n o t bee n at all worried o n the j ou r n ey

, ,

they h ave all been so good spari n g me every f atigu e ; ,

b u t i t is a tiresome lon g way E dward y ou k n ow , ,

.

“
Yes of cou rse I kn ow ; b u t I n ever saw y ou look s o
,

tired before H e cast a reproachfu l look rou n d u pon the

.

you n g people who were all ready t o stan d on the defeu

,

sive Y ou m u s t have bothered you r mother t o death

w
.
,
“
he said I m sorry I did n ot come ou t f or her myself
’

h
.

”
u n doi n g all the e E ec t of her c u re

h
.

O y o u ,
will s e e I sha l l be al l right whe n ,
I get home ,

Mrs K i ng s ar d said cheerfu lly

.
“
As f or the c ildre n .
,

E dwar d they have all bee n a s good as gold

w
.
,

Y ou had better see to the l u ggage a n d bri n g yo u r

’

h
sist ers home i n a cab I ca n t let mamma han g abou t ’

here sa i d t e colon el i n h is pere m ptory way

,
M ou l s e y .

ill com e with u s I su ppose y ou t hree have brai n s

w
.

e n ou gh t o man age by you rsel ves .

Th u s i n su lti n g his grow n u p chil dre n amon g whom a -

,

h
fl ame of i n di gn atio n lighted u p partially bu rn i n g aw a
t e i r di ffi c u lties betwee n themselves Colon el K i n g s ar d
half carried his wi f e t o the car riage
-
I thou ght a t first
y ,

.
,
 w T H E SO R C ERESS .
9 1

w
Ish o u l d h av e waited at K i n g s ar d en till y ou came back

w
.

I am glad I chan ged my mi n d an d came back to Harley

wh
Street he said
, .

“
O is it t o Harl e y Street e a
, r e goi n g ? said Mrs .

K i n gs a r d fa i ntly I had rather hoped for the cou n try

w
.
,
”
E d ard .

Y ou don t look m u ch l ike an other twen ty miles o f a

’

j ou r ney s aid her h u sban d

h h
, .

Well pe rhaps n ot ; I o n I shall be gl ad t o b e qu i et

, ,

t e poor lady said What e wished had alwa y s t u rn ed

h h w
.

o u t after a m ome n t t o be j u st what his wife wished for a ll

h h
t e years o f their u n io n She even meekl y accepted the
fact that the c ildre n the nu rse ry c ildre n as they were
cal l ed the little o n es
—
—
.

o were n o t ro u ble b u t o n ly a
,

h
,

refreshme n t an d de l ight wou ld have bee n t oo m u ch f or

w h
,

h er th at first n ight Secretly she ad bee n looki n g f or

.

h
ward to th e tou ch an d sight o f her placid smili n g baby as
t e o n e th i n g that wou l d d o her good a n d all those l arge

w
,

e t kisses o f Jo nn y a n d Tommy a n d L u cy a n d little

M argaret an d the b u rst of delighted voi ces at the sigh t
—

h
o f m amma

h Yes I believe it wou ld have bee n t oo m u ch

w h
,

h
.

”
f o r me s e said with a look aside at M o u l s e
, , y o as , ,

o n ma n y a previo u s occasio n wo u l d dearly ave lov ed t o ,

b o x her m a
“
ster s ears An d I do be l ieve it wou ld have
’

b ee n t o o m u ch f or me Mrs K i n g s ar d added w en that

w
.
, ,

con fide n tial atten d an t pu t her t o be d .

”
Perhaps it wou l d ma am M ou l s e y said ,
’

,
.

They wou ld have made a n oise bless them an d baby ,

—

ill n ot g o t o an y on e when he sees me an d altogether I —

s hall be more fit f or them M ou l s ey after a good n ight s

’

w
, ,

rest

h If y ou get that y ou poor d ear sa i d M ou l s e y u n der

,

e r breath ; b u t her mi s tress did n o t hear that remark a

, ,

w
ny
m ore than ma n y ot hers which M o u l s e y made i n her o n
m i n d al ways addressed t o th at mistress whom she love d

w
, .

If h e s aid dyi n g wou ld be g ood for y ou y ou wo u ld say ,

y o u were s u re o f it a
n d tha t was what y
, o u a n ted most ,

the maid said withi n herself It m u st n ot however be .

, ,

h
su pposed from th i s that Colon el K i ng s ar d was n ot a good
u sb and H e had al ways bee n like a lo ve r tho u gh a
.

so me wh at peremptory on e to his wife And withou t him .

,

,
9 2 T H E SO R C ERE SS

wh .

w w
her yo a pleas re lovi g ays lo v O f lif a d

ww
u ng ,
g y u ,
n er e -
e n ,

am u seme n t migh t have m ade her a m u ch l ess s u cce s sf u l

person age an d n o t the example of every vi r t ue t hat s e
a s
,

Had Mrs K i ngs ar d had the u pper h an d the fam ily

.
h
,
.

o ul d have been aver y d i Ee r e nt family an d its c are e r

w
,

h
probably a very broken t u m u ltu ou s happy g O l u ck y c a - -
, ,

reer It as tha t strong b an d whic had co n trol l e d an d

.

gu ided her which had bee n as people say the maki n g o f , ,

Mrs K i n gs ar d ; and t hou gh she feared his severity i n

h h
.
,

the prese n t crisis she ye t felt the most u nspeakab l e reli e f

w h
,

from the ba ffl ed elpless con dition i n which s e had look e d

,

at her chi l dre n feeli n g herself all u n ab le t o c op e wit

,

hh
t h em i n the pres en ce of papa
I won der if he t i n ks e are cabbages was Bee s i n
.

,
’

digna
“
n t exclama t ion a

su lle n n ess
”
s e tu rn e d his back u pon t hem
Apparen t ly said Charlie comi ng a lit t le ou t o f i s
,

L ook here y ou girls ge t i n to this om n ib u s

,
.

h
h
.
, ,

— happily we ve
g o t an
’
om n ib u s with the little t hi n g s —
,

while I g o t o t e C u st om H ou se t o ge t t he l u ggag e
t hrou gh .

wh
Betty y ou ge t i n said Bee
,
I will g o with y ou
,
.
,

Charlie f or I h ave got mamm a s keys ’

Ca n t y ou give them t o me ? Charlie cas t a gloo m y

look abou t t h i n kin g that Leigh migh t perh aps be s ome
,

where awaiti n g aword atho ug ht which n o f or the firs t ,

t ime t ra v erse d Bee s m i n d t oo

’
.

Then Be tt y y ou had better go with h im f or e

, , ,

doesn t k n ow h alf the b oxes she said

’

,
.

O h y ou c a

w
“
n come you rself if y ou l ike said Charl ie

w
, , ,

feeli ng i n th at case t hat th i s was the safes t arran geme n t

after al l .

N 0 Betty had bet t er g o Betty y ou k n ow M ou l s ey s

,
.
,
’

b ox a n d tha t n e baske t that mamma bou g h t be fore e

left the B aths ”

w
.

Com e alon g you rself qu ick Bee , .

NO I shal l st op i n the om n i bu s .

h
,

When y ou h av e made u p you r min ds ! c ri e d B e t ty

”

h
,

o had slipped ou t o f that vehicle at t he first w o rd .

Bet t y thou ght i t wou ld be more f u n t o g o t hrou gh t e

An d Bee ad er rew a hh
Cu stom Hou se t han to wait all the tim e cooped u p here
r d ; f or Au brey was t h er e w a it ,
.
 T HE S O R C E RE SS .
93

w
ing at a distance till the ma t ter was s et t l e d I shou ld .

h ave risked everythi n g an d com e even if the p en al t y had

h
,

bee n a q u arrel with Ch arlie A u brey said b u t I m u st

”
,

h
,

n o t q u arrel i th a n y o n e if I c an he l p it We s all have .

ard work e n ou gh withou t t hat .

Y o u have see n papa ?

Yes I have see n him ; b u t I ha v e n ot don e myself
h
w
,

m u ch good I f e ar said Au brey shaki n g his ead

w
, , , .

Bee y ou won t give me u p wha t eve r they m ay say ?

’ ”

h
,

Give y ou u p ? Never Au brey till y ou give me u p ! , ,

The n all i s safe my darli n g Ho ever t i n gs look ,

.

no they can t hold ou t forever ’

Lies m u s t b e fou n d .

o ut ,
and the n— i n a t i me you will b e abl e t o act f or —

y o u rself .

DO y o u thi n k papa wil l stan d t o it like that Au brey ? ,

A u brey shook his head He did n ot make any reply . .

”
Tell me Is it a lie ? she said
. .

H e ben t dow n his head u po n h er ha n d kiss i n g i t ,

.

“
Not all he sai d i n an almost i n au dible voice
”
, , .

said that at Cologn e —

“
I d i d n o t u n derstan d said Bee N O ; it does n o t , .

m atter t o me A u brey n o t s o very m u ch ; b u t if y ou ,

pro mised
“
I n ever p romised n ever My onl y thou ght was to
— .

es c ap e
“
The n I c an t thi n k what y ou have don e wron g
’
.

A u brey is she tall w i th dark hair an d bea u tifu l dark

, , ,

eyes an d a way of looki n g at y ou as if she wou l d look

h
,

a
”
y “
o u thro u gh n d thro u gh ?
Bee ! he sa i d grippi n g her fast as if some on e ad
”
,

bee n abou t t o decoy her away .

“
An d a mou th that is v ery pretty b u t

w
said Bee , , ,

l ooks as if it were c u t o u t of stee l ? The n I have seen her .

She sat dow n by me on e day i n the wood when I was do

h h
,

i n g th at sketch a n d g ave me s u ch clever hi n ts tell i n g

, ,

m e o t o fi n ish it til l s e ma d e me hat e it don t y ou , ,

’

w
k n ow Is she horribly cl ever and a good art i st an d l ike
.

th at
Bee ! Wha t did that woman say t o y ou ?
Nothi n g very m u ch — asked me abo u t the people at the
h o t el , an d i f th ere ere an y Lei g s n o t yo u she pr e h —
94

,
h
t e n de d b u t t e Lei gh s of H rst l e igh
I thou ght it v ery stra nge at the time y s e
T HE

om s e kn e

a b ou t the Leighs withou t kn owi n g an yth i n g an d t h en I

sho u l d a
SO

s k
R C ER ESS

u -
.

w
w
,
h
hh h w —
.

forgo t all a b o u t it Bu t t o d ay i t c am e ba . c k t o my m i n d
an d I have bee n t hi n kin g Of n ot i n g els e Au brey s e i s
O ld e r than y ou are
”
.
h .
,
h ,

Y es
”
he said

h
.
,

An d she m a de y ou promise t o m a1 ry her ? s ai d Be e

’
,

h alf u n con sciou s yet half con sci ou s o f that wil e o f t e

cross exami n er comi n g back to th e po i n t su ddenly
-
.

Never Bee n ever f or on e mome n t i n my mise r y !

h h
, ,

That I shou ld have t o make su ch a con fe ss ion t o y ou — b u t

there was n o promi s e n or thou g t Of a promi se I des i r e d .

whww w
n othi n g n oth i n g b u t t o e scap e from Y ou don t
’
er

h
.
,
"
dou bt my word Bee ?

hh
,

N o ; I do n t dou bt a n yt hi n g y ou say Bu t I t hi nk s e
’
.

is a dreadfu l wom an t o get an ybody i n er pow er Au brey

w
, .

My littl e dr awi ng as for y ou It as t e pl ace e fi rs t .

met an d she told m e o t o d o it and mak e i t l ook s o

h
,

m u ch better I am n ot very clever at it y ou k n ow ; an d

.
,

the n I h ated t e very s igh t of i t an d t or e it i n t o I , .

”
don t kn ow why
’
.

“
I u n derstan d why Be e y ou will b e fai th f u l to m e.
, ,

w
whatever y ou are told ?
Till I die Au brey ,

An d n ever n ever b el ie v e t at f or am omen t my h e a

.

rt h
h
,
”

w
will chan ge from y ou ?
N o t till I hear it from you rself s e sa id with a oe
Th e despair i n him comm u n icated itself t o e r
, ,

h
w
f u l smile

h
.

h
,

who h ad n o t bee n despairi n g at all .

Whic will ever b e an d w en y ou are you r o n

n —

mist ress my darli n g

“
,

h
w
”
O h we s an t have to wait f or that ! she cried i th
’

, ,

a b u rs t of her n ative e n ergy Dear Au brey th ey ar e .

,

comi n g back ; y ou m u st g o away .

”
Till we meet agai n darlin g ? ,

T i ll e me et agai n
 T HE SO R C ERE SS .
95

w w
C HAPT E R XI I

w
.

BE E stol e i nt o her mother s room as s li e wen t u pst airs ’

af t er that firs t di nn er at hom e hich u sed to b e su ch a

h
j oyou s meal H o they had al l e n j oyed i t u n til n o ;
.
—

t e eas e a n d space th e goi n g fro m room t o room t he de

h h
, ,

l ight i h fi n di n g ev erythi n g with which they were famili a r;

t e flowers i n t e vas es ( n ever were a

w
n y s u ch flowers as
th o se a t home ! ; t he i n c u rsion s of the litt l e on es shou ti n g

h h Mamm as come home eve n the li t tle air Of ’

t o each other ,

w
di s order whic all t hese i n terru ption s brou g t i n t o the
o r d erly ho u s e as delightfu l t o the yo u n g people They .

l o oked forward a s to a n ideal life t o b egi nn i n g all the i r

hh
u s u al occu pation s agai n a

hw
n d doi n g them all better t ha n
“ ”
e ve r. O ,
o n ice it i s to b e at home ! t he girls had
s aid t o e ach other I n stead o f thos e hotel rooms which
.
,

at their best are n ever more tha n hotel rooms a g enr e n ot

w
,

t o be mis t aken o ,
delightfu l was the great drawi n g
r o o m at home with a l l i t s corn ers Be e s l ittle table where
’

, ,

h
sh e m u ddled a t her drawi n gs ; mam ma s great basket of ’

hh
n e e dle ork where
c aritabl e co v er ;
e verythi n g cou ld be t rown u n der
Betty s stoo l on which she sa t at the ’

h
fe e t o f e r oracle of the m ome n t whoever tha t might be ;
an d al l t e l i t tle d u ties to be resu med the even i n g papers
,
—

h
ar ran ged f or papa ( as if he had n ot seen e n o ugh Of them
i n t e daytime i n his o ffi ce ! the flowers t o see af ter the
l ittle n otes to wri t e al l the pleasan t co mmon places Of the
, ,

w w
,

h o me l ife But t o n ight f or the firs t t ime the di nn er

was a sile n t m eal h u rried over n ot m u ch better t ha
- -
.
, ,

,
n a —

di n n er at a railway station with a se nsation i n it of bei n g

h
,

s t ill o n the roa d of n ot havin g y e t reached t heir desti n a

,

ti on T e dra i ng room was i n brown hollan d s t ill for-

h
.
,

they were all goi ng on to K i ngs ar d en to morrow The -

.

o u se felt formal u n i n habi t ed as i f they had come home

h
, ,

t o lodgi n gs . All this was bad en ou gh ; b u t the primary

tro u ble of all was t e fact that mamma was u pstai rs gon e —

ht o b e d before di nn er t oo tired t o si t u p
ad n ever happe n ed before
,
S u ch a thi n g
However tired she was she
h
.

h
.
,

h ad always s o bri ghten e d u p at t e sens at i on of comi n g

ome .
9 6

w wh w h
T H E SO R C ERESS .

w
An d papa t ou gh k i n d , , g a
v ry
r v e T e as
happi en ess .

Of getti n g his fam ily back d id

n o t sho 1 n his fac e a nd

hw
al l his action s as it gen erally did Colon e l K i ng s ar d
s very ki n d a
.

a s a father a n d very te nder as a h u s ban d ;

h h
t e severity of h is char a cter s howed li t t le at home H is
wife as aware O f it an d s o were t e serv an ts ; an d
.

w
,

Charl ie I thi n k ad begu n t o s u spec t what a han d Of

w
, ,

iron was covered by t hat velvet glove Bu t the girls had .

n ever had a n y occ a sion t o fear their father Bee thou gh t

hw
.

th at the addi t ion al gravity of his beha vior was O i n g t o

herself an d her i n trodu ction of a n e i n di v id u al i n terest
in to t e fam ily ; s o th at n otwiths t an di ng a t ou ch Of i n

ww w h
,

hw
dign ation ith wh i ch she felt the di Eeren c e she was ,

ti mid an d n ot withou t a sen se o f gu i lt before her fat er .

Never had she been rebell iou s or disobedie n t before ; an d

w
she as both n o determi n ed n ot to su bmi t ; this mad e

w
,

her self con sciou s an d rather s ile n t she a s a

hw
-
o lways ,

overfl owi n g with t alk an d f u n an d the st ory of their trav

h
els Colon el K i ngs ar d did n ot as k man y qu estion s abou t
.

that ; hat he d i d ask was all abou t you r mot er

“
She is n ot loo ki n g s o well as whe n s e e n t away
.

h
,

he said .

O papa i t s on ly b e cau se she s s o t ired cried l i ttl e

, ,
’ ’

Betty Betty taki n g u pon her t o a n swer papa to tak e th e

.
,

respon sibility O f su ch a stateme n t u pon her little shou lders !

Bu t Bee felt as if she cou ld n o t say an yth i n g .

Do y ou really thi n k so ? he sai d t u rn i n g to that c on

”
,

a
fid e n t little spe ker to Betty ! As if Bet t y cou l d k n ow
—

an ythi n g abou t i t ! Bu t Bee seemed p a ralyzed an d cou ld

w w h
n o t speak

hw
h
.

She stole as I havesai d i n to er mo t her 5 room on her ’

w h h
, ,

way u pstairs b u t she ad hardly time t o say a word when

,

papa came i n t o see if Mrs K in gs ar d ad e aten an yth i n g .

an d o she felt n o t hat she was comfort abl y est ablished

w
i n her o n bed It i rritated Bee t o feel herself th u s de
.

p r i v e d O f the o n e little bit o f poss i ble expan sio n a

stirred her spiri t With her c eek to her mother s s e

n d
’
,

h
w
.
,

said i n her ear Mamma I s a Au b re y at the station

, , ,

with a thrill o f ple asu re an d defian ce 1 n sayi ng that thou gh ,

secretly i n her father 3 prese n ce

,
’
.

O h , Be e s a i d M r s K i ngs a
. r d wi t h a
,
. fa i n t cr
y o f alarm .
 THE SO R C ERE SS 97

h
.

An d he told m e con ti n u ed Be e breat hl ess i n er

w
, ,

whisper that papa was firm agai n st u s

w
.
,
“ ”
Bee ! Bee l
An d we prom ised each other we s hou ld n ev er n e ver

w
,

give u p
,
,
hatever an y on e might say
O h child how dare y ou
,
o dare y o u ? Mrs Ki n gs ,
h .

ward said .

H o Bee s heart beat ! What a n e n live n i n g i nspiriti n g

’

strai n of opposition came i n to her mi n d mak i n g her cheeks ,

gl ow and her eyes fl ame ! The whisper was perhaps a child s ’

device perhaps a woma n s weak n es s b u t it exhilarated

,
’

her beyon d descriptio n to say all this i n the ve ry pres

en ce Of her father There was a se n satio n of girl ish mis
.

ch ief i h it as well as of defian ce wh i ch relieved all the

ww
heavier sen time n ts that h ad weighed dow n her heart .

What are y ou sayi n g to you r mother Bee ? She m u st ,

n o t b e distu rbed R u n away a

. n d let her rest If we are .

t o go back to K i n g s a r d e n to morrow she m u st get all

w
-

th e rest that is possible n o .

“
I was n ever the on e t o distu rb mamma said Bee b e

h
, ,

sto wi n g an other k i ss on her m other s cheek ’

w
.

“
O ,
be a good child Bee ! pleaded M r s K i n g s ar d
,
”
.
,

al m ost wi thou t so u n d ; for by this time the colo n el was

hoveri n g over the bed with a tou ch of s u spicion won der
, ,

i n g wh a t as goi n g on betwee n these two .

h
Yes m amm a dear alway s sai d Bee alou d

s ayi n g t o h er ?
,

What is S e prom isi n g L u cy ? An d w at were y ou

Bee sho u ld k n ow better at her age than to
,
,

h .

dist u rb y o u with t alk .

O h n othi n g E dward She was o n ly givi n g me a kiss ;

h
.
, ,

an d I told her t o be a good child as I am always doi n g —

h
th i n k i n g to be heard y ou k n ow for m u ch speaki n g t e
m ot er said with a soft la u gh
,

.
, ,

B e e has always bee n a s u ff i cie n tly good child I don t

h
’
.

th i n k yo u n eed trou ble you rself on that poi n t T e thi n g .

for y o u is t o get well my dear an d keep an ea s y m i n d

, ,
.

D o n t trou ble abou t a n ythi n g ; leave al l that to me an d

’

try an d thi n k a little abo u t you rself

h
I always do E dward s e said with asm ile h .

h h
.
, ,

H e shook i s head ; b u t agitatio n had bro u ght a color

e r cheek a de one s s el f t a
nd t o p e r s u a t i t i s onl y
’

to ,
 8 E O RC E RE SS

w
9 TH S .

fati g u e that makes a beloved face look pale is so easy at

first before an y grave alarm h as bee n ro used Yet Col o

w h
, .

n el K i n g s ar d s mi n d was n o t an easy o n e that n igh t

’
.

He was me f ond a s evere m an very r igid as to what e

h
,

tho u ght his d u ty taki n g life seriou sly o n the whol e H i s

,
.

yo u n g wife o loved pleas u re had made him far m or e

, ,
‘

a m an o f socie t y than was n at ural or i n deed pleasi n g t o

him ; b u t he had t h u s got i n to that c u rren t which it is s o
diffi c u l t to get ou t of witho u t a too stern withdrawal ; an d
his large you n g fam ily h ad warmed his heart an d dresse d

w h
his aspec t i n ma n y smiles an d graces which did n ot bel on g

w h
t o him by n at u re This mixt ure of the rigi d an d t e
.

y i eldi n g h ad produ ced n othi n g b u t good e ff ects u po n i s

character till n o Bu t there is n o telli n g what am an i s
.

til l the first co n flict of wills arises i n his o n hou sehol d .

H itherto there had bee n n othi n g of th e ki n d H is ch il

w
.

dre n had am u sed h im an d pleased him an d made hi m

w
pro u d Their health th eir pretti n ess their i n fan ti l e gayety
.
, ,

an d d elight i n every favor a ccorded to them had be e n al l

h n s u preme i n fl u e n ce a

w
s o ma n y trib u tes to his o n d powe r .

T eir very health was a sta n di n g compli me n t t o his o n

hea l th an d vigor from whom they took their excelle n t

w hw w
,

con stit u tion s an d to the wo n derfu l care an d att en tio n t o

,

every l a of health which he e n forced i n his ho u se N o t .

a drai n escaped trappi n g n o t a gas was left u n disposed ,

of here Colon e l K i ng s ar d was H e had every n e .

s u ggestion i n his n u rsery tha t san itary scie n ce co u ld b r i n g

“
An d look at t e resu l t ! he was i n the h abit of
”
up .

s ayi n g Not a pal e face n ot a headache n ot an i n valid

.
, ,

member there An d amo n g the childre n he was as the

h h
.

s u n i n his sple n dor E very delight rayed o u t from h im

. .

h
T e ho u r o f his comi n g home was watc ed f or ; i t was the

ww h
greatest treat for t e l i t t l e boys to g o i n the dog cart with -

hh
Si m mons the groo m to fetc papa fro m the statio n while

h
, ,

t e ot ers assembled at the door as at a d ai l y celebr atio n

,

ww
to see i m arrive Charlie as n o a m an grown b u t he
.
,

was a go od boy fu ll of all right imp ulses an d there had

, ,

n ever bee n a n y di ffi c u l ty with him .

Th us Colo n el K i ng s ar d had bee n kept from all k n owl

h
edge o f those co n trarieties o f n atu re which appear eve n i n
t e mo s t fa vor ed re gion s He as of Opi nion th a t .e h
 w
su r ro u n ded his wife ith every care bore everythi n g for
T HE

her di d n o t s n Ee r the wi n ds Of heave n t o visit her cheek

SO R C E R E SS .

,
99

h h
,

too r o u ghly An d it was t r u e Bu t he was n o t at a ll

w
. .

awar e that S e saved i m an ythi n g ; o r that his j oyfu l

w w h
om n ipote n ce an d sec u ri ty from every fret an d all Opposi

w
tio n d epe n ded u po n her more th an on an yt i n g else i n

h h h
th e orld H e did n o t k n ow the little i n evitable j ars
.

ich she smoothed a ay t e you thfu l wills gr owi n g i n t o

w
,

i n d ivid u ality w ich she kept i n check ; wh i ch as a pity ,

f o r the stron g m a n was th u s deprived o f the graces of pre

h
ca u ti o n an d k n ew n o more t han th e merest weakli n g

hwh w
,

at as his childre n grow i n to m e n an d wome n every

, ,

m an has t o face an d provide ag ai n st If Colo n el K i n gs .

ward was t oo arbitrary too tre n cha n t i n his measu res too , ,

ce rtai n that t er e as n o will b u t h is o n to be take n i n to

acco u n t the blame m u st t u s be partially laid u po n those

h
,

n at u ral fict i o n s of bo u n dless lov e a n d d u ty a n d sweet a f

f ecti on a t e s u bmissio n which grow u p i n t e n u rsery a nd

w
reign as lo n g as childhood lasts— u n til a more poten t force
o f self o r will or lov e comes i n t o p u t the ge nt le dre a
, ,
m to
fl i ht
I
.

t was th u s that Colon el K i n g s a r d co n si d ered the mat

ter abo u t Bee It had be e n of cou rse n ecessary to cross

.
, ,

Bee two or three times i n her life before It had bee n .

n ece s sary or at least h e had tho u ght it n ecessary to se n d

w
, ,

her t o school ; it had bee n thou ght expedie n t to keep her

back a year lon ger tha n she wished from appeari n g i n the
worl d These decision s had cost te ars an d a l it t le stru g
.

gle b u t i n a f e days Bee had forgotten al l abou t them

h
,

Or s o at least her father tho u ght An d a lover a t n i n e .

teen what was t at b u t a n other playthi n g a n ov elty

—
, ,

a complime n t s u ch as girls love ? How co u ld it mean ’

w
,

an ythi n g more serio us ? Why Bee was a child a little , ,

g irl a n orn ame n tal adj u n ct to her mother a sort of r e fl e c

h
, ,

tion n o t to be detached f o r a lo n g t ime from that sou rce

,

of all that was delightfu l i n er Colon el K i n g s ar d

w
.

h
had felt with a d el i ghted s u rprise that the child an d the
m ot er did throw u p each other when he began to go o u t
with them together Bee s you n g beau ty showi n g what —
’

m amma s had bee n an d Mrs K i ng s ar d s bea u ty ( so

’

,
.
’

m u ch higher and sweeter tha n an y girl s wi l d rose bloo m ’

-
1 00

whw
T HE S O R C E R E SS .
’

w
cou ld be ! showi n g at i n the after days her child w o u l d -

ma n a h
grow t o T o ou t these t o as u n der for a s t ran ger an oth er
.

n i n tr u di n g perso n ality thr u sti n g imself betwee n

,

h w
,

the ch i ld and her n at u ral allegian ce as oppressi v e i n ,

an y shape At the first word i n deed an d i n the am u s e

.
,

me n t fu rn ished im by the letters which had bee n pou re d

u po n him Colon el K i ng s ar d s con se nt had bee n give n ’

wh
,

almost withou t thou ght Au brey Leigh was a good m atch

h
.

h
,

he h ad a fin e pl ace a val u able estate an d was wel l S poke n

, ,

o f amo n g m e n If L u cy was so abs u rd as to wis er

w
.

dau ghter t o marry ; if Bee the S illy child as so fooli s

, ,

as t o thi n k of leavi n g her father s hou se for an other th at ’

was probably as good a on e as she cou ld have chose n I

w
.

do n t k no if fathers ge n erally feel it a s ort of desecration

’

whe n their yo u n g da ughters marr y ; some fathers d o an d ,

.

some brothers as if th e creat u re p u re by n a tu re from al l

,

s u ch thou gh ts were desc e n di n g to a lo er place an d b e

w
,

comi ng e v e n s u ch an o n e as themselves Colon el Ki n gs

w
.

y e t he wash
ward was n ot perhaps vision ary e n ou gh for s u ch a vi ew
sl i ghtly shocked i n his se n time n t abo u t t e
,

h
perfection of his o n hou se by this idea o n his child s ’

part of leav i n g it for a n other H owever it as tru e e

h h
.
,

h
had a very large family an d to provide so well for on e o f
t em at the very ou tset of e r career was a thi n g whi c
,

hh
w ww
was n o t to be despised .

Bu t whe n the seco n d c apter o f this roma n ce all s o

w h
,

s i m ple so n at u ral i n its first p ase ope n ed o u t a n d there

h
, , ,

appeared a dark pass age behi n d a oman r on ged o —

w w
had a claim u pon t e m an a story a scan d al — whether i t , ,

were t r u e o r u n tru e Colon el K i n g s ar d i n his k n owledge

,

of the world k n ew that it d i d n o t s o m u ch matter wheth e r

a story as tr u e or u n tru e It stu ck an yhow ; an d years .
,

ge n eration s after whe n if false it had bee n con tra di cted

, , ,

h h
an d exploded an d ack n o ledged t o be false people still

w
,

h
w o u ld s ake t eir heads an d s ay Wasn t there some ’

story ?
h For this reason he was n o t very rigid abou t t e

w
facts part of which at least t e cu lprit admitted There

w
.
,

h
was a o m an an d there was a story an d al l the expla n a ,

tion s i n t e world co u ld n o t do away with these What .

did it matter abou t the m an ? He Colo n el K i n gs ar d , ,

as n ot A u brey Leigh s keeper An d as f or Bee t h ere

’
.
,
w
w ou l d be s
T HE

ome tears no dou bt as whe n she was se n t to

,

sch oo l ; a little passion o f disappoi n tme nt as whe n s e

as kept back f or awhole year from sevent ee n to eigh
’
SO R C B R E SS

,
.

,
IO I

w
,

tee n i n her comi n g o u t b u t the tears a n d the passio n

'
—
,

o n ce over t hi ngs wou ld g o on the same as before The

, .

l ittl e girl wou ld go back to her place and all wou ld be ,

el l.

This was the man s del u sion an d perhaps i t was a n at

’

u ra l o ne ; an d h e was con sciou s o f wishi ng t o d o the b est

thi n g f or her O f savi ng her from the after tortu res which
,
-

aw ife has t o en du re whose h u sban d has procli v ities to

h
ward stra n ge women an d capabilities o f bei n g led away
“

h
,
.

Th at was a risk t at h e co u ld u n der st an d m u ch better

h
w
th an s e c Ou l d at her age The fellow might be pro u d
,
.

of er small blame t o him ! he migh t strive t o escape

,

from disgracefu l e n tan glemen ts by su ch an u n ex c ep t i o n

abl e con n ection as that Of Colo n el K i n g s ar d o f Ki n gs

h
warden H arley Street an d the I n tellige n ce Departme n t
,

e m igh t b e very m u ch i n e arn est and all that He did

,

w
—
.

n o t altogether bl ame t he m a n i n deed he was willi n g

w
—
,
.

e n o u gh t o allow that he was n o t a bad fellow a n d that he ,

was popu lar a mon g his frie nds .

B u t these ere n o t e n ou gh i n th e case o f a gir l like Bee .

An d it was certai n ly for her good tha t her father as

acti n g She had k n own the m an a mon th what cou ld he
.
—

be t o her i n so short a time ? Th is is the most n at u r al of

qu e stion s con stan tly asked an d n ever fi ndi n g any s u f
, ,

fic i e n t an swer Why shou ld a girl i n three or fou r weeks

h h
.

be s o chan ged i n al l her tho u ghts as to be ready to give

u p her father s ho u se the place i n whic she has all er
h
’

associatio n s t he compan y i n which S e has bee n so happy

wh
, ,

an d go away to the e n d of the world perhaps with a m an

, ,

whom she has kn ow n on ly for a mon th ? It is the com

mon e s t thi n g i n the world b u t also the most mysteriou s

w
, ,

an d Colo n el K i n g s ar d refu sed to believe i n it as so

w
,

m an y other fat hers h ave don e Bee wou ld cry an d her

ww
,
.

w
moth er wou ld con sole her S e wou ld fly i nto a childish

h
.

passio n an d stru gg le aga i n st her fate for af e d ays

,
—
.

S e ou ld swear that she wo u ld n ever n ever give u p

h h h h
,

that n e playthi n g an d th e j oy of paradi n g i t before the

,

ot er gi r l s o p e rhaps
,
ad n o t s u ch toys to play it
 SO R C E R E SS

w
1 02 T HE .

hw
.

—
but all th at n ons ense wou l d g ive way in a l i tt le t o firm
g u ida n ce an d co n siderate car e an d the

h
fresh co
am u seme n t an d pleasu re w ich the wi n ter ou ld b r i n g hu rse o f ,

w
.

wh w
The wi n ter is by n o mean s barre n to t ose o s pe n d
it habitu ally i n tow n It has man y distraction s Th ere

w
. .

is the theatre there are Christm as gatheri n gs with ou t

,

n u mber t here are n e

,
dresses also t o be g o t f or th e sa m e ,

perh a p s a pretty n e b o n n et o r t o throw n i n by a p e n i

h
te n t father very sorry eve n i n his o n i nterests t o give
i s little girl pai n
,

If all t ese pleasan t thi n gs cou l d n ot

h
.

make u p for the loss of a m an of dou btfu l character too —

,

— whom she ad on ly k n ow n for a mon th Colon el Ki n gs

h
,

ward fel t that i t wou ld be a stra nge thi ng i n deed an d al ,

together be yon d i s power t o explai n .

w w w CHAPT E R ! III .

w w
h
IT was possible however t o remove Mrs K i n g s ar d
n ot

h h
w
, , .

t o K i n gs a r d en n ext day S e was t oo m u ch fatig u ed

h
.

eve n t o leave her bed an d t e doctor ,

o came t o see
her her o n familiar doctor o had se n t her t o Ger

h
,

man y t o the celebrated bath looked a littl e gr ave he n

h
,

he saw the con dit i on i n which s e had come hom e NO

h
.

fatig u e n o exci t eme n t was w at he e n j oi n ed Sh e was

, .

to have n oth i n g to excite n ot i n g to dist u rb h er t o g o

,
—

t o the co u n try Oh yes b u t n o t f o r some days ; t o see the

, ,

h
,

children certai nly ! th e childre n cou ld not be kept from

,

t ei r mother ; b u t all i n moderation with great j u dg ,

me n t n o t t oo lon g at a time n o t too Ofte n An d above

, , .

all she m u st n ot be worried Noth i n g m u st be d o n e

h
.

n othi n g said to cross o r vex her Whe n he heard from .

t e colo n el a very brief a n d stu dio u sly s u bd u ed v er s i o n o f

a little fami l y bu si n ess which had distu rbed her I n eed
n o t make a n y secrets fr om y o u doctor Th e fact i s that

w hh
, .

some on e wan ted t o marr y m y girl Bee an d that I m a d e

some discoveri es abou t i m w ich obliged me t o wit draw
my con se n t th e doctor form ed his lips i n to a wh i s t l e
—
,

h
“
to hich he di d n ot gi v e ven t That accou n ts f or it ,
he said .
 T H E SO R C ERE SS .

w 1 03

w w
That accou n ts for what ? cried Colon el K i n gs ar d ,

n o t withou t irrita t io n

w
.

F or the state i n which I fin d her An d mi n d my .

ords K i n gs ar d you d better let your girl marry any

, ,
’

h
b o dy that is n t ablackgu ard tha n risk th a

w w
’
t sort of Shock
it yo ur wife Neve r forget that her life I mean to
.
—

sa that she s very delicate Do t le t her be worried

’ ’

w
y n .

s tr e t ch a poi n t h ave thi n gs don e as she wishes Y ou

w
—
.

il l fin d it pay best i n the en d

h
.

F or on ce y o u are t alki n g n on se n se my dear fellow

w
, ,

h
s a i d Colon el K i n gs ar d ; my wife is n ot a woman
“
o

as ever b ee n set u pon havi n g her o n way

h w
.

“
Let her h ave it this time said th e doctor an d , ,

o ll ever repe t i t If sh e a ts Bee to marry l

’

w
y u n n n e t.
,

e r marry Bee is a dear li ttle thi n g b u t her mother

.
, ,

K i n gs a rd her mother is of far more con sequ e n ce t o

,

y “o u th an eve n she
Th at is amatter of co u rse said Colon el K i n g s ar d

w
.
,

L u cy is of m ore importan ce to me th an all the worl d b e

s i des ; b u t n either m u s t I n eglect the i n te rests of my chi l d

h
.

” “
Oh b othe r the child ! cried the doc t or let h er have

w
, ,

e r lover ; the mo t her is what y o u m u st t hi n k o f n o .

Y o u seem treme n do u sly i n earn est So u thwood ,

.

SO I a m treme n dou sly i n earn est An d don t y ou

’
—
.

”
o rk y o u r mi n d o n the s u bj ect b u t do what I say ,
.

“
DO y ou m ean t o say th at my wife is i n a stat e of
d an ger ?
I mea n that she m u st be kept from worry she m u st —

n o t be co n t radicted t hi n gs m u s t n ot be a llowed t o go
—

c o n trary to her wishes Po or lit tle Bee ! I don t say y ou ’

h
.

ar e to le t her marry a blackgu ard Bu t don t worry her

’

w
.

”
m ot er abou t i t tha t is th e chief thi n g I ve got to say
’

ww
—
.

“ ”
N o I shan t worry her mother abou t it said the
’

, ,

co l on el sh u tti n g his mou th closely as if he were l o oki n g

,

it u p .

stopped the t o girls h

Whe n Dr Sou thwood was gon e ho ever he .

o were l i n geri n g abo u t to k n ow

, ,

h
,

th e doctor s opi n ion an d detachi ng Betty s arm from

’

,
’

abou t Bee s waist drew his el d e s t d au g t er i n to his s tu dy

’ ’

an d sh u t the door “
I wan t to speak to y o u Bee he
.
, ,

s ai d .

Y es pap a I
,
n thi s call to her alo n e to receive s o me
.
1 04 T HE SO R C ERE SS .

comm u n icat ion Bee as m ay be imagi n ed j u mped t o a

, , ,

co n cl u sion qu ite di ff ere n t from what her father i n ten d e d ,

an d almost f or the mom en t forgot m amma .

The doctor t e lls me that above everythi n g you r moth e r

m u st be kep t from wor ry DO y ou u n derstan d ? In t e . h
h
circu mstan ces it is extremely import an t that y ou shou l d
k n ow t i s ”
.

Papa she cried hal f i n i n di gnation half i n d i s ap

w
, , ,

poi n tmen t d o y o u thi n k that I wo u ld worry her i n

,
—

any c i rc um stan ces ? ”

I thi n k that girls of yo ur age Often thi n k that n o af

h
fairs are s o import an t as you r o n ; an d it is very lik e l y
t at y ou may be of that opi n ion
k n ow what t he doctor says ”
An d I wish y ou t o
.
.

Is m amm a very ill ? Bee asked bewildered

—
”
.

He does n o t say s o on ly she is n ot to be fretted o r

—

con tradicted or distu rbed abou t an ythi n g I feel it n e c

h
w
,
.

essary t o w arn y ou Bee ,

.

Why me above t e rest ? she cried Am I likely t o .

be the o n e to worry m am m a ?

h
c us s i on s
. h
The others have n o part i cu lar aE ai r s of their o n to
worry er with T ere m u st be n o private talks n o dis
n o e n deavors t o get her u pon what y ou may
—

w
—

s u ppose to be y ou r side

w
.

Bee gave her father a glan ce of fire b u t she felt that a ,

little pru de n ce was n ecessary an d kept the tu m u l t o f fee l

hw
,

i n g which as withi n her as mu ch as was poss i ble i n h er

.

o n breast I have always talked to ma m ma of every

h
.

thi n g that was i n my mi n d she said piteou sly I don t ’

h
, .

k n ow o I am to stop S e wou ld won der S O if I stopped

.

talki n g ; an d how c an I talk to her except of thi n gs t at are

i n my mi n d ?

h
“
Y o u m u st learn said the colo n el
,
to thi n k Of her ,
”
more t an o f you rsel f He did n ot at all mean t o
.

h
prescribe t o her a cou rse of con d u c t more elevated th an
t at he mea n t to pu rs u e himself ; b u t t e n it was on ly i n h
actio n that he mean t to carry o u t his p u rposes ; he was n ot
afra i d of committi n g hi m self i n speec h .

h
Bee looked at him agai n with a gaze that asked a gr e at
“
ma n y qu estio n s b u t s e on ly an swered I will try my
very best papa .
,

,
 T H E SO R CE R ESS . 1 0 5

w
If y ou do, Iam
s u re y o u will s u cceed my dear he

h
, ,

d id i n a gen tler ton e

,
.

”
I s that all ? s e asked hesitati n g , .

That is all I wan t wi t h y ou j u st n o .

Bee t urn ed away t oward the door an d then she pau sed ,

an d made a step back Papa ! ”

.

Yes Bee

h
.
,

h Wo u ld y ou m i n d telli n g me Iwill n o t say a word t o

w w
—

”
er but O
— please tell m e ! ,

What is it ? said the colon el H e wen t to his wri ti n g .

t abl e an d sitti n g dow n began t o t u rn over his papers

, .

as s l i ghtly impatie n t his eyebro s s l ightly

w
H i s ton e ,

r aised as if i n su rprise .

“
P apa y o u m u st k n ow what it is
,
I k n ow th at y o u .

h ave see n M r Leigh ! —

.

Ho d o y ou k n ow an ythi n g abou t it ? What have

ww h
y o u to do with who m I have see n? R u n away I do n o t .

m ean t o e n ter i n to a n y explan ation s on t is su bj ect with

The n with Whom ill y ou e n t er i n to expl an ation s ?

Y o u ca n n ot speak to mamma She m u st n ot be worried .

Papa I am n ot a little girl n o to be told t o r un away

,
.

“
Y o u seem to be determi n e d n o t t o lose a mome n t i n
t e lli n g me s o .

h i m
I shou ld n ot have tol d y ou s o said Bee looki n g at
over the high back o f his writi n g table

n o t tol d me I was n ot to talk t o ma mma

if y o u had
,
-
,

w
.

H e looked u p at her an d their eyes m e t ; bo t h of them '

hw
,

k ee n ly fiercely bl u e lit u p with fires o f combat It is

, , .

O f t e n imagi n ed that bl u e eyes are the softest e yes b ut —

n o t by those o are acq u ai n ted with the ki n d which b e

h
w
l o n ged to th e K i n g s a r d s which mig t have bee n called ,

l ike sapphires if sapphires ever flashed an d c u t the ai r as

,

d iam on ds d o They were n o t either so dark as sapphires

.

—
they w ere l ike n othi n g b u t themselves t o pairs of bl u e ,

eyes that might have bee n made to order so like were ,

th ey t o each other an d bot blazi n g across that table as if

,
h ,

th ey wou ld h ave set the hou se o n fire .

‘
9 Th at s a n excelle n t po i n t he said I ca n t d en y i t
’ ’
. .
,

Wh at m ade y o u so t e rr ific al l y clever all at o n ce ?

There is n othi n g more sti n gi n g than to be called clever
1 06 T H E SO R C E R E SS .

the m idst of a disc u ssion Bee s eyes seemed t o set

h
’
in .

fire t o her face at least which flas ed cri m s on u pon h er

w
,

father s startled sight

’
.

“
Whe n on e has so m e o n e e l s e to thi nk of som e on e s ’

h
,

i n terests t o take care o f

Whic are you r o n i n terests an d vastly mor e i m —

portan t than an yt hi n g which con cern s you r father an d

w
w
mother .

I n ever said s o n or thou ght so papa b u t if t hey ar e—

,
—

di Ee r e n t from yo u rs that s n o reason said Bee bold i n

h
’

, , ,
“
words b u t falteri n g i n ma nner is it ? y I S ho u ld n o t ,

t hi n k of them if as y ou say they re my O n i n terests pap a

’

, ,
.

Y o u are very bold Bee ,

.

What am I to do if I have n o on e t o sp e ak f or m e ?
Papa Au brey
,

I forbid y o u to speak with su ch familiarity o f am an

w
whom y ou have n othi n g to do with an d whom y ou scarc e ly ,

k n ow

w h
.

”
Papa Au brey ! cried Bee w i th aston ishmen t
—
.

Colon el K i n g s ar d j umped u p from i s tabl e i n a f u r y

of impatie n ce “
How dare y o u come an d b esiege m e
.

here i n my o n room with you r Au brey ? a m an whom

y o u h ave n o t k n ow n a mo n th a stra n ger t o the family ”
—
.

Papa y ou m u st let me speak Y o u al l owed m e t o b e

,
.

e n gaged to him If y ou had said n o at first there migh t

ww
.
,

n some reason i n it
p erh aps h ave bee .

Perhaps some reason ! he repeated with an an gry

”
—

lau gh .

Yes for eve n then it was n ot yo u r o n happi n ess

—

that was i n qu estion I t was I a f t er all that as to

w
.
, ,

m arr y him .

An d y ou thi n k that is a reaso n f or defyi n g me ?

It is always said to be a reason n o t f or defyi n g any —

body b u t f or stan di n g u p f or what y o u call my o n i n

— —

t e r e s t s papa whe n they are s omebody else s i n terests ’

—
,

as well Y ou said we m ight be e n gag ed a n d we were —

h
. .

An d how c a n I let a n y o n e e v e n y o u say h e is astran ger ? , ,

h
H e is my f iance He is betrot ed to me We belon g '

h
. .

t o each ot er Whatever an y on e may say that is the

.

fact cried Bee very rapidl y to get it all o u t befor e s e

, , ,

was i nterru pted .

 T HE So RC E REss . 1 07

It is n ot at a l l a cheerfu l o r pleasan t fact i f i t ch a nges —

w
my li tt l e Bee whom I thou ght I k n ew t o this flu shed an d
, ,

braze n woman fighti n g f o r her G O chi l d a n d do n t

’

, , ,

make an exhi bition of yo u rself You r mot her s dau ghter: .

’

It is n ot credible to assau lt m e you r father i n m y o n

—
, ,

room f o r the sake Of

,

Papa ! do n t y o u remember that it is said i n the Bible

’

w
u are n o t t o provoke yo u r childre n t o wrath ? M amma
y o
wo u ld h ave stood u p f or y o u I su ppose whe n she was en

w h
, ,

gaged t o y o u I may b e fl u shed cried Bee pu tti n g her

.
, ,

h an ds t o her blazi n g cheeks o cou ld I help it ? Forced

w
,

t o talk to y o u to ask y o u
h
on a s u bject that gives y ou a —

w h
,

right to speak to me you r o n child l ike t at , ,

I am glad that y o u thi nk I h ave a right to speak as t e

h
”
circ u mstan ces deman d t o my o n child said the colon e l , ,

cooli n g dow n ; b u t yy o u sho u l d be forced as y o u s ay , ,

t o take u p su ch a n u n becomi n g a n d u n w o ma n ly positio n

”
is beyon d my g u essi n g .

It is beca use ! have n o lon ger mamma t o spe ak f or

me Bee said
,
.

The creatu re was n ot withou t skil l Now she came .

back to the poi n t that was n o t t o be gai n sa i d .

“
We h ave had q u ite en o u gh o f this Colon el Ki n gs

w
,

ward repl ied Yo u r mother as y o u are q u ite aware

h
.
, ,

n ever set u p her wi l l agai n st mi n e She was aware if .

,

y o u are n o t t a t ,
I k n ew the world be t ter tha n she did ,

an d as more compete n t to decide Yo u r m other wo u ld

w
.

n ever have s t ood u p to me as y o u have do n e

w
.

I t wo u l d have bee n better perhaps sometimes if she

h
, , ,

had cried Bee carried away by the ti d e o f her excite

, ,

me n t Colon el K i n g s ar d was so astou n ded t ha t he ad

.

scarcely po er to b e a n gry H e gazed at his ex cited child

’

wi th a s u rprise th at was beyon d words .

“
O h papa papa ! Forgive me ! I n ever mean t that ;

h h
, ,

it c ame ou t before I was aware .

The thou ght m u st ave bee n t ere o r i t cou ld n ot hav e

come ou t he said
“
,

O h n o ; there was n o tho u g t there

,

with y ou b u t n ot with u s papa Wor d s com e i n to o ur

.

It may be so h .

, .
,

mo u ths We do n t thi n k them ; we don t mean to s ay

.
’ ’

th ey on ly seem t o hook o n to somethi n g that we n t b e— —

1 08 T HE SO R C ERE SS

h
.

w w
fore ; an d the n t ey come o u t with a crash O h forgive .
,
”
m e forgive me papa !
, ,
“
I s u ppose he said with a half lau gh th at may be
, , ,

take n as a oman s exposition o f her O n style of argu

’

me n t

h
.

Don t c all me a woman she said with her soft small

’

, , ,

voice aggrieved an d wou n ded d rawi n g cl oser t o i m

, , .

”
O h papa ! I am on ly you r litt l e girl after all
,
.

”
A n a u ghty little girl he said shaki n g his head

h
.
, ,

An d witho u t m a mma t o speak for me added Bee

w
.
,

The colon el la u g ed alo u d Y ou w i ly little n at ural

w hh
.

”
lawyer ! he said ; b u t immediately became very grave ,

for u n dern eath this b u rst of half an gry am u seme n t Bee -

had give n him a shock she did n ot k n ow Of All u n a are

hw
.

o f the edge o f the weapon s hich she u sed with a certai n

i n sti n ctive deftn ess it did n o t occ u r to her t at these words

w
,

o f hers m i ght p e n etrate n ot o n l y deeper t a n she tho u ght ,

bu t far deeper tha n er o n tho u ghts had ever gon e His

h
.

wife s worn face seemed su dde nl y t o ap pe ar before Colo

’

n el K i ng s ar d s eyes i n a light which e had n ever see n

’

before an d the argu me n t wh ich this child u sed so kee n l y

,

yet so ign oran tl y pierced i m l i ke a k n ife Withou t h ,

h h
.
,

mamma to speak for me ! These words so un ded very

'

w
simple t o Bee a mischievou s expedie nt t o trap i m i n t e
,

sn are he had la i d for her Bu t if the t i me shou ld ever

h
.

come whe n t hey shou ld be tru e ! The colon e l was stru ck

h
dow n by t at arro flown at a ven t u re H e wen t back

w
.

to i s ta ble su bdu ed an d sat dow n there ,

“
That wi l l .

do he said that will d o Now ru n away an d leav e

,
“
,
.
,

me to my work Bee ,
.

She came u p to him an d gave him a timid kiss wh ich ,

h
the colon el acc epted q u ietly i n the softe n i n g o f that
t o u ght She roamed abou t t e tabl e a little fl i c ki n g h h
h
.
,

OE a n imperceptible speck of d u st ith her an dkerchief ,

arran gi n g some books u pon t e u pper shelf of his b u rea u

h
,

sometimes look i n g at him over that row of books som e ,

times li n geri n g be i n d him as if doi n g someth i n g t here

h
.

H e did n o t i n terfere with her m oveme n ts f or a few m i n

i n t e attenar zs s emerzt of his tho u ghts Withou t a
'

u tes
’
.
,

m oth er to speak for her ! Poor l i ttl e girl i f that S h o u l d ,

e ver be so ! poor littl e ch i l d re n u n co n s c i o u s i n th e i r n u r s e r

y
 www h
hh h
ryi n g f or mamma ; an d o worse than al l himsel f ith
THE SO R C E RE SS .

w 1 09

w
c , , ,

o u t h is L u cy ad m ade all the world sweet to him

hw
o

h
, .

H e was a masterf u l m a n o wo u ld sta n d to his arm s i n ,

an y circu mstan ces o wo u ld n o t give i n eve n if his

,

ea rt was broke n ; b u t hat a stran ge d u ll gloomy wor ld

w h
, ,

it o u l d be to h im if the chil dre n had n o mother to speak

h
f o r t em ! He made a s u d d e n eff ort to shake O E t at h
w
t o u ght a ri d the first thi n g that recalled him t o himse l f
,

as t o hear Bee havi n g n o other mischief h e s u p posed to

h
,

t u r n her h an d to he ap i ng coals u po n the little bit Of fire ‘

h
,

ich h ad bee n lighted for cheerfu l n ess on ly .

Bee he cr ied are y o u still there ? W at are y ou

, ,

d o i n g ? The room is l ike a n ove n already a n d y ou are ,

m aki n g up a sort o f Christ m as fire

h
.

O h I am so sorry I forgot
,
cried Bee p u tti n g down , ,

t e sh ovel hastily I thou ght it wan ted me n di n g f or

.
—

y o u always like a good fire .

“
N o t i n September
”
he said an d s u ch weather ; the , ,

fi n est we have had si n ce J u ly Come cease this flu tteri n g .

,

a b o ut y o u d i st u rb me an d I have a h u n dred thi n gs t o —

do

w
.

Yes papa Bee s little figu re stole from behi n d him ’

h
w
, ,

i n the meekest way She st opped i n her progress toward

h
.

th e door t o give a to u ch to t e flowers o n a side table ; -

an d t en she we n t slo ly o n goi n g o u t She had got her ,

.

h a n d u pon the han dle of the door an d Colon el K i n g s ar d ,

th a n ked heaven he h ad got rid of her for the mome n t ,

k eepi n g by t at mea n s of escape h

whe n she t u rn ed ro u n d eyi n g him closely agai n thou gh
“
Papa ”
she said
softl y afte r all the talk we have been havi n g y o u per
,

,
—
,

h aps don t remember that y o u have n ever an swered

’
— —

my q u estion yet

h
.

What q u esti on he said sharply .

h Bee p u t her han ds together like a c ild she looked at

i m beseechi n gly coaxi n gly like that child ret u rn i n g
t o its poi n t a
,

n d the n S e s aid still more softly

“
Abo u t h ,
,

, ,

Au brey ; dear p ap a .
I IO T H E S O R C ER E SS .

w
CHAPT E R XIV .

I WILL n o t at te mpt to follow i n detail the cou rse Of that

au tu mn It was a fin e season an d Mrs K i n gs ar d was
.

h
take n t o her home i n t e co un try an d recovered m u ch of
, .

h
her lost health i n the sere n e e n di n g Of the mo n th an d the

h
w w
b right days Of O ctober whic was a model O c tober
, ,

everythi n g that m ont o u gh t to be The trees had .

scarcely b eg un t o tak e an y au t u mna l colori n g u po n them

h
w
,

whe n they re ached K g i n s ar d e n — a ho u se which stood

h ‘
is a view
,
h
amo ng the S u rrey h il ls an Old o u se placed n o t as modern
,

ou ses are pitc ed up o n hillsides or at poi n t s here there

The Ol d K i n gs ar d s had bee n moved by no
.

s u ch ridic ulou s m ode r n se n t i me n ts They had plan ted

wh
.

their man sion i n a sheltered S pot where it wo u ld be safe

from the wi n d s that ra n ge over the co u n try an d al l t e

w w
moorlan d heights The gates ope n ed u po n a wild co u n try
.

road with an extravaga n t breadth o f gree n path ay an d

grassy bank o n either side e n o u gh to have made a farmer —

s ear b u t very pleasa nt to the eye an d delightfu l t o a

,

horse s feet as e l l as to the pedestri a n s whether they

’

were tra mps or to u rists wh o walked or rode on bicycles

w
,

( the latter class o n ly ! from Lo n do n to Portsmo u th The

h
.

ho u se was Ol d r e d and straggli ng co vered with m u l ti

wh
, , ,

t udes of creepers S eets of p u rple clematis the Jack

.
—

ma nn i ; if everybody ishe s t o k now i ntolera b le n ame

h
,

for s u ch a royal garme nt of blosso m covered h alf a dozen —

corners a n gi n g do n i n great brillian t wre aths o ver

w
, ,

Ol d i v y a
,
n d straggli n g Virgi n ia creeper a n d the stro ng
stalks of the cl i m bi n g roses w i ch still bore here and ,

there a flower O ther sheets of other flowers threw them

h
.

selves abo u t i n other p l aces as if at their o n sweet wi l l

h
,

e s pecially t e wild ex u bera n ce of the traveller s j oy ’

w
t o ugh I n eed no t say t hat this wild n ess was u n der the
c arefu l eye Of the garde ner who wou ld n ot let it go too far , .

I cannot attempt t o te ll how m an y other p l e as afit a nd

fragra nt and flowery thi ng s there were which i n sisted on ’

gro i ng i n that l u xu riou s pl ace eve n to the fastidio u s ,

Highlan d creeper which i n that a u t u m n season was the

,

most gay l u x u ria n t an d delightf u l Of all The flow ers

, , .
 SO R C E R E S S

w
T HE . II I

w
ab o u n ded like the children n o t to be checked as healthy

w h
w
, ,

an d as brillian t i n the fin e pea t y soil an d p u re air The

h
w
, .

h h
s c e n t of the m ign on ette hic i n this lat e season strag
,

gl e d a n y ere seemed t o fill half the cou n try rou n d T e

w
, .

b o r d ers were cro ded wit those au t u m n flo ers wh ich

h
,

m ak e u p as ell as they c a n for their wa n t of swee t n e s s

h h h
.

b y l avish wealt Of co l or the glowi n g si n gle dahli as

—

i ch this ge n eration as had t e good se n se to rec ap

h h
t u r e from Natu re after the q u illed an d rosetted artifici al
h
w h
t i n gs whic the ga r de n ers ad m a nu fact u red o u t of the m
an d the fine s carlet an d b l u e of the salvias an d t e
h
—
,

l r of all those golde tri b es f daisy ki d that

wh
g o y
n O t e n ,

no make o u r borders brigh t i n stead o f the Ol d s t u rdy ,

r e d gera n i u m which o n ce s u ffi ced f or all the s u pplies of

a u t u m n an hon est serva n t b u t a poor lord I prefer the

h
h
w
, .

s e et n ess o f t e spri n g whe n every flower as asou l i n i t

h
,

an d brea t hes i t al l abou t i n t e air that is fu ll of hope

'

B u t as it ca n n ot always be spri ng that tri u mph of brig t

w h
,

h
h u e s is somethi n g to mask the face o f wi nter ith u n t i l
t e time whe n t e tort u red a n d fan tastic C h r ysa n them u m
r e i g n s alon e Th is was the sort Of garde n they had at
.
_

K i n gs a r d e n n o t sh u t O E i n a place by itself b u t bord er

, ,

i n g all the lawn s which were of the velvet which it t akes

h
,

c e n t u ries t o perfect The immedi ate grou n ds sloped a

w w
.

l i tt l e to the so u th a n d beyon d t em was a very exte n sive

w h
,

if s omewhat flat prospect en di n g o n the horizo n i n certai n ,

m il d bl u e shadows which were believed to be hills There

h
.

as n o t m u ch that co u ld be called a park at K i n gs ar d e n

h
.

T e few farms which Colon el K i n g s a r d possessed pressed

i s little circle of trees rather cl ose ; b u t as lon g as t e

f arms were let the family felt they cou ld bear this It

h
.

gave them a com fortable feel i n g of modest n atu ral wealth

an d compan y the yeome n keepi n g the squ ire w arm t ey
, ,

i n their farm steadi n gs he i n the hall

-
,
.

An d the a u t u m n we n t o n i n its n at u ral co u rse ga i n i n g

,

h
colo r as it bega n to l ose its gree nn ess an d the days their
h
h
w
w arm t . The fru it got al l gathered i n after the corn t e ,

appl e trees that ad bee n su ch a sight every bou gh be n t

-
,

dow n with its ba l ls of ru sset or gold looked shabb y an d

h h
,

wo rn their seaso n don e the hedges r an over ith t he i r

, ,

arves t e very k ind of wild be r ry a

, nd f ea t ery s eed p o d , -
w
II2 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

w
h
wh
ild elderberries hips an d haws the da ngero us u n wh o l e
, ,

som e fru it o f the n i ghts ade an d tri u mphan t r eaths o f ,

bry on y o f every color gree n cri m son an d pu rple The

, , ,
.

ro bi n s began to appear abou t K i n g s ar d en hoppi n g

hh
,

abou t the l awn s an d comi n g very n ear the di n i n g roo m

,
-

wi n dows after breakfast w e n t e little tribe o f t e n u rs

,

ery childre n had their acc u stomed half hou r with mamm a

w
-
,

an d delighted i n n oth i n g so m u ch as t o cr u mble the bread

w
u po n the terr a ce an d tempt the redbreasts n ear er an d
n earer Whe n qu ite satisfied an d comforted abo u t his

h
.
,

wi f e s looks Colon el Ki n g s ar d we n t OE to the S hooti n g

’

, ,

t is littl e flock of childre n trailed after m amm a herever

w h
she we n t a littl e bloomi n g troop By this time Charlie
,
'
.

had go n e back t o O xford ; and the little on es liked t o ave

ww
the r u n o f the l aw n s ou tside an d the sitti n g rooms withi n -
,

ith n oth i n g mor e alar mi n g than Betty to k e ep them i n

w
order It is t o be feared th a t the re l axation o f discipli n e

w
.

which occ u rred whe n papa was absen t as delightf u l t o all

those little people ; an d n either was Mrs K i n gs ar d sorry
’

w
.

no an d the n t o feel hersel f at fu ll ease with n o n ecessity —

an ywhere of fu rther res t rai n t than her o n soften ed per

c e p t i on s o f family decoru m r eq u ired

in
It was a m ome n t
hich if that cou l d be s aid s e was self i n d u lge n t
, ,
h .

h
-

h
sometimes n o t getti n g u p at her u su al ou r bu t taki n g
e r breakfast i n her roo m with cl u sters o f little boys an d
h
,

h h
,

girls all over her bed an d over t e carpet shari n g every

h
,

morsel climbi n g over e r i n their pl ay An d whe n s e

,
.

h
we n t o u t t o drive she had the c arri age fu l l o f t em ; an d
w e n she took her stroll abou t the grou n ds they were all
abou t sho u ti n g an d raci n g n obody su ggesti n g that it
, ,
”
wou ld be to o m u ch for her or se n di n g them o ff becau se

h
,

they dist urbed mamma She was dist u r bed t o her heart s ’

w
.

c o n te n t while the colo n el was away S e sa i d Y ou .

,

k n ow this is very n ice f or a time b u t it wou ld n ot d o al

h
,

ways to her elder da u ghter ; bu t I th i n k that she saw n o

,

n ecess i ty except i n the ret u rn of her h u sban d

, y i t ,

shou l d n ot d o ; an d she e n j oyed herself si n gi n g t o the m .

dan ci n g ( a very little ! with them playi n g f or them as ,

h
,

on ly the m other of a large family ever c an play that

hh h h
,

s i mple da n ce m u sic w i ch is
p u n ct u ated an d kept i n per
f eet t i m e by er eart a s m uc a s by er e ar For m y .
w w
T HE S O R C E R E SS II3

h
.

h
se
h
l f I k n ow t e ver y tou ch u pon the pian o of a w oman
o is the orc estra o f the childre n h
o m akes their l i ttle
f e e t twi n kle to the m u sic There is n o ba n d e qu al t o it.
,

f o r harmon y a n d precision a n d go They en j oy e d the

w
, ,
.

fre e dom of h avi n g n o o n e to say H u sh do n t m ake s u ch ’

w
, ,

an o i s e i n t he ho u se of the absen ce o f al l the di s t u r b abl e

”

h
,

p eople the ge n tleme n as the serv an ts pl a i n l y said

w
, , ,

be i n g away ; more Mrs K i n g s ar d sometimes thou g t

w
ith a fai n t twi n ge o f con scie n ce th a
h
.
, ,

t it was right they

h
,

s h o u ld e n j oy a n ythi n g i n t e abse n ce o f papa Charl ie

h
.

as q u i te as bad as papa had decla ,

red t at they made his
e ad ache a n d that n o fellow co u ld work with s u ch a r o

h
,
,

g oi n g o n ; i t made t he little car n ival all the more j oyo u s

th at e was o u t of the way .

Bee had spe n t the six weeks si n ce their retu rn i n a sort

h
o f sple n dor o f g irlish s u peri ority a n d elation of which

w
,

h er mother had n o t
ad bee n said betwee n them
bee n u n obs ervan t though n othi n g
I am n o t su re th at Bee did
n o t e n j oy the sit u atio n more tha n if A u brey
.

ad bee n at
,

h
h
K i n gs a r d e n w ooi n g her all day lo n g playi n g te nn is with

w
,

e r r idi n g with her

,
i h eve r y way appe ari n g as her ac
—

c e p t e d lover Circ u msta n ces had saved her from this

.

m ere v u lgarity o f beatit u de ; a n d she fe l t that i n the very

u n certai n ty of their correspon de n ce which as private al
h
—
,

m os t secret an d yet n ot clan desti n e t ere was awon der —

h
,

f u l charm a roman ce a n d ti n ge o f the u n happy a n d des

w
,

perate while yet everyt i n g withi n herself was happy an d

w
,

tr iu mphan t It had n ever been said n either by the col o

.
,

n e l n o r by his w i fe ( who had said n othi n g at all ! that Bee ,

as n o t to wr ite letters t o A u brey n or t o receive l etters

from him I can n ot imagi n e how Colon el K i n gs ar d
.
,

i n biddi n g her un derstan d th a t all was over betwee n

A u br ey an d herself did n ot make a co n dition of this
,
.

Bu t p r obably b e thou ght her t o o you n g a

m ai n tai n a n y s u ch correspon de n ce a nd
n d simpl e t o
er lover t oo little h
wh
,

d etermi n ed t oo pers u adable to begi n it

,
Whe n Bee had
,
.

r eceived her lover s first letter i t had bee n u n der her

’

father s very eyes It had come at breakfast between two

’

h
.

girl epist l es an d Colon el K i n g s ar d wo u ld n ot have bee n

-

h
,

ilty of pe t ti ess f l ooki g at his da u ghter s C orre

’

g u t e n o n
s pon d en ce f or a n y i n d u ce me n t y e t b e fore im S e had .

8
1 1 4 THE SO R C ERE SS

h
.

the tremen dou s thrill an d excitemen t o f readi n g it i n i s

very sight which she did n ot hesi t ate to d o for the sak e
,

of the bravado fee l i n g her ears ti n gle an d th e blood

w
,

cou rsi n g i n her vei n s n ever imagi n i n g that he wou l d n o t

,

Obser ve an d setti n g her you n g slight stren gth like arock

, ,

i n mo men tary expectation o f a q u e s t ion on t he s u bj e ct .

Bu t n o q u estion cam e Colon el K i ng s ar d was looki n g

.

at the papers an d at the few letters which came t o hi m at

h
his hou se The greater part of his correspon de n ce we n t
t o t e O ffi ce
.

H e took i t very qu i e tly an d he n ever re

h
w
.
,

marked Bee at all which was little less than ami r ac l e sh e

, ,

thou ght An d it was v ry well for her that this was on e of

.

the morn i n gs o n which mamma did n ot com e down stairs .

This i mmen se exciteme n t as a little too stron g f o r o r

d in a ry u s e a n d Bee s o arran ged it afterward t hat her let

w
,

ters cam e by a l ater post whe n she co u ld read them b y ,

herself i n her room The servan ts k n ew perfectly w e ll o f

w
.

this arran geme n t the bu tler who ope n ed the post bag at -

h h
,

K ing s a r den a n d the m aid who carried Miss Bee s l et

’

h
,

ters u pstairs b u t n either fat er n o r mot er th ou ght o f it

— .

T at is I will n ot an swer for Mrs K i n gs ar d Sh e per

,
. .

haps had her su spicion s ; b u t if her h u sban d did n o t for

bid correspon de n ce she said t o herself that it was n o t her

h
,

bu si n ess t o d o s o It seem ed to her that n othi n g else

.

co u ld keep Bee s o bright Her disappoi n tm e n t the S ock .

,

of the severan ce m u st have aEec t e d her otherwis e t ha n

h
,

appeared if she had n ot bee n bu oyed u p by some s u ch ex

p e d i e n t . As for t e colo n el he tho u ght n othi
He thou ght that as for love properly s o called t e th i n g
was preposterou s for a girl o f her years ; an d that th e
n g abo u t it
,
,

,
h .

foolish b u si n ess had bee n all made u p o f imagi n ative

n ove l ty a ,
n d the charm of the position whic
an d dazzl ed the girl
had fl attered
Now that she had retu rn ed t o all
.
h
her Ol d association s an d occ u p ation s the pretty b u b b l e ,
o

had floated away i n to the air It had n o t been n ecessary

h
w
.

even to bu rst it it had dispersed of itself as he said t o

, ,

imself he always k n ew it wou ld Th u s h e deceived hi m .

sel f with the easiest mi n d an d did n ot i n terfere .

Mrs K i n g s ar d had come u pon her dau ghter seate d

h
.
,

o u t o n the law n u n der the great wal n u t tree re adi n g o n e ,

of t hese letters o ne morn i n g wh e n s e had g one ou t

,
 T HE SO R C E RE SS . 1 1 5

e arl i e r than u su al on an exception ally fin e day Bee

w
,
.
.

h ad thr u st it away hast i ly i n to her pocket an d come f or

‘

ward with bu rn i n g chee ks when she heard her mother s ’

vo i ce b u t it was n o t till some ti m e l ater that Mrs

, . .

K ings a r d s poke The day had kept u p its morn i n g

.
.

pro m i se It was on e Of those warm days that sometimes

w
.

co m e i n O ctober breath i n g the very spirit o f th at c on

h
,

te n ted season whe n all th i n gs have come t o fru ition an d

,

t e work of the year is don e a n d its prod u ce garn ered ,

i n t o th e barn s: N o we may sit an d rest is the se n ti

h
w
,

m e n t o f the m u ch toi l i n g earth all the l abor bei n g over

w
- —
,

t e h arvest do n e a n d n o immediate n eed yet to arise agai n

h
,

an d plou g h Th e world ha n gs softly sw ayi n g i n space

.

h
,

t e fi elds are fallo the laborer rests The su n shi n e l ay

,
.

arm u pon the velvet g rass t e foliage thi n n ed b y on e , .

g o o d blast a week ago g ave j u st shade e n ou gh n o t too ,

m u ch ; the tea table was set ou t u pon the law n the l ittle
- —

h orde had g on e O E shou ti n g an d skirm ishi n g throu gh the

w h h
gr o u n d s Betty at the h ead of them su pposed captai n an d
, ,

c o n troller virt u ally r i n gleader w ich comes to m u ch t e

, ,

s a m e thi n g The air s o h u shed an d silen t i n itself half

w
.
,

d r o wsy with profo u n d peace as j u st to u ched an d made

h
,

m u sical by their sho u ts an d Be e an d her mother with , ,

t is triu mphan t so u n d of a m u ltit u de close by were alon e , .

“
Bee Mrs K i n g s ar d said I h ave lon g wa n ted an
, .
“
,
”
O p port u n ity to speak to y o u

h
wh w
h
.

Yes mamma she said looki n g u p with a ru sh of th e

, , ,

b l o od to e r heart feeli n g that t e m ome n t had come,

.

B u t she wo uld n o t have bee n Bee if she h ad n o t p u t a lit

ww w
t l e somethi n g of her o n i n to t e thick of the cris i s

w
.

T here were ple n ty of opport un ities e have bee n t o —

g e ther all day .

Y ou k n o hat I mean said Mrs K i n gs ar d ,

. .

I s a y o u readi n g a letter this morn i n g

h
.

“
Yes mamma

hh
w
.
,

W o was it from ?
Bee looked her mot er i n the face I have n ever .

m ade a “
”
n y secret Of it s e sai d I have read them
, .

ope n ly before papa I n ever ou ld prete n d they were —

a n yt hi n g di Eeren t of c ou r s e i t Wa s f rom A u bre y ,

mamma .
 w
1 1 6 T H E SO R C ERE SS

h
.

”
h ave n e ve r t ol d Y ou

w
O aid her mother
Bee ! s

h
.
,

me wh at yo r fath r said
u e t o y ou that morn i ng H e tol d .

me it as all over an d don e with th at e woul d n eve r

w
—

listen t o an ot her word on the su bj ec t .

That as wha t he tol d me .

O h Bee Bee ! a n d yet

w
, ,

Stop a mome n t mamma ; he n e ver s aid I as n ot t o,

write ; he n e v er s aid there was t o be n o correspon den c e .

H ad lie said so I shou l d h a ve at leas t con sidere d wh at i t , ,

as best t o d o .

Con sidered what was best ! b u t y ou were n ot the j u dge .

I hope y ou wou ld ha v e obe yed yo u r fa t her Bee ,

.

I can n ot say mamma Y ou m u s t remember it is m y

ww h
w
,
.

case an d n o t his I don t kn ow what I shoul d ha v e don e

.
’
.

Bu t it was n ot n ecessary f o r he said n ot i n g abou t it ,

.

“
Bee m y dear child he may h ave said n ot hi n g ; b u t
, ,

y o u k n o v ery well t hat whe n he said i t as e n ti r el y

broke n OE he mea n t hat he s aid

Bee
Papa is very capable of say i n g what e m eans sai d
. I di d n ot thi n k it was any bu si n ess of mi n e t o i n
.

h ,

qu ire what m ight be his secret mean i n g Mamma dea r .

, ,

don t be vexed ; b u t Oh that wou ld ha v e been t oo hard

’

h
, , .

”
An d f or A u brey too ,
.

I th i n k m u ch less o f Au brey t at he shou ld car ry o n a

wh
clan desti n e correspon den ce with agirl like y o u ”

h
.

”
Clan desti n e ! cried Bee with blazi n g eye s NO , .

more cl an desti n e than you r letters that come by t e po s t

with yo u r o n n ame u pon them If A u brey did n o t scorn .

an ythi n g that is clan desti n e I shou ld There is n oth i n g .

like that betwee n i m an d me .

I n ever s u pposed y ou wou l d be gu ilty of any artifice ,

Bee ; b u t y ou are goi n g completely agai n st yo u r fath er

w
maki n g a fool of him i n deed maki n g it all ridic ulou s ,
—

whe n y ou carry on a correspon de n c e as if you wer e e n ,

gaged after he has broke n everythi n g OE

, .

”
I am en gage d said Bee very l o , , .

What d o y ou say ? Bee this is ou t of the qu estion I , .

shall have t o tell you r father whe n he comes back O h '

h h
.

child child how y ou t u rn this delightfu l time i n to tro u ble

, ,

h
.

I shall be obl i ged to tel l you r fat er whe n e comes back .

Perhaps i t w ill be you r d u ty mamma sa i d Be e , t e , ,

 T HE SO R C ERE SS 1 1 7

h
.

c ol o r goi n g ou t o f her face ; an d t e n I shal l hav e to

h
w
c o n sider what is mi n e S e sai d

h
,
.

“
O h Bee Bee ! O h ! how hard y ou make it for me

h
, , .

O ! how I wish y o u had n ever seen him n or he a rd of

im Mrs K i n gs ar d cried
, . .

w
C HAPT E R XV .

T H IS c ommu n i c at i o n mad e a little breach b e t we e n Be e

'

an d her mo ther an d plan ted a thorn i n Mrs Ki n gs ar d s .

’

b re a st She had been getti n g on s o wel l ; the qu iet (which

h
.

m e a n t the riot of the seve n n u rsery children a n d all their

t
t
h
t r o u blesome ways ! had been d oi n g e r s o m u ch good a
abse ce Of e ery care save that Joh y sho ld
e n
ak e cold a L cy eat e o gh di er that it was hard
nd
v
u
nd

n u nn —
nn u
,

n ot

po n her th u s t o be brou ght back i n a momen t to a n other

w w
u

h
an d a mor e pressi n g ki n d of care However after an
o u r or two s estran geme n t from Bee wh ich e n ded i n a
’

f u l ler expan si o n t han ever o f sympathy betwee n them

.

,
,

an d a morn i n g or t o i n which Mrs K i n g s ar d remem .

b ered as soon as she awoke that it wou ld be her d u ty to

h
t el l her h u sba n d a n d break u p the pleasa n t peace a nd

w
arm on y of the hou sehold the sweetn ess of that Jake f ar —

m erzte sw e pt over her agai n a n d obliterated o r at least

hh
’

b l u rred the o u tl i n e of a l l s u ch trou bl o u s thou g ts Colo .

n e l K in s g ar d sen t a h asty t elegram t o say that e was

oi n g n somewhere else for a n other t e n days shooti n g
’

w
g o

hh
,

an d that thou gh she excla imed at first with a cou nten an ce

w
,
“
o f d i smay O h childr e n papa is n ot com i n g ome for
, ,

h
,

an o ther week ! i n reality gave a pa n g of rel ief t o er

”

m ind Gli d i n g i n to her be i n g she scarcely kn ew o

w
.
, ,

as a n i n cli n a tion to take every day as it came witho u t

w
t h i n ki n g of to morrow which was perfectly n a t u ral n o
- —
,

d ou bt a n d yet was a
,
n u n con scio u s realizatio n o f the fact ,

h i ch as yet she had n ever p u t i n to words n o r had s u g ,

g e s t ed t o her that those ge n tle days

,
ere n u mbered

h
.

H e r h u sban d s delay was i n on e way like a reprieve to

’

er She had l ike all s i mple n at u res a v agu e faith i n

.

ac c iden t i n somethi n g that might tu r n u p

,
,

perhaps t e
,

h
 8 T H E SO R C ERE SS

w
1 1

h h
.

worl d may en d t o n ight somet i n g at leas t might ap

- -

p e n i n a n other t e n days to make it u n n ecessary for h er to

distu r b the existi n g sta t e Of aE ai r s an d throw n e tro u ble

w
i n to the hou se She did n o t wav er at first as t o her du ty
.
,

thou gh n othi n g i n the world cou ld be more pai n fu l ; an d

Bee did no t say a word to chan ge her mother s resol u tio n ’
.

Bee had always bee n aware tha t as soon as it was k n o n

the matter m u s t c o me to a n other cri sis an d t e scorn
with which she regarded the idea of doi n g an yth i n g cl a n
,
h

w
desti n e pre ve n ted her even from aski n g that h er secret
shou ld be kept It was not i n her mi nd b u t i n h er m o t her s
.
’

that those fai n t dou bti n gs at last arose those h alf e n ter — -

ta
h
i n e d thou ghts that a letter o r t o cou ld do n o h a
th at t e correspon de n ce wou ld drop o f itself wh e n it was
rm ;

w
see n betwee n th e two that there was n o hope i n it ; an d
that almost an ythi n g wou ld be better than a storm o f d o

w h
m es t i c dispeace a n d the ope n rebellio n i n whi ch Mrs .

K ings a r d fel t with a S h u dder Bee wo u ld place

w
erself

h
.
.

How are y ou t o break the w i ll of a girl wh o will n o t be

con vi n ce d ,
o says i t is n o t y o u r b u t her a ff air ?
No do u bt that was tru e en ou gh It was Bee n o t Colo .
,

n el K i n g s ar d whose happi n ess was con cern ed

,
A ccord .

i n g to all the can on s of poetry a n d literat u re i n ge n e ral

,

wh ich i n s u ch matters permeate theoretically th e ge n eral

m i n d when there is n o stron g person al i n sti n ct t o c r u sh
th em Bee b ad right on her side an d her m oth e r s i n — ’

h
,

s t i n c t was all on the S ide o f poetry a n d roman ce a n d Bee

w w h
.

She had n o t the co u rage to c u t short t at correspon d e n ce

h
w
,

n o t clan desti n e tho u gh u n r eveale d which kept t e irl s ’

w
g

h
,

h
eart alive an d was n o t w i thou t attraction s to the m o th er

h
,

h
also i n to hose ear it mi g ht be w ispered n o an d t e n
,

( ith alwa s a fai n t protes t o n

!
e r par t that A u brey a

ww hhh
y d
better hopes that he had ap o er f u l frien d who was go i n g

h
,

to speak for him If they really mea n t to be faithfu l t o

.

each other an d t ere was n o dou bt that was wh at th ey

— -

mean t they m u st i n the day i n th e e n d ; an d w at ar m

—

w
wou ld it do i n the mean time that they shou l d he ar o f e ach
othe r from time to time ? hereas if sh e betray e d t e ,

h
secret there wou ld at o n ce be a dreadfu l com moti o n i n

h
,

the ho u se and Be e wo u l d con fro n t her father an d tel l i m

,

wi t h t hose blazi ng eyes so like his that it as er aE ai r

, , .
w w T HE SO R C ERESS . 1 1 9

w
M rs . Ki n g s ar d k n ew that her h u sban d wo u ld
e ver stoop n
t o the man oeu vre o f i n tercepti n g letters o f keepi n g a

h
,

atch u pon thos e that his da u ghter received ; an d what

o says th a
h
ca n y ou d o t o a girl t ? She shra n k more

hh
ww h
t an a n y words co u ld say from the re n ewal Of the co n flict .

S e ad been s o than kfu l to be l ieve that it ad passed

o v er a nd all thi n gs set t led i n to peace while she was ill

h
.

No that she as better her heart san k withi n her at the

t ou ght of bri n gi n g it all on agai n wh ich wou l d also ,

m ake her ill agai n she was co n vi n ced ,

Yet at the same .
,

t i me if she cou ld n ot pers u ade Bee to give 1 t u p Of her

,

s e lf (of which there was n o hope whatever! the n she ,

m ust it was her d u ty i n form her h u sban d

,
Bu t her heart
, .

rose a l ittle at that t e n days reprieve Perhaps the world ’

w
.

m ight e n d to n ight Somethi n g might happe n t o make

w w
-
.

i t u n n ecessa r y i n those te n days .

An d some t hi n g d i d happen thou gh n o t i n an y way ,

wh at Mrs K i n g s ar d cou ld have wished

w
. .

Col on el Ki n g s ar d s ret u rn was approachi n g very n ear

’

w
wh e n on on e of those bright O ctober aftern oon s a lady

w
fro m the n e i gh b orhood n ay it as the clergywoma n Of —
,

the parish the rector s wife o f K i n g s ar d en the very

,
’

nea rest of all n eighbors came t o cal l She had j u st r e

h
—
.

tu r n ed from th at series Of visits hich i n the au t u m n is

wi th all o respect themselves the n at u ral cou rse of —

ev e n ts Mrs Chichester was a woman Of good con n ec

w
. .

tion of private mean s an d more or less i n society

, , ,

s o th at she carried o u t this programme q u ite as i f she had

been a great lad y She had an air of importa n ce abou t
.

her hich seemed to shadow forth from her very e n tra n ce

w
somethi n g that she had to say an u n u s u al gravity a look —
,

o f havi n g to make u p her mi n d to a certai n actio n wh i ch

was no t withou t diffic u lty There passed a glan ce b e .

twee n Mrs K i n g s ar d an d Bee i n wh ich they said to

.
,
”
each other What i s it this time ? as clearly as words
,

cou ld have said ; f o r to be s u re they were well acq u ai n ted

w
with this lady s ways She sat f or a little an d talked Of
’
.
,

their respective travels si n ce they had last met ; an d of

the pleasan t weeks she had passe d at Hombo u rg where ,

so man y pleasan t people were al ays t o be met after the

London season ; and the n she lightly to u ched on the fact
I2 0 T HE S OR C E R E SS

hh
.

th at s e ad com e o ver early i n September an d si n ce then

h
had be en S tayi n g at a n u mber Of co u n t y places with t e
de ar bi s op an d at Lady G r and m ai s on s an d with Ol d ’
,

,
h
, ,

Sir Thomas dow n i n Devon shire an d so on ,

.

she con cl u ded with a disproport i o n ate emphasis

ww
,

o n that appare n tly u n importan t word

. I shou ld hav e ,

been t o see y ou lon g ago .

There was asi gn ifican ce i n this which agai n m ade Mrs

h
.

K i n gs a rd a n d Bee excha n ge a look al a ughi n g gl an ce —

as of those o had heard the phrase before Whe n .

h
,

however she had asked some qu estion s abou t Mrs Ki n gs

,
.

ward s ealth an d expressed the proper feeli n g sor ry t o

’

,
—

hear she had bee n so poorly ; delighted that she was s o

h
w
m u ch better Mrs Chichester departed from her estab

w
—
.

l is ed u se a n d wo n t I n stead Of begi n n i n g u pon the real

.

Obj ect of her visit after she had take n her c up of tea with
, ,

n t erest y o u i n
a No ( also very emphatic ! I wa n t to i
somethi n g I have very m u ch at heart ”
— which a s gen

era l l y a s u bscription a society a bazaar a missio n ary

h
, , ,

meeti n g o r somethi ng of the sort Mrs Chichester be n t

, , .

forward an d said i n a half whisper I have somet i n g I

,
-
,

wan t very m u ch t o talk to y o u abo u t ; co u ld I speak t o y ou

f o r a mome n t alon e ? —

Bee was m u ch su rprised b u t took her part with p r o m p ,

t i tu d e Y o u wan t to get rid o f me she sai d I shal l

w
,
. .

g o o u t o n to t he terrace mamma a n d y ou c a n ca l l me fro m

, ,

h
the wi n dow when y ou wa n t me I shall be su re to h ear

w
. .

T ere was a n other look betwee n them always with a ,

lau gh i n it as she stepped o u t throu gh the ope n wi n do

,

with a book i n her han d a look which repeated Wh at c an

w h
, ,

it be n o ? with the same amu semen t as at first b u t

”
,

wi t h more s u rprise Bee m ade a circ u it rou n d t e l aw n

h
.

with her book on e fi n ger sh u t i n it t o mark the pl ace

hw h w
, ,

looki n g at the flowers as on e does o k n ows eve ry pla n t

i n divid u ally an d n o tes each b u d that is Ope n i n g an d

, ,

which are abou t to fall Sh e calcul ated with i n hers l f e

h
.

o lon g the da l ias ou l d last an d that the Gloire d e ,

Dijon roses m u st be c u t t o morrow as she pu rs u e d e r -

h
,

way tow ard the wal n u t tree u n der which she mean t t o -

h
,

plac e erself ; b u t Bee had n o t bee n there man y mi n u t e s

before s e felt a littl e shiver creep over her t was g e t .
w
T HE S ORC E R E SS .
I2 I

h
tin g rather col d i n th i s late O ctober to sit ou t of doors
e n the s u n was al ready OE the garden an d S e ad as hh
h
, ,

g irls say “
n othi n g on
”
She g o t u p agai n an d m ade

h
.
, ,

e r way ro u n d to a garde n be n ch which was set agai n st

t e wall of the hou se at the spot where the su n shi n e

w w
l a s ted lo n gest There was s ti ll a lon g level ray o f r u ddy
.

l i g ht pou ri n g u po n that seat a n d Bee forgot o r rather

h
, ,

n e ver tho u gh t that i t was close to the drawi n g room -

h h
,

i n dow H er mi n d as n o t m u c exercised abo u t Mrs

h h
. .

C ichester s secret wh i ch proba bly co ncern ed the mot ers

’

h
,

an d babie s of t e parish an d which she certai n ly ad n o ,

c u riosity to hear Besides n o dou bt t e visitor h ad told

w
.
,

b y this t ime all the private d e t ails there were t o tell Bee

h
. .

s at down u pon the be n ch takin g n o p r ec au t i on to d isgu i se

’

t e so u n d of her footsteps a n d open ed her book She

w
.
,

as n o t an en th u siastic stu den t thou gh she l iked an ovel ,

as well as an y on e b ut her eyes strayed from it to the

—
‘

great width o f the horizo n i n fron t o f her an d the ru ddy ,

gl ory i n th e west i n which as j u st abou t to disappear

ww h
,

th at last lon g g olde n ray Of the s u n .

Whe n she heard a low cry an exclamati on s t i flb d yet —

f u l l Of horror was i t mamma ? what cou ld the clergy

—

o ma n be say i n g to bri n g from m amma s lips s u ch a cr y ?

’

B e e I ca n n ot blame
,
er pr icked u p her ears Mrs ,
. .

'
K i ng s a r d was n o t stro n g e n o u gh to be dist u rbed by hor

r o r s with which she had n othi n g to d o .

“
O h I c an n ot believe it
"
I can n ot belie ve i t ! she

w w wh
, .

sa id.

Bu t said the other voice with that emphasis at which

, ,

B e e had l au ghed s o Ofte n I c an assu re y o u it is tru e I

, .

sa him myself shaki n g ha n ds with the woma n at the

w
s tatio n .I might n ot have believed Miss T at am s story ; ’

b u t I saw with my o n eyes th at it as Mr Leigh I . .

h ad met him at Sir Thomas the year before when he ’

—

as stil l i n d eep mou rn i n g for his wife y o u k n ow

h
w h
, .

Mr Leigh ! S O it was somethi n g abo u t Au brey !

.

w
T e n it was Bee s bu si n ess still mor e th an her mot er s
’ ’

an d she liste n ed withou t an y fu rther tho u ght

h h
.

Bu t sai d Mrs K i ng s ar d as if taki n g cou rage y ou

,
.
, ,

m u st be m i stake n ; O n o t abou t see i n g h im s ake han ds

,

ith a woman why shou l dn t he shake han ds with a

—
’
 w
I2 2 T H E S OR C E R E SS

h
.

w
wom an ? H e i s v ery frie n dly with every bo dy Per ap s .

he k n e her an d ther ; is n oth i n g to fin d fau lt with i n

,

th at ”
.

No said Mrs Chichester solem n ly shou ld I hav e

h
,
.
,

men tion ed it ha d i t bee n con fi n ed t o that ? I on ly tol d

of that as a proof The thi g is that e p u t th i s

w
y o u n .

woman acommon woman like a servan t— i n to a slee p

—
,

i n g carriage ; y ou k n ow what those sleepi n g car r iage s

cost aperfect fort u n e far t oo m u ch f or an y comfort th at
— —

is i n them ; i n the middle of the n ight with her t o ch i l ,

dre n The wom an behaved qu ite n icel y Miss Tath a m

w
,
.

says an d looked s hocked to be pu t i n with a lady an d

w
, ,

bl u shed over all her f a

h
ce and told that ri dicu l ou s story t o

ww
,

accou n t for it Poor thi n g on e c an on ly be sorry f or e r

hw
,
. .

Probably some poor th i n g deceived an d th i nki n g she as ,

t o b e made a l ady o f Bu t I k n o .what y ou m u st thi n k

o f the m a n Mrs Ki n s
,
g ard
. o co u ld d o s u ch a th i n g ,

o n his way from stay i n g with yo u r o n family eve n i f ,

th e re had bee n n o more i n it than that .

Bu t Mr Leigh is very ki n d ki n d t o everybody i t

.
— —

migh t have b ee n n othi n g b u t chari ty

h
.

Charity i n an express trai n sleepi n g carriage ! Wel l

—
,

I con fess I n e ver eard Of charity like that Gen tlem e n .

gen erally kn ow better than t o compromise themsel ves f o r

w h
n ot hi n g i n that sort Of way The y are more afraid o f

h
.

ri ski n g themselves i n railway carriag es an d t at ki n d o f

thi n g than girls are m u c more afr a id An d if y ou r e

w
—
.

m e mber Mrs K i n g s ar d what ki n d of repu t ation M r

,
.
, .

Leigh had i n h is poor wife s time keepi n g that Mi s s ’

w
—

L an ce all the time i n her v er y h o u se u n der her eyes .

“
I have al ways heard that it as Mrs Leigh who i n

h
.

sisted u pon keepi n g Miss Lan ce

Is it l ike y said Mrs Ch i c ester
l ? ”
I ask y ou k n o
. .
,

i n g what y ou do o f h u man n atu re a n d the n a thi n g t o

w
,

happe n like this on his v e ry way b oin e whe n he had j u s t —

left y ou an d poor little Bee O h it is shameless Sh am e

h h
.
, ,

less ! I co u l d n ot con tai n myself whe n I heard Of i t .

An d th e n it as said that the colon el ad broke n OE t e

en gage men t ; an d Ithou ght it wou ld be a comfort t o y o u
t o kn ow that oth e r thi n gs were occ u rr i n g every d a y a n d ,

that it was t he on ly thi ng t o do .

 w w
T H E SO R C ERESS . 1 23

w
It i s no comfort to me an d I c an n o t— Icann o t believ e

w
—

w h
I
t ! :
1

De ar M rs ar d ! y ou a
K i ngsl a t a
k

w
y s e t e be st

h
.

v ie ; b u t if y ou h ad see n him as I d i d holdi n g the

h
,

om an s h an d ben di n g over er w i th su ch al ook ! I as

’

w h
,

af raid he wou ld kiss er th e re befor e e ver y bo dy An d I .

,

kn o i n g of the e n gageme n t a ad j u st left y ou ;

w
n d tha t he

h
,

b e f o re Miss Tat ham s a id a word I s at an d stared an d ,

c o u l dn t belie v e my e ye s
’
It a s t e t e nth of Sep t ember
.
,

an d he had left Bee hadn t h e j u s t the n ight before ?

,
’ ”
,

I n ever remem b er dates ”

said Mrs K i n gs ar d

w w
.
,

q u e r u lo u sl y .

I d o replied the vi sitor an d I t ook t he trou bl e t o

h hh
, ,

fi n d ou t At least I fou n d ou t by acciden t throu gh some

h
.
,

o ne o saw him at t he cl u b a nd o ad j u st discovered ,

t e rights o f that s tory abou t Miss L a n ce O h I t r u st

w h
.
,

will be b iled by his bei g a go d ar tz o r that

'

y o u n o t e g u n o p

h
s o rt Of thi n g t o tru st dear Bee i n su c a m an s han ds ! ’

h
,

M arriage is always rat er a dise n chan tmen t ; b u t thi n k

at it wou ld be i n s uch a c ase a man that can t be

w
’
—

t ru s ted t o travel be twee n Cologn e a n d Lon do n with

o ut
“ ”

hw w
I don t believ e i t ! I don t be lieve i t ! said Mrs
’ ’

w
.

K i n gs a rd ; a n d B ee heard that her mother had melted

i n t o tears .

Th a t is as good as sayi n g that y o u don t be lieve me ’

o s a it with my o
”
n eyes said the visitor getti n g , ,
“
up I n dee d I did n t mean at all to distress y ou f or I
,
’

h
.
,

t h o u ght that as everyt hi n g was broke n o E Ithou ght on ly —

i f y ou a d a n y do u bts as on e has sometimes after o n e has

w
,

s ettled a thi n g th at t o k n ow he was a m a

,
n like that with ,

n o resp e ct f o r a n ythi n g wh o cou ld l eave his fl a ,

me/e a nd
j u s t plu n ge pl unge there is n o other word f or it

w
—
,

It was eviden t t hat Mrs K i n gs ar d redu ced t o help .

,

l e s s n ess here mad e n o e Eor t either to detai n her visitor

h
,

o r to con trad i c t her fu rther or i n deed t o make a n y remark .

h
,

T ere was astep or t o across the room an d then M r s ,

.

C ichester said agai n : Good b y dear I am v e r y sorr y -

h
.
,

t o have distressed y ou b u t I co u ld n t leave y ou i n i g n o

’
—

,
a
r cen o f s u ch a thi n g f o r dear Bee s s ake ; that is t e o n e
’

t h i ng to b e th a n kfu l for i n the whole matter th at Bee ,

1 24 T H E SO R C E R E SS

h
.

doesn t se e m to mi n d a bit She looks j u st as brig t an d

h h
’
.

j u st as n ice as if n othi n g h ad happe n e d S e can t av e .

’

cared f o r him O n l y flattered I s u ppose and pleas ed t o

.
, ,

have a proposal as those little thi n gs are poo r thi n gs

, , .

We shou ld all than k He ave n o n ou r kn e es that there s n o ’

q u estion of a broken he art i n Bee s case

hh
’

She might n o t have been s o s u re of that ad s e seen

the figu re wh ich c ame throu gh the wi n dow t he mom e n t
the door had closed u pon her Bee wit her blu e e ye s
blazi n g wi l dly ou t of her white face an d stra nge p as sio n
—
h
h
,

i n e ver y li n e both of featu res a n d form .

”
What is the mea n in g of it ? she said briefly w i t dr y

w
,

w
Oh ,Bee y ou have heard i t all ?
,

I have heard en ou gh what does it mean m amm a? ”

—

h
,

Mrs K i n g s ar d rou sed herself dri e d her eyes an d

w
.
, ,

en t forward to Bee with o u tstretc ed arms ; b u t th e girl

t u rn ed away “
I don t wan t t o be petted I w an t t o
’

w
. .

kn ow what what it mean s

—
she said

h
.

h
,

I d on t believe it
’
cried Mrs K i n gs ar d
Give a rea
. .
,

son ; don t say t m gs to qu iet me O ’

.
,

keep you r arms a ay mamma Don t pet me as if I ’

.
,

wa n ted that Why don t y o u believe it ? an d if y ou di d

.
’

believe i t what does it mean ? what does it m e an ?

—
”

w w
CH APT E R ! VI

w w h
.

BE E s look of scare d an d hor rified misery was somet i n g

h
’

ne in Mrs K i ng s ar d s experien ce The gi r l ad n o t

.
’
.

k n o n an y trou ble Her father s rej ection of her l ov e r ’

h
.

an d the appare n t break bet een them had be e n i n real ity

on ly an other featu re i n th e roman ce She ad alm ost .

liked it bett er so ! There had bee n n o time to pi n e t o

w
,

feel the pai n o f separation It was all the more l ike a .

poem like what every love story shou ld be th at this -

,

h
,

breaki n g O E shou ld have come .

An d n o all at o n ce withou t a n y warn i ng ! T e wor s t

h h
,

of it was that Bee had on ly heard a part o f the story th e ,

recapitu lation of it Mrs Chichester ad give n t e acc u se d

. .
 R C ERESS

w
T HE SO . 1 25

m o re or
h
less fair play Sh e had give n an impe rfect ac

w
.

c o u n t Of the expla n atio n t e story the wo m an had t old

,

as as almost i n ev i tabl e t o a third party ; b u t she had '

g i v e n it to the best o f her ability n o t mea n i n g t o deceive

h
w
, ,

il l i n g e n o u gh that he sho u ld h ave the be n efi t o f t e

d o u b t or perh aps th a
,
t the j u dgmen t u pon him shou ld be
al l the more hard beca u se of his attempt to mi n gle deceit

w
,

i t h his S i n an d throw d u st i n the e y es Of an y possible

,

h
s p e ctators This was the way i n which it had appeared

w
.

h
to e rself ; b u t she was n ot u n fair She told the story
ich had been told to the asto n ished l ady u pon whose
.

h
s o l i t u de the littl e party had bee n obtru ded i n the middle

o f the n ight an d o had heard it perhaps imperfect l y

,

h
e v e n at first ha n d mi n gled w i th the j ol t i n g a

hh
t e trai n a n d the m u r m u? of the chi l dre n
C ic ester had repeated it hon estly
n d j arri n g o f
An d yet M rs
.
. .

h
h
B ut Bee had n o t heard that part o f the t a
e ard o n ly the facts o f the case which had prese n ted to
e r i n experie n ced yo u n g mi n d the most wild a
le She had

n d dreadfu l
.

p i ct u re Her lover who had j u st left her whom she had

h
.
, ,

r o mised t o sta n d by till death s u dde n l y a ppe are d to her

p ,

c h
i n the pale dark n ess Of the mid n ig t wi th a woma n a
i ldre n han gi n g o n t o him belon gi n g to him as appeared
,
nd
.

W h ere had he met them How had he arran ged to meet

h
?

w h hh
th e m ? Whe n her h an d had been i n his whe n h e ad ,

b e e n aski n g from er that pled g e till deat ad he j u st

h
,

be e n arran gi n g all that ; givi n g them that re n dezvo u s ;

s e ttli n g o they were to meet an d where ? A horror
an d sick n ess came over poor Bee It made h er head swim

w
.

h h
'

an d her limbs tremble To leave her with her p l e d g e i n

.

i s ears a — n d t o meet perhaps at the very o u tset o f is

j o u rn ey the woma n with the chil d re n acommon sor t o f —

o man li ke a serva n t ; a s if that ma d e a

I f she had bee n a d u chess i t wou ld have bee n al l t e s ame
,
n y d i Ee r e n c e !
h
h h
.

H e m u st have met her fresh from Bee s prese n ce with his

’

h h
,

f arewell to the girl w om he ad preten ded t o love sti l l

on i s lips She co u ld n o t t i n k so cl early was this
.
,

p i ctu re b u rn ed i n u pon her mi n d She seemed to see the .

dim half lighted carriage an d A u brey at the door p u t

h
-

h h hh h
, ,

ti n g the party i n An d t he n at Dover i n the daylig t

.

s aki n g a nd s w i t i s com pan ion be n di n g over er a s if

,
1 26 T HE

he m e ant t o ki ss her ! Th ese t o pic tu re s t ook pos sessi on

of Bee s mi n d compl e t ely ; an d all this j u st when e had
’

left Bee ! between his far ewell to her a

SO

n d his i n terview
w
R C ERE SS .

h
with her father If she had heard of the s t ory wh ich the
.

woma n had told to th e startled Miss Tath am i n t e dim h

h
w
sleepi n g carriage from which looki n g ou t she ad r ec
, , ,

o gn i z e d A u brey Leigh it might h av e made a d i E er e n c e

,
.

Bu t th at story had n o t been told i n Bee s heari n g An d ’

.

Mrs K i n gs ar d did n o t k n ow this b u t s u pposed sh e had

.
,

heard the who l e from begi n n i n g t o en d .

Bee s mother to tell the t r u th after the firs t shock was

’

h
, , ,

glad O f tha t u n con sciou s eavesdroppi n g on Bee s part ; f or ’

how c ou ld s e have told her ? I n deed the st ory was t o o

gross t o o flagran t to be believed by erself She felt
,

su re that there m u st be some e xp l an ation Of it oth e r than

,

h .

the vu lgar On e which was p u t u pon it by these l ad i es ;

b u t she k n ew ve ry well that the same i n t erpretation wou ld
b e p u t u po n it by her h u sba n d a n d man y o t her peopl e ,

t o whom A u brey s i n n oce n t i n t erfere n ce i n s u ch a case

’

wou ld have s e emed m uch less credible than gu ilt G u ilt .

is the thi n g that gen erally rises firs t as the explan ation o f

ww
everythi n g t o the mi n d both o f the man an d wom an o f

h
,

the world The impossibility o f a m an l eavi n g a del icate

.

flower o f womanhood like Bee whose first love e h ad ,

on i n order t o fall back at on ce i n to the bo n ds o f ac o m

h h
,

mon i n trigu e an d provide f or th e comfor t o f h is para

h
,

mou r ,
o had bee n wai ti n g f or him on t e j ou r
n e y wo ul d n ot prove s o great t o most people as t e i m
,

possibility tha t he as a s tran ger wou ld step o u t o f h is

, ,

Way to s u ccor a poor littl e mother a n d ch ildre n whom h e

w
had n e v er see n before an d risk thereby a comprom isi n g
,

situ atio n .

The l at t er was the thi n g which wou l d have seem e d u n

hw
u tt er a b l y ridic u lo u s an d impossible to Colo n el K i n g s ar d

h
.

A fir s t class sleepi n g carriage sec u red f or a mere w aif

-

h
,

u pon his way whom e had n ever s ee n before a n d n e v er

w
,

wou ld see agai n ! T e fellow might be a fool b u t e as

h
,

n o t s u ch a fool as that H ad the woman eve n bee n Old

h
.

an d u gly t e colon el wou ld have lau ghed an d shru g g e d

i s shou lders a t Au brey s bad taste ; b u t the woma n as
’

p rett y a nd
y o un
g A lo n
g s t a n d in
.
g aff air ,
n o d o u bt a
-

,
n d
 R C ERESS

w
T HE SO . 1 27

w h
cou rse it was qu ite possible n ay likely that she was

w
of

w h
w
w
, ,

h
,

b e i n g se n t poor creat u re to som e retreat or ot er where

w h h
, , ,

e wo u ld be o u t o f the ay wit her childre n

w
s

h h
.

M r s K i ng s a
. r d kn ew as if she ad heard him say these,

o rds
,
o her h u sban d wou ld speak An d o as she .
,

i th no t half his experien ce o f the world to m ai n tai n a ,

d i E e r e nt opi n ion ? Yet she did s o She thou ght it a s l i ke .

A u brey t o tu rn t e poor woman s l i n geri n g melan choly ’

h
,

j o u rn ey i n to a qu ic k an d comfortable on e ou t Of pu re

h h
,

k i n d n ess w i tho u t thou ght Of compromisin g imse l f an y

,

m o re tha n of avi n g an y recompe n se for what he did

h h
.

B u t she d i d n ot k n ow t at Bee k n ew n othi n g of this ex

p l an ation of th e sto ry Whe n s e fou n d t at h er chil d

wh
.

e v i d e n tly tho u ght n othi n g of that b u t received at o n ce

h
w
,

t e darker miserable tale i n to her mi n d she was startled , ,

b u t n o t perhaps aston is ed Bee was yo u n g to thi n k the .

o rst o f a n ybody b u t at the same time it i s by f a

, r th e
Co m m on est way of thi n ki n g an d the o Een ce as on e

w
,

ag ai n st herself wh ich gives a sharper edge to every thi n g

h
, .

A n d then she k n ew wha t was goin g on i n Bee s m i n d

’

c iefly by gu esswork for the girl said little Th e color

h
, .

e nt o u t Of her face her eyes sometim es gave a gleam of

h
,

t eir Ol d fire b u t m ostly had a stra n ge set l ook as if

w
, , ,

t ey were fixed on somethi n g n o t visible t o the ordi n ary

s p ectator She sat al l the eve n i n g throu gh an d n ever
h
w
.

s p oke This was n ot so n otice able while the c ildre n

h
.
,

ere sti ll abou t wi t h the i r perpetu al flow of observation s

w
an d flood Of qu est i o n s ; b u t whe n they we n t OE i n de t ac

hm e n ts t o bed a
h
n d the t o el d er girls were left alo n e with

w
h
,

h
t eir mot er Bee s sile n ce fell u pon the others like a
’

c l ou d Betty o k n ew n ot i n g after a few mome n t s

h
, ,
.

hr u shed away u pstairs t o fin d refu ge i n th e n u rsery an d

w
,

t en Mrs K i n gs ar d was left alon e face t o face with t is

h
.

sile n t figu re s o u n like Bee which n e 1 ther moved n or spoke ,

.

S e had scarce l y the cou rage to break the d readfu l sile n ce

h
,

hb u t yet it had to be broke n Poor Mrs K i n gs ar d s ’

. .

ea r t beg an t o bea t viole n tl y agai n st her breast as i t ad

n o t don e si n ce her ret u rn home
Bee s e s aid Bee h .

h h
h
.
,

Already that p u m pi n g o f the h ea r t ad taken aw a y er

b r ea t .
 1 28 THE SO R C ERE SS .

Y es , mamm a .

O h , Bee , what what are y ou goi n g t o do ?

—

T o d o , mamma ?

w
O h , don t repeat my words after me , b u t ive me some
’

g
sort of an an swer Betty may be back agai n i n a momen t

w
. .

”
What are y ou goi n g t o do ?
What c an I d o ? the girl sa i d , i n a l o V oice
h
”
.

I can t s u ppose b u t that y ou have bee n t i n ki n g a bou t

’

i t— hat else cou l d y ou be thi n kin g of , poor child For .

my part , I d o n t believe it DO y ou hear me , Bee ?

’
.

Yes —
Iheard y o u say that before mamma ,
.

And th a t is all y ou thi n k Of what I say ! My dar l i n g

w
,

ca t rem ai like this The first th i g yo r father

’

y o u n n n u .

‘
will ask will be Wha t has happen ed ? I cann ot bear that
,
’

y o u sho u ld give u p witho u t a word —

h
.

Mrs K i ng s ar d had disapproved o f the correspon de n c e,

h
.

had felt that i t wou ld be i n cu mben t u pon her to tell er

h u sban d o f it b u t yet i n this u n foreseen emerge n cy s e
,

forgot all that

h
.

Witho u t a w o rd ! what wo ds cou ld I say Y ou don t

r ? ’

su ppose I cou ld disc u ss it with i m ask if it was tru e ? —

If it s tru e there isn t a word to say is there ? an d if it

’ ’

isn t tru e i t wou ld be an i n su lt to ask him An d s o on e

’
.

way o r an other it is all j u st don e with an d over An d I .

wish y o u wou ld leave me q u iet mamma ,

.

D on e with a n d over ? witho u t a word o n amere stor

w
—
y
of someth i ng that took pl ace on a j ou r n ey

w
.

O h leave me q u iet ma mma DO y o u thi n k I n eed t o

h
, .
,

be re mi n ded o f that j o u r n ey ? as if I did n o t see it an d

h
,

the lam ps bu rn i n g an d hear the very e el s l,

”

“
Bee dear o c an I leave y ou qu iet ? DO y o u mea n
, ,

j u st t o let it break OE l ike that withou t a word witho u t , ,

”
givi n g him the chan ce to expl ai n ?

w
I thou ght said Bee with a fai n t sati rical sm ile
, , ,

for i n deed her heart was capable Of all bittern ess ,

th at it was broke n OE completely by papa an d all ,

w
that rem ai ed was on ly what y ou called clan desti n e
n —
,

m am ma .

“
I did n ot call it cla n desti n e I k n e y ou wo u l d d o .

n othi n g that was disho n orable An d it is tru e th at it .

a—s br oken off Bu t Bee Be e ! yo u don t s eem t o fe el

.
,
’
 THE SO R C E RE SS 1 29

hdreadf
.

t e l th i g this is Afte all that has p ased

u n . r s ,
to
l et itdrop a mome witho t sayi g a word
in n t,
’
u n !
I thou ght it was what I ou ght to have don e as Soon as

w
.

p apa s will was made k n ow n

’ ”

O h Bee y o u will dri ve me mad

, ,
'
An d I h av e got n o .

breath to speak S O y ou o u ght perhaps b u t y ou have

w
.
—

n o t whe n perhaps there was reason An d n o f o r a mere

w
, .

ch an ce story an d withou t givin g him an opport u n ity

w
—

h
,
”
t o speak for himself .

Bee raised her face n o crimso n as it ad before been

hw
,

p ale “
Ho cou ld I p u t an y qu estion on su ch a thi n g ?

h
.

Ho cou ld it be di s c u ssed between him an d me ? T o

t i n k Of it is bad en ou gh b u t t o speak of it ! Mamma !

h
,
”
o do I k n ow eve n wha t words to say ?
In that case every en gageme n t wou l d be at t e mercy
of a n y slan derer if the g irl n ever co u ld bri n g herself to
,

as k what it mean t .

h I am n o t an y girl cried poor Bee with aqu iver Of

w
, ,

e r lip I am j u st my self I don t thi n k v er y m u ch o f ’

h
. .

m yself a n y more than y o u d o b u t I can t cha n ge myself

‘
’

, .

”
O let me alon e let me alo n e mamma l

w
, , ,

Mrs K i n g s ard was very m u ch excited Her n ostrils

. .

g rew pi n ched an d di l ated i n the str u ggle f or breath ; her

l i p s were ope n an d pan tin g from the same cau se She .

as cau ght i n that dreadfu l con tradiction o f se n time n t

h
w
an d feeli n g which is worse th an an y u n mi n gled catastro
p e . She had bee n re n t as u n der before this by
t o sh i el d her dau ghter ! yet se n se o f her d u ty t o her
her desire

hh
w
us

ba nd ; an d n o it was the correspon de n c e w ich she

s e e med to be called u pon to defe n d almost at peril Of her
l i f e that actu ally cla n desti n e at l east secret correspon d
—

w h
,

e n ce of which she co u ld n o t approve which she as bou n d

h h
,

t o c u t s or t An d yet to c u t it short like this was some

h
.

th in g wh i ch she cou ld n o t bear She t rew aside t e .

ork with wh i ch S e had bee n stru ggli n g an d fixed her

h
e y es on Bee who did n o t look at her n or see how agitated
e r expression was
“
,

If y o u c an do this I can t she said

.

I will write ’
.
, ,

t o h im The ot her dreadfu l story may be tru e for ,

h
.

an ythi n g I k n ow An d th at of cou rse is e n ou gh

. Bu t , ,
.

t is o n e I don t believe if an an gel from heave n told

’

9
 SO R C E R E SS

w
T HE
1 30 .

hI do
it me .

i m s el f l
t kn o
H e shall at least have the ch an ce Of cleari n g
”

said Bee what t e other dreadfu l story

n
’
h
, ,

was . I tho ught it was on ly prete n di n g t o l ove som e —

other woman ; an d the n prete n di n g t o love me — sh e

w
—

h
_

broke OE i n to a l ittle hoarse lau gh The o Een ce o f it was

wh
.

m ore t an Bee cou l d bear The i n su lt to s n Eer ( she —

h
.

said to herself ! was on e thi n g b u t to be i n su lted ! Sh e —

lau ghed to thi n k wh at a fool she had been ; o she h ad

been take n i n ; o she ad said Oh l ike the veriest
cred u lou s fool ! Till death
h , ,

hw
.

H e was n o t prete n di n g to l ove yo u What we n t b e

h w
.

fore I kn ow n o t b u t with y ou he was tru e , .

“
O n e before a n d o n e after
”
said Bee risi n g i n an
—
, ,

irrepressibl e r age o f i n dign ation O mamma o .

, ,

ca n we sit q u ietly a n d disc u ss it as i f as if it ere a ,

—
.

thi n g that cou l d be talked abo u t ? Am I to com e i n b e

h
twee n two others two I thi n k it will make m e mad
— — —
,

t e girl cr i e d stampi n g her foot How does a m an dare

h h
.
,

to do tha t to i n s ult a girl who n ever sou ght him n or —

h
,

he ard Of i m w an ted n othi n g Of i m till he came an d —

h
,

forced h imself i n to e r life

O Bee m y d ar li n g cried the mother goi n g u p t o her
”

h
, , , ,

child with ou t stretch ed arms .

Don t tou c me don t tou ch me don t pet me ; I c an

’ ’ ’

h
, ,

n o t bear it Let m e stan d by myself I am n o t a litt l e

. .

thi n g li ke L u cy to b e cau g t u p an d kissed till I forget .

I don t w an t to forg et There is n othi n g that c an ever

’
.

be don e to me if I were to live to a h u n dre d t o p u t thi s

h
, ,

ou t o f my h ea d

ww
.

Bee b e patien t with me for a m ome n t I ave li v ed

—
.

lo n ger tha n y ou have What wen t before cou l d be n o .

o E e n c e to y o u whatever it was It m ight be bad b u t it

h
,
.
,

as n o o Een c e to y ou An d this Idon t belie v e it

’
—

h
.

Bee as far too m u ch self absorbed to see t e l abor i n g -

h
breath the pi n k spot o n ei ther cheek the pan ti n g wh ic
,

made her mot er s fin e n ostril q u iver an d kept her lip s ’

,

h
apart n o r th at she ca u ght at the back of a chair t o s u p
— .

port ers elf as she stood .

I don t kn ow why y ou shou ld n t believe it I don t

’
—
’
.
’

b elieve it I s ee it I he a r it
.
”
cri ed Bee
“
It s l i ke a , , .
’
 T HE SO RC E RE SS 1 31

h
.

story an d I th ought those t i n gs were always stories

—
,

thi n gs made u p to keep u p the i n terest i n a book Im the —

’

— deceived heroi n e the o n e that s disappoi n ted do n t y ou

,
’

,
’

k n ow ma mma We ve read all abou t her doze n s of times

,
.
’
.

”
Bu t she ge n erally makes a f u ss over it the girl said

w
, ,
“
with her su ff ocat i n g l a u gh I sh all make n o fu ss .
—

m amma ! Wha t is the matter mamma ? ,

Nothi n g more was the matter tha n the doctor co u ld

h ave t old Mrs K i n gs ar d s family long ago a spas m Of
.
’
—

th e heart She st u mb l ed backward to the sofa an d flu n g

h
.
,

herse l f down before con sciou sn ess forsook her Did c on .

s c i o u s n e s s forsake e r at all ? Bee ru shi n g to the bell ,

maki n g its viole nt sou n d pe al throu gh the hou se the n ,

fli n gi n g herself at her mother s feet calli ng to her i n the ’

,
”
help l essn ess of u tter ign oran ce Mamma mamma l did , ,

n o t thi nk tha t she was u n co n scio u s Broke n words fell .

from her i n the mi dst of her gasps for breath the n there

w
,

was a momen t of dread still n e s s By this time the room

h
w
.

seemed t o be fu ll of people Bee did n ot k n ow who was ,

t ere —
an d the n there s u d d e n ly appeared ou t Of the mist
M ou l s e y i t h a gl ass an d teaspoon i n her han d s .

G O a ay all Of y ou cried M ou l s ey she ll be better ’

, , ,

h
direc tly Ope n all the wi n dows an d take a f an an d f an

hw w
—

er ,

h Miss Bee

w wh
The bl ast Of the cold O ctober n ig t air came i n like a
flood ; Bee seemed to come o u t Of a horribl e dream i n the
waft o f ai r bro u ght by the f an which S e as herself av
i n g to a n d fro and i n a littl e t ime as M ou l s e y said M r s
—
, ,
.

K i ngs a r d was better The labori n g breath wh ich had

.

come back after that a fu l mome n t of still n ess gradu ally

h
calmed down an d became softer wi t an occasion al lon g

w
draw n sig an d the n sh e ope n ed her eyes ari d said with

h
, ,
“
a fai n t smi l e What is it ? what is it ? Sh e looked ro u n d

w
,

her f o r a momen t p u zzled an d t e n she said Ah y ou

w
—
, ,

ar e fann i n g me with a smil e to Bee b u t prese n tly H o

w
, , ,
”
co l d it is ! I don t thi nk I wan t to be fan ned M o u l s e y
’

,
.

“
N O ma am n o t n o
’
An d White is j u st agoi n g to

w
-
.
, ,

sh u t all the wi n dows The fire as a bit too hot an d y o u

.
,

kn o y o u n e ver c an bear it whe n the room gets t oo

hot .

N O I n ev er c a Mrs K i ngs ar d said i n a

“
,
n bear it ,
.
,
1 3
2 T HE SO R C ERE SS .

docile ton e
gi v e n to her
She followed the lead of any su gg es tio n
.

I m u st h ave got fai n t wit th e heat

.

That was j u st it said M ou l s ey Whe n y ou have a .

— h .

fire i n the drawi n g room so early i t looks so cheerfu l you re

-
’

apt to pile i t t oo high withou t thi n ki n g f or it a i n t really —

’

cold i n O ctober n ot cold e n ou gh t o have a fire like that

,
.

Y o u wa n t it for cheerf u l n ess ma am more than f or heat

’

w
,
.
,

A big bit of wood that w i ll make a n ice blaze an d very ,

little coal as is too m u ch f or the season is what you r

h
, ,

drawi n g room fire shou ld be

-
.

Mrs K i n g s ar d gradu ally ca m e to herself du ri n g t i s

.

lon g speech which n o dou bt was what M ou l s e y i n ten ded

h
.
,

Bu t she said she f e l t al i ttl e weak a n d that she wo u ld keep ,

h
on the sofa u n til it was t i me t o go t o bed The agi tation s e
ad gon e throu gh seemed to h ave passed from her mi n d
.

w
.

R ead me a l i ttle Of that story she said poi n ti n g t o a , ,

book on the table We left OE last n ight at a m ost in

h
.

”
t e r e s t i n g part R ead m e the n ext chapter Bee
.
,
.

Bee sat do n beside her mother s sofa an d ope n ed t e ’

book It was n ot a book o f a very exciti n g ki n d it may

.
,

be s u pposed whe n it was th u s read a chapter at a ti m e

w
, ,

withou t any o n e o f the party Ope n i n g it from eve n i n g t o

eve n i n g to see how thi n gs we n t on Bu t as it happe n ed
at this poi n t of the story t e heroi n e had fou n d ou t that
her lover was n ot s o blameless as she thou ght an d as
h .

w
,

maki n g u p her m i n d to h ave n othi n g to d o with him

w
.

Bee began to read with an i n dig n ation beyon d words f or

both hero an d heroi n e who were so pale S O colorless b e , , ,

side her o n story To waste o n e s time readi n g s t u E ’

h
.

like th i s whil e the tide of o ne s o n passion was t en

,
’

times stron ger ! Sh e did n o t thi n k very m u ch Of er

mother s fai n t It was n o dou bt the t oo large fire as
’
.
,

M ou l s e y said .

CHAPT E R ! V II .

w h
ITwas perhaps a very good thi n g f or Bee at this dis
tracti n g an d distracted mo m e n t of her l ife t at ,
her
mother s ill ness came i n to fil l u p every thought
’

. Her
o n l itt l e f abric of happi n ess cru mb l ed dow n abou t her
 T H E SO R C ERE SS . 1 33

c ar s like ahou s e o f c ards on ly as it was far m ore deeply ,

f o u n ded an d stro n gly b u ilt the down fall was with a

h
,

r u mbli n g that shook the earth an d a du st that rose u p to

w
skies H eaven was bl u rr ed ou t t o her by the ris i n g

ww
t e .

cl uo ds a n d all the earth was fu ll o f the n oise like a

, n ,

ea rt hqu ake Of the f alli n g walls She cou l d n ot get that

, .

s o u n d o u t Of her e a rs eve n i n Mrs K i n gs ar d s S ick room ’

-
.

here the qu iet was pretern at u ral an d e v e rybody spoke

h
,

i n the lo est ton e a n d every step was h u shed E ve n the n

h
, . .

i t wen t on ro a ri n g the ston es an d t e rafters flyi n g the

w
, ,

s torms of d u st a n d ru i n b l acke n i n g t e air s o tha t Bee ,

c o u ld n o t b u t won der that n obody saw t he m t hat the

h
,

atmosphere was n o t thick an d stifli n g with those ddbr zs

’

t at were con ti n u ally falli n g abou t her o n c a

w
rs F or .

h
e v erythi n g was comi n g dow n n o t o n ly the idol a
b u t heav e n a
n d the ,

w
s ri n e he abode i n ,
n d earth i n which she
f e lt that n o tru th n o faith cou ld dwell a
,
n y lo n ger ,
Who

h
.

as there to believe i n ? n o t any m an i f n o t Au brey ; n ot

an y goodn ess an y tru th if n o t his n o t an yt i n g ! F or it —

h
, ,

as withou t Obj ect withou t warn i n g for n othi n g at all

, ,

t at he had deserted her as if it had bee n o f n o impor

w
,

ta n ce ; with th e i n k n o t dry o n his letter with her n ame ,

s t ill u pon his l ips A great i n fidelity like a great faith

.
, ,

i s always somethi n g It is tragic o n e o f the awfu l eve n ts

.
,

o f l ife i n hich there is or may be fate ; an evil desti n y

, , ,

3 terrible chastiseme n t prepar d beforehan d In s u ch a

e
.

c ase on e c a n at least feel o n e 5 self o n ly a great victim

’

i n j u red by G o d himself a n d the laws o f the u n iverse ,

t hou gh that was n o t the commo n fashio n o f thou ght the n

w
,

as i t i s n owadays Bu t Bee 5 down fall d i d n o t mean S O

.
’

m u ch as that i t was n o t i n te n ded by an y o n e — n o t eve n

h h
,

b y the chief worker i n it H e had mean t t o hold Bee fast

.

i th on e han d while he am u sed imself with the ot er

w
.

A m u sed himself Oh heave n !

w
— Bee s heart seemed to ’

h
,

c o n tract wi th a speechless spasm of a n gu ish a n d rage .

T a t she sh ou ld be Of n o more acco u n t than that ! Played

i th as if she were n obody ; the slight creat u re o f a mo

w
m ent She Bee ! She Colo n el K i n gs ar d s dau ghter !
.
, ,
’

At first the poor girl we n t on i n a m i st of self ab s orp -

t io n thro u gh which everyth i n g else pie r ced b u t d u lly

, ,

rapped u p a n d hidde n i n it as i n the storm o f d u st which

1 34 T HE SO R C ERE SS

h
.

w
wo u ld have a r isen had her hou se actu al l y fallen abo ut er
ears perceivi n g her mother thro u gh it an d the doctor ,

h
,

an d all the accessori es of the sce n e b u t dimly n o t as if —

,

they were real W e n ho ever there began to pe n etrate

.
, ,

throu gh this stran ge words with stran ge mean i n gs i n

them Dan ger dan ger to whom ? str e n gth faili n g ; b u t
h
w
— —

whose stre n gth ? a d u ll won der came i n bri n gi n g er ,

back to their tho u ghts By an d by Bee began t o u n der

w
.

sta nd alittle th at i t was her mother of whom these thi n gs

h
were bei n g said her mother ? b u t it as n ot her mother s ’
—

ho u se t hat ad fal l e n ; what did it mea n ? The doctor

ta l ked apart ith M o ul s e y an d M ou l s e y t u rn ed her back
h
w
, ,

an d her sho u lders heaved an d er apro n seemed to be p u t

”
to her eyes Bee i n her dream said half alou d Dan ger ?

w
,
.

an d both the doctor an d M ou l s e y tu rn ed u pon her as if

h
they o u ld have killed her The n she was becko n ed ou t
o f t e room an d fo u n d herself sta ndi n g face to face wi t h
,

that grave yet ki n dly co u n te n an ce which she had k n o n

.

h
all her life i n which she believed as i n the greatest e u
t or i t y .
,

She heard his voice S peaki n g to her throu g h all

the r u m bl i n g an d down fall Y o u m u st be very co u rage .

ous ,
it said ; y o u are the eldest an d till you r father —

comes home What did it matter abou t her father

comi n g home or abo u t her bei n g the eldest ? What had
,

these thi n gs to do with the earthqu ake with the fail u re o f

h
,

tr uth an d mea n i n g an d everythi n g i n life ? She looked at

i m bla n kly won deri n g if it were possible that h e did n o t
,

hear the sou n d of the great fall i n g the re n di n g Of the ,

walls an d the teari n g o f the roof ; an d the choki ng d u st

h
,

that fi l led all earth an d heaven .

h My dear Beatrice he said for he ad kn ow n her all

i s l if e y,
ou do n t u n dersta n d me d
’
o y o
,

u my
Bee shook her head looki n g at i m wistfu l l y Co u ld
poor child ?
,

h ,
”

w
, .

he k n ow an ythi n g more a bou t it she wo n dered ; an ythi n g

w
,

th at had sti l l to be said ? 1

He took her han d an d her poor l ittle han d was very

cold with emotion an d tro u ble The good doctor
,

o
,

h
h
.
,

kn e n othi n g abou t an y i n divid u al ca u se little Bee cou l d

have for agitation t ou ght h e saw that her ve r y bei n g
,

was arrested by a terror which as yet her i n telligen ce had

n o t grasped ; somethi n g dreadf u l i n the air which s e d i d h
 w
T HE SO R C ERE SS . 1 35

w
n ot u n derst an d H e drew her i n to the di n i n g room the -

h
.
,

d oor Of which stood ope n a n d po u red o u t a lit tl e wi n e f o r

,
“
er . No Bee he sai d ,
n o fai n ti n g n o weak n es s
, , ,
.

Y o u m u st prove what is i n y o u n o It is a dreadfu l tri al .

for y ou my dear b u t y o u c an do a great deal f or yo u r

, ,

d ear mother s sake as she wo u ld for you rs

’

,
.

“
I have n ever said it was a trial cried Bee with a

w
, ,
“
g asp Why. d o y o u speak t o me so ?
Has mamma told
y o u ? N O o n e has a n ythi n g to do with it b u t me .

He looked at her with great su rprise ; b u t the doctor

as a m an o f t oo m u ch experien ce n o t t o see that here was
s omethi n g i n to which it was better n o t to i n qu ire He

w
.

s aid very qu ietly

u
,

n n co
Y o u as the el d est have n o dou b t the

u rage Yo u r
,

c hief part t o play ; b u t t e little o n es will all depe n d u pon

o r stre gth a d mother does n t
h
herself
, ,

y o .

kn o She is very il l It will requ ire al l that we c an

. .

d o to p u ll her throu gh

w
—
.

Bee repeated th e last w or ds after him w i th a scared look

b u t scarcely a n y u n d erstan di n g i n her face To pu ll her
throu gh

w
—

Don t y o u u n derstan d me n o ? Yo u r mother has

’
—

b ee n i l l for a lo n g time You r father i s aware of it I

w
. .

s u ppose he tho u ght y o u were too yo un g to be told Bu t .

no that h e is abse n t an d yo u r brother I hav e n o alter

, ,

n ative You r mother is i n great d an ger I have tele

. .

g r aphed f o r Colo n el K i n g s a rd b u t i n the m e a n time —

,

Bee Child don t lose yo ur he ad ! do y ou u n derstan d

,
’

me . She may be dyi n g an d y o u are the on ly on e to —

s ta n d by her to give her cou rage, .

Bee did n o t look as if she had co urage f or an y on e at

that dreadfu l mome n t She felt a trembli n g from he ad .

t o foot a n d fell back agai n st the wal l where she was sta n d
i ng . Her eyes grew large star i n g at him yet ve i led as
if they d i d n o t see a n d she stammered f orth at le n gt
,

h
w
:

Mother ? mothe r ? with almost n o mea n i n g i n the excess

w
o f misery a n d s u rprise .

“
Y e s — you r mother ; whatever else y o u may h ave t o

w
thi nk Of she is the first con sideratio n n o
,
.

H e en t on speaki n g b u t Bee did n o t hear him ; every

h
,

thi n g flo ated rou n d her i n a mist The sce n es at the bath .

,

t e agitation s Mrs Ki n g s ar d s su d d e n pallors an d

,
.
’
1 36 T H E SO R C E R E SS

h
.

fl u s i n g s , her pr et e n ce , which they all la u ghed at , of no t

w
be i n g able t o wa l k— her lazi n ess , lyi n g o n the sofa ,
th e

h
giddi e s whe she made that t r with Charli e

w
n s n on e u n ,

S who had always bee so fo d

e da ci g the h r y n n of n n ! u r
of b i g g her to
r n a
in whe Bee had felt they K i ng s rden n
wou ld have bee n so m u ch better i n Lon don an d her ,

stran ge stran ge n e fan cy m u tely con dem n ed by Bee O f

, , ,

fin di n g the childre n t o o m u ch for her H alf o f thes e

w
.

th i n gs had been sile n tly remarked an d dis approved of by

the dau ghters Mamma getti n g so idle self i n d u lgen t
.
— -

almost so u n l ike herself H ad they n ot bee n t oo b u sil y

,
.

e n gaged i n their o n aEai r s Bee an d Betty wou ld both ,

have bee n an gry with mamma Al l these thi n gs seemed t o .

float abou t Bee i n a m ist while she lean ed agai n st the wal l
an d the doctor stood opposite to her talki n g It was o n l y .

perhaps abou t a m i n u te after all b u t she saw wavi n g ,

rou n d her passi n g before her eyes on e sce n e melti n g

h
, ,

i n to an other or rather all v i sible at on ce i nnu merabl e

'

h
, ,

episodes t e whole cou rse o f the three mon ths past which
—

ad con tai n ed so m u ch She came ou t of this stran g e

ww
.

whirl very miserabl e b u t very q u iet .

“
I thi n k it is chiefly my fau lt she said falteri n g i n

h
, ,

t e rr u p t i n g the doctor who was talki n g alway s talki n g ;

, ,

b ut o cou ld I k n ow for n obody tol d me ? Doctor tell

, ,

m e what t o d o n o Y o u said we shou ld pu ll her

.
—

throu gh

h
.

She gave him a fai n t eager con ciliatory s mile appeali n g

, ,

t o i m t o do i t Of cou rse he cou ld do it !

. Tell m e tell ,

me on l y what to d o .

He patted her k i n dly u po n the shou lder Th at i s

right he said
,
”
Now y o u u n derstan d me an d I kn ow I
.

ca n tru st y o u There is n ot m u ch to d o O nly to be

. .

qu iet an d steady n o cryi n g or agitation M ou l s e y k n ows

—
.

everyth i n g Bu t y ou m u st be rea d y an d steady my dear

.
,
.

S i t b y her a n d look happy a n d keep u p her co u rage

’

that s —
’

the chief thi n g If she gives i n it is all over She m u st

. .

n o t see that y o u are frighte n ed or miserable Come ! it s ’

.

a great thi n g t o do for a little girl that has n ever k n own

an y trou bl e Bu t y ou are of a good sort a
. n d y o u m u st ,

rise t o it f or yo u r m other s sake ’

.

Look happy ! tha t was all she had t o do Can t I help .

’
 T H E SO R C E R E SS 1 37

h
.

M ou l s e y ? s aked
I cou l d fetch her what she wan ts
e s . .

I co u ld g o r n f or her O h doctor som e thi ng a lit

— e ra ds .
, ,

t l e easier cried Bee claspi n g her h an ds j u st at first !

,
“ ”
, ,

All t hat s arran ged he said h astily

’
Come we

h
.
, ,

m u st go back to o u r patie n t She will be won deri n g what .

w
I am talki n g t o y o u abou t She will perhaps take frig t . .

N O n othi n g easier my poor child— i f y o u c a

,
n d o that y ou
,

ma help me a great deal if c a t go b d my ’

w w
y ; y o u n t o e , ,

d e ar that will be best

h h
, .

She gav e him a look O f great scorn an d moved t o ard

h
,

e r mot er s room leadi n g the way

’

hw
.
,

Mrs K i n gs ar d was lyi n g ith her face toward t e

.

d oo r watchi n g i n a bl a
,
z e O f exciteme n t a
,
n d fe v er Her .

e y es had n ever bee n s o bright n or her color so br i llian t .

S e as breathi n g q u ickly pan ti n g with her heart very , ,

au di b lE t o herself p u mpi n g i n her ears an d almost an , ,

d i ble i n the room s o evide n t was it that every p u lse was ,

at fever speed What have y ou b een t elli n g Bee doctor ?

h
.
,

Wh at have y o u been telli n g Bee ? what When she

ad be gu n this phrase it did n o t seem as if she cou ld stop
r e peati n g it agai n a n d agai n .

I have b e e n tel li n g her that she may sit with y ou m y

w
,

d e ar lady o n con ditio n Of bei n g very q u iet v ery q u iet

, , ,

hh
sa id the doctor It s a great promotion at her age She

w
’

h
. .

as promised t o sit v e ry still an d talk very litt l e an d , ,

b u s her mamma t o sleep It is y ou o m u st be the .

.

b aby to n ight -
If y o u c an get a good lon g qu iet sleep it

hh
, ,
.

ill do y ou all the good i n the world Yes y ou may hol d

w
.
,

er a n d if y ou like my dear an d pat it an d smooth i t , ,

a l ittl e ge n tle mesmerism wi l l do n o harm That my .

,

d ear lady is what I h a v e bee n telli n g Mis s Bee

h
, .

“
O h doc t or
,
said Mrs K i n gs ar d don t y ou k n ow
,
“
.
,
’

s e has had great trou ble herself poor chil d ? Poor little

h
w
,

B e e ! At her age I was mar ried a n d happy ; a n d here is

'

s
he poor thi n g pl u n ged i n to tro u ble
,

t ere i s a ge n t l eman —
Doctor y ou k n ow
, .
,

hMrs K i n gs ar d h ad raised herself u pon her elbow an d

.

t e pan ti n g o f her breath filled a l l the room .

,

A n other time an other time y ou shall tell me all

h
—

ab ou t i t Bu t I s al l take Miss Bee away an d con si g n y o u

.
,

t o adark room a n d sile n ce if y ou say a n other word

, ,
1 38 T H E SO R C E RE SS

h I l k he l gh
.

ma e my room dark
don t k i e t
‘
O ,
t I ! i .

wa t my child Let me keep her let m eep her Who

n .
,
e k !
”
s hou ld comfor t her b u t her mother ?
— —

“
Yes s o l on g as y ou keep qu ite qu iet If y o u talk I
,
.

will take her away Not a word n ot a word till t o .

— —

mor row In spit e of h i mself there was a chan ge i n t he

.

d oc tor s voice as he said th at word or Bee tho u ght s o

’

w w
—

as if there might n e v er be an y t o morrow The girl felt

h
w
-
.

as if she m u st cry ou t shriek a l ou d t o re l ie v e er bu rs t , ,

i n g brai n b ut did not overborn e by his presen ce a

,
n d by ,

the n e se n se of d u ty an d self restrai n t Com e n o -

.
,

he en t on I am v ery ki n d to let y ou ha v e you r little

w
,

girl by y ou holdi ng you r han d don t y ou t hi n k s o ? G O

,
—
’

t o sleep bo t h O f y ou If yo u re q u ite qu ite qu iet y ou ll ’ ’

.
, ,

both doze an d toward the morn i n g I ll look i n u pon y ou

,
’

agai n No n ot an other word Good n ight : g ood -

h
.
,
.

n ight .

Bee whose heart was beati n g almost as st ron gly as e r

,

mother s hear d his mea s u red ste p wi t hdraw on the soft

’

car pets with a se n se of wild despai r as if the last hope ,

was goi n g from her H er i n exper ien ced imagi n ation h ad

h
.

leaped from complete i gn ora n ce an d calm to the last p o s

s i b il i t i e s of calamity She ad n ever see n death ; an d
wh at if tha t awfu l prese n ce were t o come while s e was
alon e i n capabl e of an y stru ggle Of givi n g an y help ! She
.

h
, ,

listen ed to the steps getti n g fai nter i n t he distan ce with

an gu i sh an d terror u n speakable S lic clasped h er .

mother s han d tightly withou t k n owin g it

’
That o n l y .

aid the on ly m an who co u ld do anythi n g was goi n g aw ay

, ,
—
deserti n g them leavi n g her alon e i n her ign oran ce t o
—

stan d betwee n her mother an d death Death ! E ver y

pu lse spran g u p and fl u ttered i n mortal t e r ror An d s e
was p u t there t o be qu iet ready an d ste ady he had s aid
.

. h

w
—
,

t o look happy ! Bee kept sile n t ; kept sitti n g u p o n

w
her chair ; kept down her shriek after him with a su p e r

w h
h u man e Eort She cou ld do n o m ore . .

Liste n he s talki n g to M ou l s ey no
—
’
said M r s

h
, .

K i ngs a rd abou t me ; they re always whisperi n g abo u t ’

—
,

m e telli n g the symp t oms a

— nd o I am Tha t i s t e —
.

worst o f n u rses
Mamma ! Oh don t talk don t t al k ! cried B e e ; ,
’

,
’
t hghd of h w
a more comforted th a word
T HE SO R C E RE SS .

a t ell by the
1 39

w
ou s e s n s c n
s o un her mother s voice ’
.

Whisper i n g ; can t y o u hear t hem ? abou t tempera t u re

’

an d thi n gs I c an bear talki n g b u t whisp er i n g Bee

h
.
—
,

don t y o u hear em
’
i S whisperi n g

w
— —

“
O h mamma ,
c ried Bee I lov e t o hear y ou speak !
, ,

b u t don t don t do n t or th ey ll make me g o away

’ ’ ’

, , ,
.

My bab y said the mother divert e d i n her wan der i n g

, ,

an d we a “
k n ess t o a n e s u bj ect ; my little thi n g ! H e
.

s aid we were t o g o t o sl eep P u t you r head there an d .

—

I l l si n g y ou I ll si n g y o u t o sleep — l ittle Bee ; littl e

’
—
’
—

”
B e e poor l ittle Bee !
,

C HAPT E R ! V III .

w
h
w
T H IS n i gh t was the stran gest i n Bee K i n gs ar d s life ’

w
w
.

S e had n ever k n ow n what it was to rem a i n sile n t an d

awake i n the dark n ess an d warmth Of a sick room which -
,

O f itself is a stra n ge experi en ce f or a girl an d sho s the ,

yo u n g spiri t its o n eakn ess its cravi n g for rest an d ,

c omfort the diffic u lty Of overcomi n g the i n sti n cts Of n a

,

t u re with su ch a se n se of h u mi l iation as n othi n g else

wh
—

w
c o u ld give Cou ld y o u n o t watch with m e on e ho u r ? She
.

b e l ieved that she had lai n awake cryi n g all n ight whe n her
d ream of happi n ess had s o s u dde n ly bee n broke n i n u po n
at Cologn e ; b u t n o hile S e sat by er mother s side
an d the little soft croo n i n g Of the son g which Mrs Ki n gs
,
h .
’

ward s u pposed herself to be si n gi n g t o p u t her chi l d t o

s leep sa n k i n to a s of t m u rm u r a n d the poor lady s u cceeded ,

i n h u sh i n g herself i n to a doze by this ch a racteristic method

h
Bee s hea d dro oped t oo an d her eyel ids closed The n
’

w
— .
,

S e woke with a little S h iver to see th e large fig u re o f

M o u l s e y like a ghost by the bed a n d stru ggled d u mbly

w
,

b ack to her se n ses on ly rememberi n g that she m u st n o t

,

K i n gs a rd

w
s ta r t n or cry t o dist u rb Mrs whose qu ick

w
,
.

bre athi n g filled the room with a se n sat i on Of dan ger an d

d ismay to which the girl as s en sible as soon as the film
o f sleep that had e n v eloped her was broke n Mrs Ki n gs . .

ward s he ad as throw n back on the pillow ; n o an d th en

’
 O R C E R E SS

w
1 40 T HE S

h
.

wh
a fai n t n ote Of the l u l l a

h
by which S e had been s mg mg
came from the parted lips thro u g which the hot q u ick
breat came S O a u dibly N o an d then she stirred i n her .
h ,

feverish slee p M ou l s ey stood i n d i sti n gu ishable ith her

.

back to the light a mass Of solid shadow by the bedside

, .

”
She shook her head S l eep s best she said i n t e ’

h h
.
,
“
whisper which the patie n t hated S l eep s b etter than .
’

the best of p y s i o Bee cau ght t ose sol i d skirts with a

.

s en sation Of hope t o feel th em so real a n d s u bsta n tial i n ,

her han d She di d n ot care to speak b u t lif ted her face

.

pale with alar m an d trou ble to the accu stom e d n u rse .

M o u l s e y shook her head agai n It was all the com m u n i .

cation that passed between them an d it cru shed the hope ,

that was begi nn i ng t o rise i n Bee s mi n d She had ’

h
.

thou ght whe n sh e heard the doctor g o away that death

m i ght be comi n g as soon as h is back was t urn ed S e .

had felt whe n her mother fel l asleep as if the dan ger m u st

,
.

n ess whe n t ere is n o lo n ger a h

be past Now she san k i nto that secon d stage o f hopeless
n y immediate pan ic whe n
the u n accu stomed i n te l l ige n ce dimly rea l izes t hat the
,

s n Ee r er m a y be better a n d may live thro u gh

,
the n i ght ,

or thro u gh ma n y n ights an d yet there m ay be n o real,

chan g e Ve r y dim as yet was this con sciou sn ess i n Bee s

.
’

heart an d yet the first dawn i n g Of it bowed her dow n

, .

In the middle Of the n ight after hou rs so lon g more

w w
—
,

li ke years whe n Bee seemed to ha ve sat there half her

,

life t o have become u sed to it to be u n certai n abo u t

, ,

everythi n g Outside b u t on ly that her mother lay there

h
,

more ill than ords cou ld say Mrs K i n g s a r d awoke —

. .

She o pe n ed er eyes wi t ho u t an y chan ge o f position with ,

the ha b i t Of a woman who has bee n long ill witho u t

w
’

ack n owledgi n g her i ll n ess It was M ou l s e y who saw a .

fa i n t reflectio n of the fai n t light i n the sof tly o p en ed eye s ,

an d detected that little cha n ge i n the breathi n g which

w
comes with ret u rn i n g con scio u sn ess Bee ith her h ead .

lean ed back u pon her chair an d her eyes closed was dozi n g

wh
aga i n .

Y o u m u st take yo u r cordial ma am n o yo u re aw a ke ’ ’

, .

You ve had s u ch a n ice sleep

’

h
.

Ha ve I ? I thou ght I as with t e ch i ldre n and si n g

i ng to baby Who s this that as my han d Bee
.
’
—
 THE S O R C E R E SS . 1 4 1

Mamma cri ed the g irl with a little start an d the n

h
, , ,
”
O h I have waked her M o ul s e y I have waked her l
, , ,

Is this her lit t le han d ? Poor little Bee ! N O y ou ave

w
,

n o t wa ked me love ; b u t why why is the child here ? , ,

The doctor said she might stay t o se n d f or him if y ou —

wan ted a nythi n g an d an d to satisfy her

h
— —
.

“
T o satisfy her why ? Am I bad ? D id '

y s o s o s o , ,

he thi n k I wou ld d i e i n the n ight ? —

h N O n o no said M ou l s ey stan din g by her patti n g

e r sho u lder as if s e
, ,

ad bee n a fretfu l chil d

,
,

What a hh ,

h
thi n g to fan cy ! As if he d have s e n t the child here f or ’
—

a
t tl
”

No
h
said the poor lady ; he wou ld n t have se n t the ’

ch ild wo u l d e n o t the child for that to frighte n her ?

,
— — —

B u t Bee m u st go t o bed I m s o m u ch better G O to .

’
.

bed M ou l s ey poor M o u l s e y n ever tires ; she s s o good ’

w
h h
w
.
,
.
,

B u t y ou m u st g o to bed .

O mother let me stay W e n y ou sleep I sleep

, ,
.

to o ; a n d I m so m u ch happ i er here
’ ’
.

“
H appier ar e y ou ? Well b u t there as somethi ng
,
—

ron g Somethi n g had happe n ed

. What was it that .

h appe n e d ? An d you r father away ! It n ever does for

a n ythi n g t o happe n whe n m y h u sban d is away I ve —
.
’

gr o wn so silly I n ever k n ow what to d o Wha t was i t . .

w
th at happen ed Bee ? ,
“
There was— n othi n g said Bee with a s u dden chill , ,

o f despair She had forgotte n every thi n g b u t the dim

.

b e dch a mber the fai n t light the q u ick qu ick breathi n g

, , ,
.

An d n o t here cam e a stab at her poor little heart She .

s c arcely k n ew what it was b u t a c u t l i ke a k n ife goi n g to

h h
w
,

th e v ery centre of her bei n g The n there came the doc

h
.

t o r s words as if t ey were writte n i n light across t e

’

h ww w
,

d ark n es s Of the room R eady a n d steady S e said i n , .

astron ger voice : Y o u have bee n dreami n g There as

“

h
.

n ot i n g mamma ,
.

Mrs K i n gs ar d . o h ad raised herself to her elbo , ,

sa n k back agai n o n her pi l l ows

hh
.

“ “
Yes sh e said I m u st have been dreami n g I

hh
,
.
,

t ou g t somebody came an d told u s Dream s are so —

.

s t ra n ge Peopl e say they re thi n gs you ve been t i n ki n g ’ ’

—
.

of . Bu t I was n o t thi n ki n g o f t hat the ver y last t i n g ! —

1 42 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

it s apity it s a great wh en a woman with i

p ty
h
’
Be e ,
’
— —
,

s o ma n y childre n falls i n to this ki n d Of silly bad h ealt —

.

O h mamma ,
was al l that poor Bee cou l d say ,
.

O h let m e alo n e M o u l s e y Iwa n t t o talk a little

'

— —
.
,

Iv e
’
had s u ch a good sleep y o u said ; sometime s — I wa n t
n or yo u r father ; a
,

t o tal k a n d M ou l s e y won t let me nd

’

w
—
,

I h ave i t all here she s aid p u tti n g her han d to her hear t
”
, , ,

or here l ayi n g it over her e yebrows an d I n ever g e t

, ,

it o u t L e t me talk M ou l s ey let me tal k

.
,
—
.

Bee lean in g for ard a n d M o u l s e y stan di n g over her by

h
the beds i de there was a pau se Their eyes accu stom ed

h
w h
.
, ,

to t e fai n t light saw her eyes shi n i n g from the pillow , ,

and the fl u s h Of e r cheeks agai n st the white n ess o f t e

bed Then after awhile there came a little fai n t la u gh
Wh at was I sayi ng ? Mrs K i n gs a
.
, ,

and r d asked You . .

look S O big M ou l s e y like the shadows I u sed to throw

,
—

o n th e wall to please the chil d re n Y o u always lik e d the

w
.

r abbit best Bee Look ! She pu t u p her han ds as if to

,
.

make that f amiliar play u pon the wall Bu t M o u l s e y

h
.
,

she added i s s o big She sh u ts ou t all the light ; an d

“
,
.

hat is Bee doi n g here at this o u r of the n ight ? Mou l

sey sen d Miss Bee to bed

wh
, .

O h mot h e r let m e stay

,
Y o u were goi n g to t el l m e
,
.

somethi ng .

Miss Bee y o u m u st n ot make h er talk , .

Ho
”
like M ou l s ey l said th e i n valid M ake m e

w h
hh
.

talk ! whe n I ave wan ted s o m u ch to talk Bee it s .

,
’

horrid to g o o n i n this silly i l l way when w en on e as

w
—

childre n t o thi n k Of You r father s always good ut a

w
’
- s
.

ma n Ofte n does n t u n dersta n d A b ou t y o u n o i f I h ad

’
—
.
,

bee n a l i ttle stron ger it might have been d i Ee r en t Wh at .

was it e heard ? I don t th i nk it was tru e what we heard ’

h
.

O h mamm a do n t thi n k Of that n o

’

hw w
,

h
,
.

It i s s o s i lly always bei n g ill ! an d t ere s n o thi n g reall y ’

the m atter As k t e doctor They all say there s n oth

. .
’

i n g really the matter You r father b u t the n he doesn t ’

—
.

k n ow o a woma n feels I feel as if I ere si n ki n g .

,

si nki n g down throu gh the bed an d the floor an d every

thi n g away I don t kn ow where S O silly ! f or n othin g
, ,
’
.

h u rts me I ve n o pai n except that I a l ways wan t m ore

—
’
—

ai r
.If you were t o ope n the wi ndow M ou l s ey ; an d Bee , ,
 wh w
T HE S O R C E R E SS . 1 43

g i v e m e yo u r h a
nd an d ho l d me fast that I mayn t si n k ,

a ay It s all q u ite si l ly y ou k n o to thi n k s o she

.
’

, , ,

a d ded wit agai n a fai n t la ugh

ww
.

B ee 5 eyes sou ght those o f M ou l s e y with a te r rified '

q u estio n i n them ; t he gre at shadow o n ly slightly shook

i t s h ead
h
w
.

“
DO y ou remem b er Bee t e p i ctu re e sa it i n

hw
—
, ,

It aly an d I ve got a photograph where there is a sai n t

’
—

h
,

l y i n g s o sweetly i n the air with a nge l s hol di n g her u p ?

h
T ey re flyi n g with her throu gh the bl u e S ky t o at her
’
—

h ea
hh
d an d ot er t o an d her man tle so wrapped rou n d —

w
er an d sh e l y i n g O so easy resti n g thou gh there s
, , , , ,
’

n o th i n g b u t the air a n d t e a n gels DO y ou remember .

,
”
B ee ?

h
“ ”
Y es , mamma O h mamma mam m a l .
, ,

That s what I s o ul d like said M r s K i n gs ar d ; it s

’ ” ’

h
.
,

str an ge isn t it ? The bed s solid an d the ho u se i s

,
’ ’

s o l id ; an d M o u l s ey t ere she s very solid t oo ; an d air ,

’

is n t solid at all Bu t there n ever was an ybody that lay

’
.

s o easy a n d l ooked s o saf e a s that woman i n the air .

T h eir ar ms m u st be so soft u n der her a n d yet so s t ron g ,

h
,

y o u k n ow ; stro n ger tha n you r father He s so ki n d b u t .

’

e h u r ries me sometimes ; a n d soft yo u re soft Bee b u t ’

—

h
, ,

y o u re n ot stron g Yo u ve g ot a soft lit tle han d hasn t

’ ’ ’

h
.
,

s e M ou l s e y ?
,
Poor little thi ng ! an d to thi n k on e doesn t ’

k n ow what she m ay have t o do with it before S e is l ike

me .

Sh e ll have n o more t o do with it ma am than a lady

’

,
’

sho u l d ; n o more tha n you ve b ad Bu t y ou m u st be q u iet ’

.
,

d e ar lady an d try an d go t o sleep

w
.
,

I might n ever have su ch a good chan ce Of talki n g to

h er agai n The mi d dl e of the n i ght an d n obody here
.

h er father n ot eve n i n the ho u se Bee y ou m u st try .

,

n ever to begi n bei n g ill i n a n y silly ay ; feeli n g n o t

stro n g an d th at sort Of foolish thi n g an d say ou t what :

thi k Do t be frighte ed It it s bad f him

’ ’

y o u n n n . s o r .
—

as well as f or y ou H e gets to thi n k y ou h ave n t an y

.
’

o pi n io n An d the n all at on ce they fin d o u t an d per

.
—
,

h ap s it s t o o late
,
’

M amma you re n ot very ill ? O h n o ; you re looki n g

,
’
,
’

a a
”
S O b e u tifu l n d y o u t alk j u st as y o
,
u always did .
1 44 THE S O RC E R E SS .

She says am I very ill M ou l s ey ? Poor little Bee ! I ,

feel a great deal better I had su rely a n ice S leep B u t . .

why S hou ld the doctor b e here an d y o u made to sit u p , ,

”
y “
o u poor litt l e thi n g ? M o u l s e y why is the d octor here ? ,

I n ever sai d ma am as h e was here H e s c omi n g

,
’

,
.
’
—

rou n d first thi n g i n t he morn i n g He s an xiou s becau se .

’
—

the colon el s away ’

h
w
.

“
Ah ! y o u thi n k I don t k n ow I m n ot so ver y b ad ; ’
.
’

b u t he thi n ks e thi n ks— perhaps I m ight die Be e

w
—
.
,

M amma m amma l ”
,

Don t be frighten ed said Mrs K i n gs ar d drawi n g

’

,
.
,

the girl cl ose t o her That s a secret ; he doesn t th in k .

’ ’

I kn o It wou l d be a c u riou s cu rio u s thi n g wh e n p e o

.
, ,

p l e thi n k y o u are o n ly ill to go an d die It wo u l d s u r ,

.

prise them S O An d s o stran ge altogethe r i n stead o f

.
—

worries y ou k n ow ever y day to be all by y ou r s el f l y in g

, , ,

s o easy a n d the a n gels car ryi n g y o u N o tro u ble at a ll

h
.

then to thi n k whether he wou ld be pleased o r a n ythi n g ; —

”
givi n g you rself to be ca r ried like t at like a litt l e child

h
, .

“ ” “

w
Bu t mamma cried Bee y o u cou ld n ot wou ld n o t
, , ,

leave u s y ou wou ld n t wou ld y ou mamma ? all t e

—
’

, ,
—

children an d me ; an d I with n obody else n o on e t o care

w h
, ,

for m e Y o u co uldn t mother l eave u s y ou wou ldn t !

h
’ ’

w
,
.
, ,

Say y ou wou ld n t ! O M ou l s ey M o u l s ey look o f ar ’

, , ,

away she is looki n g as if she did n t see y o u an d me ! ,

” ’

“
Y o u forget Bee
”
said Mrs K i ng s ar d how easy i t
,
“
, .
,

looked for that sai n t i n the pict u re I always l i ked t o .

watch the birds floati n g dow n o n the i n d n ever movi n g

w
,

their wi n gs That s what seems n o trou ble so easy ; n o t ’

h h h
.
,

t o o hot n or too cold n or tiri n g n either t o the breath n o r

h
w
”
a nyt i n g Is ou l dn t like to lea ve y ou N O
. Bu t t e n
’
.
,

s e added ith a smile I sho u l d not requ ire to l eav e

, ,

I d I d What was I sayi g M l wil l

’ ’

y o u .
—
n ? o u s e y ,

please give me some more

w
y o u —

She held ou t her ha nd agai n for th e glass hich Mou l

s e y had j u st p u t dow n .

I t makes me stron g i t makes me speak Im si nk —

.
’
—

i n g a ay agai n Bee Hold me hold me tight If I —

h
, . .

was to slip away down dow n d own t o the cellars o r — — —

,

somewhere The feeble lau gh was dreadfu l f or t e

li s t ener t o hear .
 THE S O R C E R E SS 1 45

hdocto
.

Run , cried
h M ou l s e y in Bee a the
’
s e r, t e r—
d o c tor in t lib a y
e r r

h
—
.

An d the n stran ge phan tas magori a t at

there was a
s e e med to fill the n ight o n e sce n e melti n g i n to an other

h
w h
, .

Th e doctor ro u si n g from i s doze ; his measu red step

com i n g back ; t e little Stru ggle ro u n d the bed ; M ou l s e y
givi n g place to the still d arker S adow ; the glow o f Mrs h
h
w
.

K i n gs a r d s fl u shed a n d feverish cou n te n an ce betwee n ;

’

th e n t e q u iet ; an d then agai n sleep S leep broken by ,

fe e b le moveme n ts by the qu ick pan ti n g of the breath

, .

“ “
She ll be easier n o the doctor said Y ou m u st
’

h
.
,

g o to bed my dear yo u n g lad y M o u l s e y c a n m a n age f o r

h
,
.

t e rest Of the n ight

h
.

Doctor said Bee with somethi n g i n her throat t at

h
, ,
“
stopped t e words doctor will she m u st sh e ? O h — —

h h
, ,

doctor say that is n ot w at it mea n s ! On e of u s i t wou ld

, ,
”
n o t matter b u t mot er ,
mother ! —

“
It is n o t i n o u r han ds t e doctor said It is n ot ,
.

m u ch we c an do D o n t look at me as if I we re God It
.
’
.

i s l i t tle l ittle I c an do

h
.
,

They say cried poor Bee that y ou c an d o a n ythi n g

, , .

It i s whe n there is n o doctor n o n u rse that people O —

, , ,

m y mother m y mother ! Doctor don t let it be

’
—
,
.

Y o u are b u t a Chil d said the doc t or patti n g her , ,

ki n dly on the sho u lder Yo u ve n ot forgotte n h ow t o .

’

say yo u r prayers That s the on ly thi n g for y o u to ’

w
.

do . Those that say s u ch thi n gs Of doctors k n ow very

l ittle We stan d an d look o n Say yo u r prayers l i ttle
. .
,

i rl i f they do her good they ll do good A d

’

g
— n o y o u n .

S h e ll have a little S leep

’
no .

Bee ca u ght him by the arm Sleep ? she said looki n g

w
.
,

at him su spiciou sly Sleep ? .

h
“
Yes sleep that may give her stre n gt h f or a n other
—

w
,

day O ask n o more chil d Life is n ot mi n e to give

.
, ,
. .

What a n ight ! Ou t of doors it as moon light as s ere n e

h
as heave n the moo n departi n g i n the west an d an other

w h h
—
,

fai n t light t at as day comi n g on the other S ide an d the ,

first birds begi nn i n g t o stir i n the bran ches bu t n ot eve n —

baby movi n g i n the hou se All fast asleep safe as if .

,

trou ble n ever as as if de at cou ld n o t be Bee wen t ,

.

up stairs t o her chill wh i te room wher e t e,

wh i t e b e d u n oc ,

IO
 6 T HE S O R C E R E SS
1 4 .

h
w
c u p ie d looked t o her lik e d eat h i tself all cold dre adf u l —
, ,

f u ll of s u gg e stion Bee s heart was more heav y t a n ’

h
.

cou ld be told She had n othi n g to fall back u pon n o

h h
.
,

secre t s tre n gth t o u phold her She had forgotte n o .

wretched she had bee n b u t S e felt it n eve rtheless beh i n d

h
,

the presen t an gu ish Nevertheless s e was on ly n i n e tee n

.
,

an d whe n s e fl u n g her s elf down to cr y u pon her wh ite

pillow o n ly to cry t o get her passion ou t b en e fice n t
— —

h
,

n at u re took hold o f the girl a n d made her S leep She d id .

n o t wake for ho u rs Was i t b e n e ficen t ? f or when s e was

.

rou sed by the ope n i n g of the door and sat u p i n her bed

wh
,

an d fou n d herself still dressed i n her eve n i n g frock with ,

her little n ecklace ro u n d her throat there pressed back ,

u pon Bee su ch a flood Of m isery an d trou ble as sh e

thou gh t did n o t exist i n the orld .

M i s s B ee ! M i S S B ee ! M a
“
s t er s c o m e om e He s bee n ’ ’
.

travelli n g all n ight an d I dare n ot dist u r b Mrs M ou l s e y

—
.

i n Missis room
’
An d he wan ts to see y ou this mi n it
.
,

please O h co m e come q u ick an d don t keep the col o

.
, , ,
’

n el waiti n g the woman said

,
.

Half awake n ed b u t wholly miserable Bee spran g u p

, ,

an d ru shed dow n stairs to her father He came forw ar d .

to meet her at th e door frown i n g an d pale “

What is

hh
.
,
”
this I hear ? he sa i d What have y ou bee n doi n g t o
.

u pset yo u r mother ? She was well e n ou g w en I we n t

.

h
away What have y ou bee n doi n g to you r mother ? Y o u
childre n are t e plagu e of ou r life ! ”

T HE w
hwh
h
CH APT E R

eek passed i n t e sombre h u rry yet tedi u m o f a

hou se lyi n g u n der the S hadow of death ; that period d u ri n g
! I! .

h
w
which w e n it is n ig t we long f or morn i n g an d whe n it ,

is morn i ng e lon g for n ight hopi n g alw ays for t e h ope ,

that n ever comes trembli n g t o mark the progress wh ich

,

does g o on s ilen tly toward the e nd Colon e l K i ng s ar d .

was rou gh an d an gry with Bee that first morn i n g to h er

hh hh
,

co n stern atio n an d dismay She had n ever bee n the obj ect .

of er fa t er s a n er b ef o re and t i s ast a d im rio

’

g y n
pe u s ,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 1 47

q u e st i on i n g seem e d t o take all power of reply ou t O f her .

W hat had she be e n doi n g to her m other ? She ! to her

w
m other ! Bee was t oo m u ch frighte n ed by his thre aten i n g
look the clo u d on his face the fire i n his eyes to say any

e n ed
,

th i n g H er mi n d r an h u rriedly over all t at ad hap

a
.

n d th at last terrible visit hich h ad

,

cha n ed t
hh h
,

p , g e ,

whole aspect o f the earth t o herself Bu t it was t o herself .

that this stroke Of misfortu n e h ad come an d not to her

m other A gleam O f an swerin g an ger came i n to Bee s ’

w
.

e yes sombre with the u n happi n ess which h ad bee n p u shed

,

aside by more im mediate s n E er i ng ye t was still there ,

like a black backgrou n d to frame whatever other miser ies

h
,

m ight com e after AS for Colon el K i n gs a r d it was to

hh
.
,

i m as t o s o man y m e n a relief to blame somebody f o r

h
, ,

t e t ro u ble which was u n bearable The blow was ap .

p r o ac i n g which h e ad n ever allowed himself t o believe

in He had blamed his wife i n sti n ctively i n vol u n tarily ,

h
.
,

at the first h earin g of every i n con ve n ie n ce i n life ; an d it

w
ad h elped to acc u s t om him to th e a nn oyan ce to thi n k
that i t was her fau lt H e had don e S O i n what he ca l led

h
.

this u n fort u n ate bu si n ess of Bee s con cl u di n g that b u t for ’

h
,

Mrs K i n g s ar d s weak n ess Mr Au brey Leigh an d i s

.
’
.

aEai r s wou ld n ever have become o f an y importa n ce to t e

h
family H e had blamed her too an d greatly f or tha t

w
.
, ,

weaken i n g of ealth which he had so persiste n tly en

dea v o r e d t o co n vi n ce himself did n o t mea n half s o m u ch
as the doctors said Wome n are so idiotic i n these r e
.

spe cts They will i n sist o n e ari n g m u sli n an d lace

.

whe n they o u ght to we ar flan n e l They wi l l p u t on even

w
.

i n g dresses whe n th ey ou ght to be clothed warmly to th e

w h
throat an d shoes made of paper whe n they ou ght to be
,

sol idly an d stou tly shod qu ite i n d i Eer en t t o t e trou ble

,

an d an xiety they may cau se to their family An d n o .

that Mrs K i n gs ar d s state had g o t beyon d the possibility

.
’

o f reproach he t u rn ed u pon his dau ghter It m u st be her

h
.
,

fa u lt ; her mother had bee n better or he shou ld n ot have

h
w
lef t her T e qu iet of the cou n try was doi n g her good
.

i f s e had n o t bee n a gitated all wo u l d have bee n well

h h
.

Bu t Bee with all her declaratio n s o f devotio n to her

m ot er ; Bee the eldest
,

,
o o u ght to have had some
,
h
ad brou ght on this tru m pery love b us i n ess t o
se n se Bee
-
,
1 4 8 T11 1 so xc nu ss

h h
.

h
w
o ve r s e t t e delicat e e qu ilibri u m which e h i mse l f ama n ,

with aEai r s so m u c more importan t i n han d had r e

h
,

f ra i n e d from dist u rbi n g It did him a little good u n

h
,
.

happy an d an xio u s as he as t o pou r ou t i s wrath u p on ,

h
Bee An d S e did n ot reply She did n ot shed tears as
her m other ad weakly don e i n similar circu mstan ces or
attempt exc u ses
.

E ve n if e had b een s u ffi cie n tly a t h

.

leisu re to n ote it an a n sweri n g fire awoke i n Bee s e yes

,

’
.
,

H e had n ot l e i s u r e to n ote b u t he perceived it all the same

‘

h
.
,

Prese n tly however ev ery facu lty every thou ght b e

w
, , , ,

c ame absorbed i n th at sick Chamber ; thi n gs ad still to -

,

be thou ght Of o u tside of it ; b u t they seemed s tran ge

h
,

artificial thi n gs ha v i n g n o conn ection with life Th en

,
.

Charlie as su mmo n ed from O xford an d t e you n ger ,

boys from school which i n creased th e stran ge commotion

w hh
,

o f the ho u se ad d i n g th at restless eleme n t o f you n g life

,

which had n o pl ace there n othi n g to do with itself and

h
, ,

which ro u sed an almost fre n zied irritation i n Colon el

w
K in g s a r d whe n he saw a n y atte m pt on the pa r t o f t e
poor boys to am u se t e m s e l v e s t or resu me their u su al oc
CU p a
”
t i on Cl o d s l e said you n g bru tes ! They wou l d

w
.
,

play t e n n is if the world as falli n g to p ieces An d .

agai n that glan ce of fire came i n to Bee s eyes m arke d ’

u n con sc i ou sly tho u gh he did n o t k n ow he h ad see n it by

, ,

her fath er The boys h u n g abou t her he n sh e stol e ou t

w
.

f o r a litt l e air o n e at each arm ,

H ow is mother Bee ? .
,

Sh e s n o worse ? Don t y ou thi n k we might go over to

’ ’

H i l lside for that tou rn ame n t ? Don t y ou thi n k Fred ’

might play i n the parish m atch ith S i d d e m or e ? They re ’

so badly OE for bowlers Don t y ou thi n k ’

h
.

O h I thi n k it wo u ld be m u ch better for y o u t o b e do

,

i n g somethi n g boys ; b u t the n p a ,

pa might hear an d e , , ,

wou ld be a n gry If we co u ld b u t keep it from p apa

. .

We re doi n g mother n o good said Fred

’

,
.

H ow cou ld we do mother good ? Why did the gover

n or se n d for u s Bee o n ly to k i ck o u r heels here a n d get

w
, , ,

i n to mischief ? A fellow c an t help getti n g i n to mischief

w
’

”
whe n h e has n othi n g to do .

Yes repeated Fred wh at d i d he sen d for u s f or ? I

, ,

wish mother as better I su ppose as soon as s h e s b etter .

’

e ll be packed OE agai n
’

,
 w
T H E So R C E RE Is . 1 49

Th e y w ere b i g b oys b ut they did n o t u n ders t and t e p os

s i b il i ty o f their mother n o t ge tti n g better
,

an d i n deed
h
,

n e ither did Bee Wh en m orn i n g fo l lo ed morn i n g an d

h
w
.

h
n othi n g happe n d it seem e d to e r that getti n g better was

w
e
,

w
t e o n ly c on c l u S 1 o n t o be l ooked for If it had been death .

th at was comi n g su re l y it m u st ha ve come by this time .

H e r hope s r ose with e v ery n e da y

h
.

Bu t Mrs K i n gs a .r d h ad be e n greatly agitated by the

sigh t of Charlie he n he was allowed to see er Why .

h as Charli e come home ? she said Was he se n t for ? .

Was it you r father that brou ght him ? Charlie my dear , ,

wh at are y ou doi n g here ? Why hav e y ou come back ?

Y o u sho u ld have bee n goi n g on with

my b oy ? ”
h
Did you r father
se n d for y ou ? W y why did you r father se n d for y ou , ,

h
Of e r a
I thou gh t s aid Charl ie qu ite u n man n ed by the sight
,

been told abou t her state

,

n d by this u n expected q u estion a n d by all

I thou ght y ou wan ted to
,

e had ,
—
h
see m e mo t her
,
.

I always l ike to see y ou b u t n ot t o take y ou away —

from An d why was he sen t f or M ou l s e y ? Does the ,

doctor thi n k does my h u sban d thi n k

—

H er feverish color grew brighter an d brighter Her .

eyes sho n e with a bu rn i n g e agern ess She p u t her hot

h
.

“
han d u pon that of her s on Was it to say good b y t o
'

-
.

me ? S e said with a stran ge fl u tter of a smile

”

h
.
,

At the same t i me an argu men t on the same su bj ect was

goi n g o n between the doctor an d t e colon el .

What c an the childre n do i n a sick room ? Keep them -

away I shou ld n e ver h ave se n t for them if y ou had con

.

s u l t e d me It is bad e n ou gh t o h ave let her see Charlie

.

su m mon ed express d o y ou wan t t o frig te n you r wif e to

death ? ”
—
h ,

There c an be n o qu estio n said the co l on el if what

h
, ,

y o u tell m e is tr u e o f frighte n i n g her to death I t hi n k

hh
,
.
,

Be n son t at a pat ie n t i n su ch Circ u mstan ces ou ght t o

,

kn ow S e ou ght to be told

h
“
.

”
What ? t e doctor s aid s arply with a hars h t one i n h
h
,

i s voic e

h
.

Wh at ? Do y ou n eed to ask Of er s t at e— Of what is —

i mmi n en t— t h a t s e i s g oi n g t o
1 5 0

w T HE

Colon el K i ngs ar d lov ed his wife tru l y an d he coul d

n ot say those last wor ds
S OR C E R E SS .

w
.

Yes ? said the doctor goi n g t o

”
well we hope it s
, ,
’

t o On e that has called her that k n ows all abou t it Ki n g s ,

w ard Doctors are n ot su pposed t o take that view m u ch

w
.
,

b u t I do I d t ell her n othi n g o f the sort I ou l d n ot

’

h
. .

agitate her either w i th the S ight of the chi l dren o r those ,

heat e n ish t hou gh t s abou t dyi n g Well ! I s u ppose

h
.

you ll take you r o n way If y ou thi n k she s i n dan ger

’
.
’

Of dam n ation ; b u t y ou see I don t I thi nk where s e s ’

w
’

h
.

goi n g she ll fin d more con sideration an d m ore un ders tan d

’

i n g than ever S e g ot here .

Y ou are all i n fide l s every o n e of y ou ,

said Colon el ,

Ki n g s a rd ; y ou wo u ld let a sou l ru sh u n prepared i n t o

the prese n ce Of
Her Father said Dr Be n son S O I w ou ld i f H e s
’
. .
—
,

her Father he l l t ake care of that And eve n if H e s on ly

’ ’

w
.

aJ u dge y ou k n ow a j u dge is an extraordi n arily co n sider

h
, ,

ate person H e leaves n o mean s u n tried Of com i n g t o a

.

rig t decision I wo u l d rather tru st my case in the han d s

.

of the be n ch t ha n make u p my o n li tt le plea a n y day

w
.

An d an yhow that y ou c a
,
n p u t it the S u preme J u dge m u st
be better than the bes t be n ch that ever was Leave er
a l on e She s safer with Him than either wit y ou or m e
.
’
,

h
. h
.

It is an argu me n t I n ever wou ld pardon i n my o n —

case I S h u d der at the thou ght of bei n g pl u n ge d i n to

.

etern ity withou t the time t o t o thin k to t o pre — — —

h
w
pare
Bu t if you r p reparation s are all seen throu gh from t e

w w w
begi n n i n g ? i f i t s j u st as well k n own the n or better what
’

w
, ,

are thi n ki n g or tryi n g t o thi n k t make yo rsel f

hw
y o u o u ,

ready for tha t e ve n t ? Y o u k n e y ou rse l f more or less

w
,

didn t y ou whe n y ou were i n active serv ice the excu ses

’

, ,

a retched pri va t e o uld mak e he n he as ha u le d u p

h
,

an d o he wo u ld try to make the worse appear the bette r

h
cau se ? Were y ou mov ed by t at Colon el K i n gs ar d ?
Didn t y ou k now t e m an an d j u dge him by what y o u
’
,

h
,
”
k n ew ?
It seems to me a very u n d i gn i fied argu men t ; t ere s ’

no a n alogy be t wee n a wretched p r ivate a nd an d my —

a d on e of u s at the J u dg me n t Se at
n —
”
.
 T H E S OR C E R E SS . 1 5 1

it s more l ike on e o f y ou r b oy s maki n g u p his

'

w
N
’
O—
,

defen ce whe n brou ght before y ou an d the p oor b oy

w
— —

w o u ld n eed it too D r Ben son added withi n himself

,
.

Bu t n atu rally he made n o impression with is a r g ume n t h .

h
,

wh ether i t a s good or b a d u pon h is b e a

,
r er Colon el .

K i n gs a r d was i n real ity a very u n happy m a n H e ad .

n obo d y t o blame f or t he dreadfu l misfort u n e wh ich was

threate n i n g him except God f or whom h e en tertai n e d
,

on ly a great terror as of an overwhelm i n g tyrann ical

P o wer ready to c atch him at an y mom e n t whe n he
n eglected the O bserva n ces or r ites n ecessary t o appease it .

H e was very particu lar i n these Observ an ces goi n g to

hw
w
—

ch u rch keepi ng u p family p rayers con tribu ti n g his p roper

, ,

an d carefu lly calc u l ated p roportion t o th e charities etc ,

.

An d n o o badly was h
N obody cou ld s ay of h im t hat he was careless or n egligen t

h h
i s devotion repaid
teari n g away from i m o f t e compan ion of his life Bu t
b y th e —
.

h
.

h e fe l t that th ere was stil l m u ch more th at the awfu l

M as t er o f t e U n ivers e might i n flict perhaps u pon her if
sh e was n ot prepared to m eet her G o d He was wretched .

till he had told her warn ed her till sh e had fu lfilled

h
, ,

e verythi n g that was n ecessary see n th e clergyman a ,

nd ,

w
h rself i to t s t a e of i d becomi g a dyi g perso

w
g o t e n e t n n n n .

H e had col l ec t ed all the childre n tha t she m ight tak e

w
l e av e Of them i n a becom i n g way H e had s o f ar as he

w h
.
,

kn ew thou ght o f everythi n g t o make her ex i t from the

,

orld a r i g h t on e i n all the forms— an d n o t o be told

th at he as n ot t o agitate her that the God whom h e

h h
,

ished to prepare her t o meet k n ew more of her an d u n

d e r s t o od her better t a n he did ! Agitat e e r ! whe n t e

altern ative m i g ht b e u n speaka ble miseries of p u n ishme n t ,

i n stead of the acqu i ttal which wou ld h ave to b e given to

h
as o u l properly prepared
h These argu me nt s did n ot i n

ww w h h
.

h
t e l east cha nge i s p u rpose ; b u t they frette d a
i m beyon d measu re .
n d irritated
At t e bottom of al l the idea that ,

h
h
an y bod y shou ld k n ow better than e wh at was t e right
as an i n tolerable thou g t h
w
t i n g f or his o n wife

h w
.

H e we n t o ut an d i n of her room with that irritated ,

h
th ou gh self con trolled l ook which she k n ew S O ell He
-

h
, .

ad n ever shown i t t o the world and whe n he had de ,

ma n d e d o f her 1 n i s an gry ay y th is was a n d that ,

I5 2

an dha had
K i ngs
o w
w ww
a h s ch a s ch thi gs h

himself s spected hheavy

on e r t
rd
till lately ta e it s etly that he h
a happe e
a
u
T HE

nd
S O R C E R E SS

k
'

n
n
.

so
d
e
n d, M
d
rs .

n ot
wh h
en S ha beg to show sig s
e

the espo sibil ty of e erythi g

r n
was po her

earth a h
bei g d
u
able to be
eave h
i
un
v
o

n
n
in
it
of n
u

nd
un
n .

n, t
An d
ar
e

colon el had fel t himse lf an i nj ured man There wer e .

S ig n s that he might eve n t u ally throw that respo n sibility

B u t i n the me a n t i m e he had n obody t o blam e

w
o n Bee .
,

as has bee n said an d the b u rde n of irritatio n an d distu rb

h h
,

an ce was heavy u pon h im

w
w h
.

The n ext morn i n g after h is talk wit Dr Ben son e

h
.

c a m e i n wi th that clou ded bro to fin d Charlie by er

bedside The colon el came u p an d stood l ookin g at t e
face o n the pillow n o
.

an i n the reaction of t e fever , h

an d u tterly weak b u t still Smili n g at his approach
h h
w
, .

I hav e bee n t elli n g C arlie S e said i n her fai n t

h
,

voice that he m u st go back to his col l ege Why shou l d

, .

e waste his ti m e here ?

”

“
H e will n o t go back yet sai d Colo nel K i n g s ar d ; ,
”
are y ou feeli n g a little better this morn i n g my dear ? ,

O h n o t to call ill at all

,
said the s u ff erer Weak ,
.

a sort Of S i n ki n g floati n g away I take hold o f som e

, .

body s han d to keep me from falli n g throu gh Isn t it

’
.
’

ridicu lou s ? she said after a litt l e pa u se

w
.
,

You r weakn ess is very great said the h u sban d alm os t , ,

sternly .

O h n o E dward It s more silly than an ythin g wh e n ’

wh
—

h
, , .

I am n ot really ill y ou k n o I ve got Charlie s h an d ,

.
’ ’

here u n der the cou n terpan e she said agai n with e r , ,

fai n t little l au gh .

Y o u won t al ays have Charlie s han d or a

“
n y on e s
’ ’ ’

han d Lu cy, .

She l ooked at him wit a little a nxiety .

N O no I ll get stron ger perhaps E dward ’

w
o
. .
, , ,

DO y o u feel as if y ou were at all stron ger m y ,

”
d ear ?
She loosed her son s han d givi n g h im a little trou bl e d ’
,
“
s mile G O away n o
. Charlie dear I don t belie v e , ,
.
’

y o u have had yo u r breakfast I wa n t to S peak to papa —

h h
. .

The n she waited looki n g wistfu lly i n her h u sban d s fa c e

,
’

till t e d oor ad closed Y ou have somethi n g to say t o .

 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 1 53

h
wh
m e E dward Oh , what is it ? Nothi n g hasapp ed to en

he said h
.
,

an y on e ? ”

NO , othi n g has h appen ed

n ; e u n ,
t r ed away '

an d a l ked to t e wi ndow the n n u n n ,

came back agai t r i g ,

h is head half way from her as he S poke -

It is on ly that .

y o u are m—
y poor darl i n g weaker every day —
.

”
Does the doctor th in k s o? she s aid with a littl e eager
n e s s with a fa i n t s u Eu s i on of color i n her face
, .

H e did n o t say an y thi n g cou ld n ot perhaps bu t ,

—

s lightly moved his head .

Weaker every day ! an d that mean s E dward

h
,

p u t o u t her thi n ho t ha n ds That

,
me a n s .

The man cou ld n ot say an ythi n g He co u ld do i s du ty

h
.

i mly b whe the mome came he co l d it

hh
w
g r ,
u t n n t u n o t p u t
i n to words He san k down on t e chair C arlie ad left

h
.
,

an d p u t dow n his face on the pillow his larg e fram e ,

s hake n by s obs w ich he co u ld n o t restrai n .

These sobs made Mrs K i n g s ar d f or g e t the mean i n g

'

w h
.

Of th is comm u n ication altogether She p u t her h ands .

u pon h im tryi n g t o raise his head E dward ! O ! don t

’
.

’
don t cry I have n ever see n y ou cry i n all my life

w
cry , . .

E dward for goodn ess sake ! y ou ill kill me if y ou go o n

’

s obbi n g like t hat O h E dward E dwar d In ever saw y ou

.
, , ,
”
cry b efore

h
.

M o u l s ey had darted for ward from some shado y corn er

where s e was an d gripped him by t e arm
Stop sir s tep it she crie d i n an au thoritative
h .

, , , ,

whisper or you l l kill her ’

h
, .

H e fl u n g M ou l s ey OE an d raised his head a little from ,

t e pillow

h
.

Y o u have n ever see n me with a n y s u ch occasion b e

fore h e said taki n g her ha n ds i n to i s an d kissi n g them
,
”
,

repeatedly .

He was n o t a man of man y caresses an d her h e ar t was

w
.
,

to u ched with a feeble se n se Of pleasu re

w
.

Dear she said softly d e ar l feebly drawi n g a little

” ”

w
, ,

w
n earer t o h im t o p u t her cheek agai n st his .

Colon el K i ngs ar d looke d u p as soon as he was able an d

s a her lyi n g smili n g at him her h an ds i n his her eyes , ,

fu ll of that won derf u l liq u id light hich belon gs to great

ea knes s The small worn fac e was all i l lu mi n ated with
.
1 54

w T H E S O R C E R ESS

sm i les it as l ike the face Of a chi l d or perhaps an ange l

,

He looke d at first with awe then i t h dou bt an d alar m w

.

—
.

h
w
, .

H ad he faile d after all i n the commission which he h ad

execu t ed at s o m u c cos t to himself a
h
nd agai n st the d oc
tor s orders ? H e ad be en afrai d f or t he momen t of t he
’

h
,

h
s i gh t of her despair an d no e was fri ghte n ed b y
h
— er

look of ease the absen ce of al l per tu rbation s H ad s e

n ot u n d erstood him ?
,

Wou ld it ave to be t ol d agai n m ore

severely more dis ti nct ly thi s dre adfu l n ews ?
h .

, ,

CHAPT E R XX .

M K IN G SW AR D said n othi n g of t he c o mm u ni c a
RS . t ion
her h u sb an d had made t o her Di d she u n derst a n d it ? .

H e we n t abou t hea v i l y all day pon deri n g the m atter , g o

i ng an d comi n g to her room , tryi n g i n vai n t o make o u t

w
what was i n her mi n d Bu t he cou ld n ot divi n e wha t was
.

ww
i n that mi n d hidden from him i n those v eils of i n divi d u al
existen ce which n ever seemed t o h im to have bee n s o
ba ffli ng before I1 1 the aftern oon she had heard somehow
.

the v oices of the elder boys an d had asked if they ere ,

there an d had sen t f or t hem The t o big fellows with

,
.
,

the mu d on their boots an d th e scen t Of th e fresh air ab ou t

them st ood h u ddled together speechl e ss wi th a e an d

w w
,

grief b y th e bedside whe n their father came i n They di d

wh
.

n ot k n ow what t o say t o their mother i n su ch c i rcu m

stan ces They had n ever talked t o er ab ou t herself b u t
.
,

always abou t themselves an d n o they ere en tirely at a

loss after they had said H o are y ou mamma ? are y ou
, ,

very bad mamm a ? O h I m so sorry ; an d Oh I wish

” “ ’

h
, , ,

y o u were b etter ”
What co u ld boys
. o f twelve an d fo u r
teen say ? F or the mome nt they fel t as if their e arts

h
were broken ; b u t they did n ot wan t t o stay t here ; they

ww h
ad n othi n g t o s ay to her Their pang of su dde n trou ble

h
.

was con fu sed with shyn ess an d awkwardn ess a n d t eir

h
,

con sciou sn ess that S e was altogether i n an ot her a t mos

p e r e an d an other world Mrs K i n g s ar d was n ot
. a .

cle v er wom an b u t she u n derstood miracu lou sly wha t a

, s
 T H E SO R C E R E SS 1 55

h h
.

in th o se i n articu late you n g sou l s S e ki s sed th em bo t .

,

drawi n g e ach cl ose t o her f or a mom en t an d t he n bade ,

them r u n away “ Were y ou havi n g a good game ? she

.
”

sai d with that i n eEab l e feeble smi le

,
Go a n d fi n ish it .
,

m y d arl in gs An d they stu mbled ou t v e ry awkw a

. rdly ,

s ta r tled to meet their father s look as t hey t u r n ed rou n d

’

an d greatly distu rbed an d mys t ified altogether thou gh

h
,

w
c o n s o led somehow by their mother s look
’

h
.

They said t o each o ther after a while that s e l ooked

j o lly bad b u t that s e was i n su ch good spirits it m u st
,

b e all right

wh h
.

Their father as as mu ch mystified as they ; b u t he was

tro u bled i n con scien ce as if e had n ot spoke n plain ly
”
e n o u gh had n o t made it clear e n o u gh what her st ate

h
,

as . S e had n ot ask e d for the clergyma n she had n o t —

asked f o r an yt hi n g Was it n eces sary th at e shou ld

h h
.

speak agai n ? There was on e thi n g she had n ear her b u t ,

th at s o fan tas t i c 3 t i n g l a photograp o n e of the —

,

q u an titi es o f s u ch ru bbish the girls an d she had brou ght

w
h ome awoman wrapped i n a man tle floati n g i n the ai r

w
—
.

“
Take that thi n g away he said to M o u l s e y It irri , .

ta t e d him to s e e a frivolou s t hi n g like that a twopenn y —

h alfpe nn y photograph s o n ear his ife s bed

h
’

w
—
.

”
Don t tak e it away S e said i n the hisper to which
’

h
,
“
h er voice had su n k i t gives m e su ch pleasu re ,
.

”
Pleasu re ! e cried ; e v e n t o speak o f pleas u r e was
“
ro n g at su ch a mome n t An d then he added Wou ld .
,

y o u lik e m e t o read t o y o u ? Wo u ld y o u like to see an y

—

on e ?

w
To any o n e ?
s ee Whom shou l d I wish t o see b u t y ou ,

E dw a rd an d the children ? ”
,

We h aven t bee n s o religiou s my dear as p erh aps

’
—
, ,
,

e o u ght
”
stammered the an x i ou s m an
,
“
If I se n t f or .

M r Baldw i n perhaps ; to read the prayers for the sick a

w
nd

h
.

—
an d talk to y o u a little ? ”

h She look e d at i m with some wo n der f or a mome n t an d

th e n S e said with a smile
Ed a r d if y o u will like it
Yes yes ; by all mean s ,
,

, .

I shall certai nly like it my dearest ; an d it i s right

h
,

it is wh at we shou ld al l wish to d o at the He cou ld

n o t say a t the l ast e cou ld n o t say whe n we a
— r e dyi n g
 w
1 5 6 T HE SO RC E R E SS

h h
.

w h
it was t oo m uc for him ; b u t certainly S e mu st u n d e r

w
stan d n o An d he w en t away h u rriedly t o cal l t e

h
.

clergy man that n o more t ime might be los t .

h
,

M ou l s e y said Mrs K i n gs ar d ha v e we c om e t e n
“
, .
,
”
qu ite t o t e en d n o ?
—

“ ”
O h m a am ! O h my dear lady ! M ou l s e y s aid
’

, , .

My h u sba d seems t o thi n k s o I t i s a li t tl e h ar d

n —

h
.

to leave the m all Where is Bee ? ”

.

I am here mamma said a broke n v oice ; an d t e , ,

mother s han d was cau ght an d held tight as she l i ke d i t

w
’

,
”
to be M ay Be tty come t oo ?
.

“
Yes le t B etty come It is y ou I wa nt n o t Mr B al d
,
.
, .

Mr Bald i n is a good m an ma am
. He ll b e ac om ’
.
’

for t t o them an d t o the colon el .

Yes I su ppose so ; he will be a comfor t t o y o u r fathe r

h
—
, .

Bu t I d on t wan t a I haven t don e ve r y m u c ’

n y on e .

harm

h
”
N O ! Oh n o ma am n on e l said M ou l s e y wh ile Betty
’

h
, , , , ,

throw n on her knees by the bedside tried to sm oth e r e r ,

sobs an d Bee worn ou t an d feeli n g as if she felt n o t in g

, ,

h
,

sat and held her mother s han d ’

.

Bu t t e n
”
sh e said I ve n ever n e v er don e an y ’

h
, , ,

good .

O h ! my de a r lady my dear l ady ! an d all t e p oo r

“
,

peopl e and all the childre n

w h
.
,

H u sh ! M ou l s ey I n ever gav e an y thi n g n o t a bit o f —

h
.

bread n ot as i l l i n g b u t becau se I liked to do it Ne v er !

ww
—
.
,

O n e v er ! from a n y good moti v e I always liked t o d o .

h
,

it It a s my pleas u re It n ever cost me an yth i n g I .

h
. .

have don e n o good i n my life I j u st liked the poor c il .

dr en tha t was all an d thou ght if they e re m y o n— O !

, ,
.

Bee an d Betty t ry to be better women di ff ere n t from m e —

h h
, .

Betty who was so you n g crept n earer an d n eare r o n

w
,

h
,

her k n ees till she came to the ead o f the bed S e ‘

h
.
,

lifted u p er t ear stai n ed face Mo t her ! Oh m o th e r ! ar e -

, ,
”
y o u f r igh t e n ed ? s e cried .

Mrs K i n g s ar d p u t forth her o ther a rm a nd pu t i t

h
.

feebly rou n d the weepi n g girl Perh ap s I ou ght t o b e .

p er aps I ou g ht to b e ! she s aid with a l i tt l e th r il l an d

”
,

qu aver .
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 1 57

h
hh
M o t her sai d Betty p u shi n g close r an d closer almost
,
“
p u s i n g Bee away if I had bee n wicked e ver s o wicke d
I s o u l d n t b e frighte n ed f o r y ou
’
,
,

,
,

h h
.

A eaven ly smile came over the m other s face ’

”
s o u ld thi n k n ot i n deed , .

A n d t e n Betty i n the silen ce Of the room p u t her

, ,

h an d s t o gether an d s aid very softly Ou r Father which

h
, , , ,

ar t i n heaven

hO ch ildre n ch ildre n cri ed M ou l s ey do n t break ’

, , , ,

our e arts ! Sh e s too weak to b e ar i t Leave her alon e

’
. .

Y e s go away childre n dear go away

, ,
I h ave to rest
,
.

-
t o see Mr Baldwi n The n she smiled an d said i n

h
. .
,

h
,

a s “
To tell the tr th I m I m afraid look
’ ’

w
t

w
u n o —
p
—
g s ;

h
,

S e poin ted to the pict u re by e r be d side S O easy s o .

—

ea s y ! j u st resti n g an d t e Saviou r will p u t ou t his han d

w
—

w
an d take me i n

w
.

M r Bald i n came soon af ter th e goo d rector who a s

w
hh
.
, ,

ag o o d m an b u t who belie v ed he had the keys an d that

ww
, ,

at e bou n d on earth as bo u n d i n heav e n or at —

,

h
le as t h e thou ght he bel ieved s o with Colon el K ing s ar d —

h
, ,

o f e lt th a t he was th u s f u lfilli n g all ri g hteou sn ess an d ,

t at this was th e proper ay i n hich to approach the

h
w h
e v e r lasti n g doors He p u t away the little pic tu re i n which
.

C at e r i n e of Sie n n a l a i n the hold f the a n gels i n t

w
y o e ,

p e r f ect peace of l ife accomplish ed th e rest that was so ,

ea sy a n d s o sweet hastily ith displeasu re a

—
n d con tempt

hh h
.

H e d id n o t wish the r ector to see the chil d i sh thi n g i n

i c his wife had take n pleasu re n or even that she ad

h
,

b e e n taki n g pleasu re at al l at su ch a solem n mome n t ;

e v e n th at S e shou ld smile the sam e sm i le of welcome

h
w i t h which she wou ld have g reeted her ki n d n eighbor had

h h
s e b e e n i n her u s u al place i n the drawi n g room dist u rbed

e r h u sba n d S O n ear death a n d yet able to thi n k of th a t!

-

h
w
.

H e w atc ed her face as th e rector read the u su al prayer s .

Di d she e n ter i n to them did s e u n derstan d them ? H e

ww
h
,

c o u l d s carcely j oi n i n the m hi m self i n his an xiety to make

s u r e that S e fe l t an d k n ew what was her s tate an d as ,

pr e p ari ng prepari n g to meet her God

—
That G o d was

h
.

h
a aiti n g severely the appeara n ce of th at sou l before him

h h
,

t e colon el co u ld n o t b u t feel He wo u ld n o t ave s aid .

s o i n o rds ,
b u t t e i n s ti n c t i v e co n v i c t io n i n i s h e ar t
 8 T HE S O R C E R E SS
1 5

h h
.

was s o Wh en s e l ooked rou n d f or t he l i tt l e pi ctu re i t

h
w h
.

hu rt him l ike a s t i n g O if she wou ld b u t thi n k of t e

h h
.
,

thi n g s that con cern e d her peace n ot of follies c h i l d i s —

,

distraction s amu semen ts f or the fan c y On er s ide t e

,
.

poor l ady was con sciou s more or less O f all t ha t a s goi n g

on u n ders t ood here a n d there the pray e rs tha t wer e g o

h h
,

i n g over her head prayers of o th e rs f or her r ather th an

, ,

anythi n g to be said by herself In t e mi dst of them s e .

,

felt herself already like St Catheri n e floati n g away i n t o

h
.
,

w
i n eEa bl e peace t he n comi n g back agai n t o h e ar the s a
,
cre d
words to s e e t e li ttle circle rou n d her on t heir kn e e s

h
, ,

an d to smil e u pon th e m i n a n u t t er calm o f weak n e s s

w hw
withou t pai n fee li ng on ly that t hey were go od to e r
, ,

thi n ki n g of her hich was sweet b u t kn owi n g l itt l e

hh
, ,

more

w
It was the most sere n e an d clou dles s n i g t a fte r thi s t e r
rible day A li ttle after Colon el K i ngs ar d ad left t e
.

room fin al l y an d sh u t himsel f u p i n his stu dy M ou l se y

hh
,

w
took the t o g i rls ou t i n to the garden throu gh a wi n do
‘

which ope n e d u pon it Children go an d breat e t e

hw
.
,

S weet air I ll n ot ha ve y ou i n a room t o break you r

.
’

hearts Look u p yon der yon der where She s gon e s a i d —

’

h
.
,

the ki n d nu rse o had don e everythi n g f or their mothe r

hh
.

An d they s t ole ou t t o l ittl e ghos t s o v erborn e wi th t e

—
,

dreadfu l b urde n of h u man ity t e bu rde n which n on e o f ,

us c a n shake OE an d crep t across t e grass t o th e se a

where she had been u sed t o sit amon g the childre n T e
n ight was peace i t self
,

n ot a brea t h s t irri n g a yo u n g —
t
. h
,

moon with someth i n g wistfu l i n her l ight looki n g down ,

m aki n g the garde n bright as with a soften ed ethereal d ay

A li n e of white clou d dimly detached fro mthe softn ess o f
h
.

the bl u e lay far OE toward th e wes t amid t e radian c e

w ww
,

a lon g fai nt li n e as of somethi n g i n the far distan ce Be e .

an d Betty s too d and gazed at it with eyes a nd heart s over

charged each lean i n g u pon the other Their y ou n g s o u l s
, .

were to u ched ith awe an d an awfu l qu ie t Th ey w e re

h
w
hh hh w w h
.

t oo n ear the dep a rtu re to ha v e fall en do n a s y et i nt o t e

h
vacan cy an d empti n ess Of re a aken ing l i f e “ ”
Oh t ey

h h h
.
,

said if t h a
“
t sh ou l d b e er !
”
And why S hou ld it n o t be ?

hh
,

U n less per aps t er e as a qu icker ay They w at c e d .

i t wit t a t s ob i n t e t roa t i c i s of a l l s ounds a nd

 w
T HE S OR C E RE SS . r 59

sen sati on the most o v erwhelmi n g I t s eemed t o them a

w wh
s

h
.

if th e y ere watchi n g her a little fu rther on her way to ,

th e very or izon till the soft dist an ce c l osed over an d

, ,

th at s peck like a sai l u pon the sea cou ld be s een n o more

h w w
.

An d when it a s go n e they san k do n t oge t er u pon her

se at u n der the trees she loved where the children had

h
whw
, ,

pl ayed an d tu mbled on th e grass abou t her an d ta l ked o f ,

er — i n broken words a l ittle p ras e n o a ,

n d t he n some ,

ti m e s on ly Mother or O h mamma mamma n o

”

w
, , ,

fr o m o ne n o from an other i n that firs t extraordi n ary

,
—

e x al tatio n a n d an g u ish which is n o t yet grief

’

They did n ot k n ow o lon g they had been there when

s o m ethin g stirred i n the b u shes a n d t h e t o big boys

w
h
, ,

A r th u r a n d Fred came heavily i n to sight holdi n g each

, ,

o t e r by the arm The boys were be wildered heavy an d

.
,

m iserabl e n ot kn owi n g what t o d o with themselves n or

,

h e re t o go Bu t they came u p with a pu rpose which was

.
,

a l ittl e ease i n the trou b l e It cost t hem a little c on v u l

h
.

s i on of rel u ctan t cr yi n g before they co ul d get o u t what

t ey had to say The n i t came in broke n words from
.

b o th together Bee there s som e one wan ts t o spe ak to

.
,
’

a t the gate

w
ou —
y .

O h who co uld wan t to speak t o me to nigh t ? I c a

w
,
n — -

n o t speak t o a n y on e ; y o u m i ght have k n own .

Bee said Arth u r th e e l dest it isn t j u st any on e ;

“ ’
—

h
,. , ,

it s e thou ght y ou wo u ld perhaps

’
—

h o he was ; a
”
H e told u s sai d Fred , nd begged s o
,

ar d
T he n there came back u pon poor Bee all the other
t r o u bl e that she had pu shed away from her Her heart .

s e emed t o grow hard a n d cold after all the s oft en i n g a nd

t e n dern ess of this dreadf u l yet heav en ly hou r I will .

s e e n o on e n o o n e she said

h
w
, ,

h
.

” “
Bee said the boys we sh u t the ga t e u pon him ; b u t,

h
,

e took old of ou r han ds and an d cried t o o They —

h
,
.
,

ad to stop an d s wallow the s ob before ei ther cou l d s ay

w
h
w
an y more “
as his bes t frie n d H e s ai d

w
H e s aid s e

hh
. .

e c ou ld n t b ear i t n o more t han u s

’
And if y ou wou ld

h
.
,

o n ly S peak t o im

h B ee g ot u p from er mother s seat ; her poor l i tt l e ear t

h
’

s ell ed i n e r b oso m as i f i t wo u l d b u rs t Oh , o as .
 T HE S OR C E RE SS

h b ar all h h h
.

w h
s e is
to b ar it all
e av l t ,
to e ,
to e n o on e to e p
”
her ! I will I will
N o, said
n o, not not ! s e

hahfo Bee
. .

”
O
h Bee cried Betty if it is A brey poor A b y
, , ,
u —
u re !
S e d him She wo ld
s like him
n be e
of . u no t to l ft
o ut . come come a spe ak
O ,
him S pp s, ,
nd to . u o e
on e o f u s were alon e with n obody to say mother ’
s n am e

h
,
”
to !

wh N o,I will n ot said Bee O Betty mot her kno w s

h
.
, ,

why s e k n ows —
.

“
What does she k n ow ? cried Betty pl eadin g S e ,
.

a s fon d of him I am fon d o f him withou t t hi n k in g of

h
.

f mother s sake ’

y o u o r

h
.
,

O h let me g o ! I am goi n g i n ; I am goi n g t o e r

,
I .

wi s h I wish she had t ake n me wit her ! N o n o no

,
— —

I will n ever see him more

h
.

I thi nk said Betty to the boys pu shin g t hem aw ay

, , ,

that she is n ot qu ite herself Tell him she is n ot e r

h
.

self Say she s n o t able to speak t o an y on e an d we can t

.
’

,
’

move her An d an d give poor Au brey o poor Au bre y !

w
— —

h
.
,

—
my love .

The boys t u rn ed away on their mission crossi n g t e ,

gra vel path with a commotion o f their he avy fee t wh i c h

h
seemed t o fill th e air with echoes Col on el K i n gs ar d
heard it from i s st u dy tho u gh th at was closed u p fro m
.

h
,

an y i n fl u e n ce o u tside H e ope n ed his wi n dow and cam e .

o u t , stan di n g a black fi g u re s u rro un ded by the moo n lig t

h
.

Who is there ? he sa i d Are there any of y o u s o l o s t .

to a l l feeli n g as to be o u t i n the garde n o f a l l n ig t s i n

"
the world o n this n ight ?

CHAPT E R XXI .

A U BR E Y L E IG H had bee n l ivi n g a trou bled life d u ri n g

the time which had elapsed si n ce the sw allowi n g u p i n
the co u n try of the family i n which he had become s o s u d
d e n l y i n terested of wh i ch f or a short tim e h e had fel t
h i mself a member an d f rom whic as he fel t he co u ld
,

h
h h
, , ,

n ever be separated whatever arbitrary laws migh t be mad e ,

b y i t s ea d Wh en they disap p e ar ed from Lon d on wh i c

.
,
w as don e
THE S O R C E R E SS

s u dde nly he was m u ch c as t dow n f or t he mo

so ,

m e n t b ut as he had the fu llest faith i n Bee an d was s u s

. 1 61

w
,

ta i n e d by her i n depen den ce o f character a n d d e term i n a

w
ti o n t o st an d by him whate ver happen ed he was t h ou gh , ,

an x i o u s an d f ull of agitation n either despair in g n or eve n

h
,

i n v e ry l o spiri ts T o be s ure there were momen ts i n

h
.

i c h his heart sank recalli n g the bl a n k co u n te n an ce o f

,

h
t e f ather a
t e m other a
e n c e t o both
n d t he t o o gen tle a
,
n d yieldi n g disposition o f
n d Bee s extreme yo u th a
,
n d habit of obedi
’

He fel t how m u ch there was t o b e said

.

a g ai n st himself am an who had bee n forced i nto circu m

w
,

st an ces of dan ger which n obody b ut himself cou ld fu lly

u n d e r st a nd a n d agai n s t which his whole bei n g had r e

h
,

v o l t e d tho u gh he co u ld say b u t little o n the s u bj ec t An d .

i n d e ed o was to u n dersta n d that a m a n might yield t o

h
a s u dden temptation which he despised an d hated an d that
e co u l d n o t eve n expl ai n that this was so layi n g the

bl ackest bl ame u pon a n other t o a m an an d still less to a —

‘
,
,

h h
,

w o m an ; which last was impos s ible an d n ot even to be

h
t o u ght o f ? H e might t ell it per aps t o his mother an d ,

w
t ere was a pos sibility of help there ; tho ugh e ven t here a

h
h u n d red di ffic u lties existed Bu t he was n ot wo u n d u p to

w
.

t a t l as t appeal an d h e felt at first b u t little fear o f t he

h
,

e v e n tu al resu lt He was ass u red of Bee s faithfu l n ess ’

h
.
,

an d o co u ld an y pare n t stan d o u t agai n st Bee ? Not

h
e v e n he tried t o pers u ade himself the stern colo n el
,

ad s o cru shed himself

l e tters a
An d sh e h ad received his firs t
.

n d had a n swered them professi n g her determi n a

o ,

ti o n n ever to be coerced i n this respect .

H e was agitated his life was f u ll o f exci tem en t an d

, ,

s p ecu latio n a n d t ro u ble B u t this is n othi n g dreadfu l i n

h
.
,

ayou n g m an 3 life It was perhaps be tter more en l iven

’
.
,

i n g more vivid than t e delights o f a

, ,
n u n dis tu rbed lov e
m aki n g followed b y a t ri u mpha n t marriage It is well

h
, .

s o m e t i m es tha t the cou rse of tru e lo v e shou ld n ot r u n

s m oot h He t ou ght himself u n happy i n bei ng separated

h
w h
.

from Bee ; b u t the keen delight o f her de t er mi n ati o n to

s tan d by
h h
i m f or good or evil her faith i n him

h
ch ampion s ip an d t e con victio n that t is be i n g s o all
m u st come righ t i n t e e n d
,

as l ike a stream o f bright

er ,

h ,

f r e sh wate r flowi ng throu gh the somewhat sombre flat o f

1 1
 S OR C E R E SS

w
1 62 T HE

h h
.

his exi s t en ce I t ad bee n v ery s ombr e i n t e e arly d ays

w
.

o f what pe ople tho u gh t his yo u thfu l ha pi n ess v ery fl a t —

p
h
,

m on oton ou s ye t ith ign oble con t e nt i on s i n it Be e s ’

wh h
.
,

s un s in y n at u re fu ll o f lights an d shad ows had chang ed

, ,

the whole lan dsc ape an d n o t e e xcitemen t of t is ,

stru ggl e f or her changed it s t ill more It might b e a .

hard battle b u t they wo u ld in i n the en d Whether he

,
.
,

a somewh at u n l u cky fellow wou ld have don e s o was v e ry ,

d o u btfu l b u t f or her the stars wou ld fi gh t i n their cou rses

w hhw
— .

E verythi n g wo uld be overt u rn ed i n t he world rathe r th an

that Bee sho u ld b e made miser able ; and si n ce s e had s e t
,

h
her dear heart on him on his behalf too the very eleme n ts
—
,

the arg u men t was witho u t a flaw

,

o u ld fight f or o otherwise co u ld Bee be made appy ?

.
,

h
This was i s reason i n g n ever p u t I n eed n ot say i n to , , ,

an y form u la o f words yet vagu ely believed i n an d form

h
, ,

i n g a so u rce o f the brightest exhilara t ion i n his life rou s ,

i ng all combative i n fl u e n ces by t he power o f t at hope o f

h
su ccess which was a ce rtai n ty i n su ch a case Thi s ex
ila ra t i on was crossed by the blackest o f disappoi n t m e n ts
an d threaten ed t o be come desp air whe n for days e had
.

h ,

w
n o sign o f existe n ce from Bee ; b u t t ha t after all was o n l y
a keen er exciteme n t the sti n g of a nxiety which m akes
—

after satisfac t ion more sweet And then he was con so led
-
.

to hear o f Mrs K i n gs ar d s ill n ess wh ich expl ai n ed every ’

w
.
,

thi ng N o t th at Au brey was selfish en ough to rej o ice i n

.

that poor lady s s u ff eri n g He wou l d have been sho c ked

’
.

an d horrified by th e tho u ght Bu t the n it was n o n u .

u s u al thi ng f or Mrs K i n g s ar d t o be il l ; it i s n o t u n
.

u s u al ayo un g m a n so e a sily thi nks f o r an y middle aged

w
, ,

person t o be ill an d i n so man y cases i t does n o t seem t o

—

d o them m u ch harm ; whereas it did him m u ch good f or

w
—

it explai n ed the sile n ce o f Bee !

h
w
An d the n it came t o Au brey s ears th a t Mrs K i ng s a

w
rd
’

hw
.

was very ill worse than she ad ever been before an d

w
—
,

then tha t all the family had bee n su mmon ed th at she as ,

h whhw
dyi ng S u ch ru mors spread like i l dfir e they ge t i n to —

h
.

the a i r n obody k n ows o they come H e we n t do n to

, .

t e v illage n earest K i n g s a r d en and fou n d a lodgi n g

h
,

there whe n this n ews reached him an d e n deavored to

, ,

s en d anote to Be e , to l et er kno t at e as a t and .

 O RC E RE SS

w w
THE S . 1 63

h
B u t i n t he trou ble o f the ho u se this n ote sen t by aprivate

h an d , always i n these days an u n safe method , was some

h
w
o los t an d n ever reached her He h un g abou t the

h
.

o u s e i n the eve n i n gs , avoidi n g o n v ario u s occasion s a

w
n

h
e n c o u n ter with Charlie , o was n o t frie n dly , an d with

ww
t colo l who was his e emy
e ne These
,
were the n . t o
l y embers
on m of
the family visible o tside th e gates u of

h
K i n gsa r d en —
til he ma aged

hm a hdid k ow therefore had hostilit

ide tify the wo boys
o e disco sol ate wa deri gs abo t poi t d them
i
s

nd
n
un

to
n ot
n
n
n
to
u
n
n e
t
ou t
,

w
,
o n ,
no y or
su spicion o f the stran ger who i n qu ired after their m other
so an xi o u sly E verybody i n q u ire d after t h e ir mother
. .

It was n othi n g stran ge to them to be stopped on t he ro ad

ith this qu estion It was th u s that at last h e ari n g t he
.
,

fi n al blow had falle n A u brey h ad ve n t u red t o s e n d a mes

h
,

sa ge t o as k f o r a word from Bee The tho u ght of wh at

h
, .

t e girl m u st be s u ff eri ng i n her first grief a n d t o feel ,

i mself s o n ear her almost withi n heari n g y e t al to

w
— /
,

g e ther sh u t o u t was more tha n A u brey co u ld bear

,
H e .

p u sh ed i n withi n the gate i n to th e shelter o f the shr u b ,

b er y a n d there h e stopped short bo u n d by i n visibl e r e

,

h
,

s tr a i n ts It was the hom e o f his love an d yet it as the

h
.
,

o u se of his e n emy He cou ld n o t t ake adv an tag e o f the

w w
.

d ark n ess of t e n ight a n d o f the misery o f the mome n t t o

v i olate the san ct u ary o f a m a n so u l stricke n by s u ch tro u ble

w
-
.

h
B u t from where he stood h e co u ld see th e little gro u p o f
adows u n der the tree An d o co u ld he go away an d h
w
s

h
.
,

n o t say a word t o her n o t take her i n his arms tell her

—
,

i s heart as ith her an d that he was a mou rn er too ? ,

A sk Bee t o speak to me Ask her t o speak to me on ly .

—

”
f o r a mome n t I am Au brey Leigh h e said t o the t o
.
,

b rothers taki n g a ,
n a r m o f each implori n g them The ,

h
.

boys did n o t k n ow m u ch abou t A u brey Leigh b u t still ,

t ey h ad heard th e n ame An d they were overawed b y .

h i s e arn estn ess ; th e sou n d o f his v oice which fu ll of p as ,

sion an d feeli n g as it was was stran ge t o their u nde

h
w
,

v e l o p e d co n scio u s n ess They took his message as we .

,

av e see n an d the n there came a mysterio u s mome n t

,

which Au brey cou l d n ot u n derst an d H e cou ld n o t he ar .

wh at as said b u t he was co n sciou s of a resist an ce o f

_

, ,

d e n ial a n d t hat Bee did n ot m a

, ke a step toward him ; th a t
 64 T HE S OR C E R E SS

hh h
1 .

she recoiled rather than advan ced Thou g e co u l d .

scarcely see a n ythin g disti n ctly h e cou ld se e th at t at

h
—

there was n o impu lse t oward him b u t rather t e rever s e ;

that Bee did n ot wish to come An d th e n th e arsh v oi ce
the colo el broke the spe l l f the q iet f t m o r
.
,

hh
o f n o u o e u n —

f u l tran q u il n ight which it was so easy f or ar o u s e d i m

h
w
,
,

agi a n t i o n t o thi n k was pe n etrated t o o by t e s e n t i m e n t , ,

of sor row an d of peace The colo n el s voi c e p u t every ’

h ww
h
.

ge n tler visio n to flight Is it possibl e th at an y o f y o u

.

h
are o u t here i n the garde n o f al l n i g hts i n t e o rl d on

w
—

”
this n ight ? O the very n ight o f all n ights t o b e th ere
, ,

i n the first awe a n d sile n ce watchi n g er p ass a s it, ere ,

h
,

to the very g ates of heave n ! Perhaps it as u n a wares

wh
,

from Bee s mi n d that this idea came t o h is t o atc her

’
—

asce n di n g trai l i n g clou ds of glory as the poet s ai d ; b u t

,

that was the Spirit com i n g n o t goi n g Th es e t o u ghts

,
,

h.

fle throu g his mi n d i n the shock an d irritat i o n o f the

h
w
colo n el s voice’
An d the n the shadows u n d e r t e tree
.

see m ed to fly away an d disperse an d sil en ce fel l u p o n all ,

aro u n d the great ghostly trees stan di n g u p i m m ovable

w
,

like m u ffl ed gian ts i n the moo n light th eir sh a d o s mak ,

i n g l i n es a n d hea vy cl u mps o f black n es s o n th e t u r f the

hh
,
late roses showi n g pale i n the distan ce t he gar d e n path s ,

hite an d d esolate A mome n t more an d t e

. arsh ,

so un d al m ost an gry of the colo n el s wi n dow sh u t t i n g of ’

w
, , ,

h
bolts an d bars an d a fi n al closi n g u p o f everyth i n g came

w
,

h
u n ki n dly u po n the h u shed air An d the n th e m o o n l ig t .

re ached the sh u t u p ho u se all u n respo n sive w i t d eath

-
, ,

i n it with o n e fai n t l ight b u r n i n g i n th e l arg e

,

u pstairs showi n g where the ge n tle i n mate l ay

,
i n dow
o n e eded h
hh
l i ght n o more Stra n ge prej u dice o f h u ma n ity t at pu ts

w
.

h
o u t all the lights for sleep b u t s u rro u n d s death wit ,
th em
that n o careless spirit may mistake f or a comm on c am ber
the place where that last majesty l ies

w
.

Au brey s tood alo n e i n this h u shed an d sil e n t orl d .

H is as a sto n e heavy with g ri e f for

w
,

who wo u ld
d forever o u t of his l ife
ow
H e had
at he too had l ost afrie n d
ake n him n o t a very s trong
h .

h
champion to fi g ht f o b u t a frie n d th at n ev e r
. hat ,

ever might be s a l d ha ve refu sed t o h ear i m re

,
.

,
fu s e d t o gi ve him her sympathy Had Bee his o n Bee
T HE

r e f u s e d ? The you ng m an was bewildered beyon d the

po w e r o f thou ght Was it his fau lt t o have come t o o
SO R C E R E SS

.
.

, w 1 65

h
.

h
so o n ? Was it an ou trage t o be th e re on the n ight of the

w w w hh
'

m o t e r s death ? Bu t t er e was n o ou trage i n h is thou ghts

’

n o t e ve n a n y selfish n e ss It was her e ad b ee n thi n k

w h
.

i n g o f n o t himself ; that she mi g ht feel there was some

,

on e hose thou ghts ere al l hers o was herself n o t , ,

hw
a n o th er feeli n g with her mou rn i n g with her her v ery
, , ,

w
o n to take the half o f her b u rde n H e had felt that he .

c o u l d n o t be far away while Bee was i n tro u ble that —

e v e n to sta n d o u t side wo u ld be some thi n g wo u ld some ,

o lighte n her load wou ld m ake h er feel i n the v ery air

,

ac on sciou sn ess o f the mighty love that ou ld

h twain
c
T e la d i ng o f as i n g le pa
An d pa rt i t gi vi ng half to
leave
in
im
in

h
,

w
.
,

H is he art wh ich had s o gon e ou t t o her seemed t o come

w
b ac k con fu sed with all the life o u t o f i t fu ll of wo n der

w h
, , ,

an d dismay H ad she rej ected him an d his sympathy ?

h
.

W as i t t he fau l t of the others t he boys o did n o t k n o w ,

a t t o say ? Was she an gry th at he shou ld come so

i m mediately on the v er y stroke
'

s oon ? Bu t it was n o , ,

o f th e distress t hat love sho u ld come

,
H e stood f or a lon g .

t i m e silen t bewildere d n o t k n ow i n g what t o thi n k Was

h
, , .

h
i t possibl e that she co u ld have misu n derstood him have

w
,

h
t o u ght th at e had come here on ly t o be g uile her i n to
i s arms t o take advan t age of a
,
n Opportu n ity ? It pai n ed
o o r A u brey t o the heart t o thi n k tha t she might have
p
t h o u g ht s o Ah ! Mrs K i n g s ar d wo u ld n ot have don e

w
. .

h
i t wo u ld n o t have let Bee d o it Bu t she lay there where

w
.
, ,

t e light was n e ver to say an ythi n g more : a

,
n d Bee Bee ! ,

H e g ot o u t o f the little park tha t s u rrou n ded Ki n gs

ard e n by the stile n ear the vill age some time aft er he
h
h h
, ,

H e tho u ght it as u i nft e m id

‘

d i d n o t k n ow how lon g

hw h
.

d l e o f the n ight The moon had set eve t i n g was dark

.
, ,

an d al l the cottagers asleep Bu t time i s on g t o watc ers

hh h
.

u n ac cu stomed t o lo n g vigils a n d the l i g hts were n o t o u t ,

at t e small i nn i n t e village where e as l odgi n g He .

f o u n d t e maste r o f the ho u se a n d his wi fe tal k i n g at t e

w
1 66 T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
.

doo r i n s u bd ue d t on es ov e r the e ven t of t e e ve ni n g

as always a weakly b ody b u t she ll b e s ore miss e d t 1
S c . h
h .

w
’

h
h
, ,
.

woman said She kept everythi ng goi ng The col on el

h
w
. .
,

he ll n ot hav e a servan t left as wil l pu t u p wit

’
im in

h
th r ee m on ths Y ou t ake my word S e kept al l s tr aight
.

Lord that s o wome n mostly is— n o acc ou n t as l on g as

’
. .

w w
,

they re l ivi n g and the n y ou fi nds t he wan t 0 th em hen

’
—
’

h
hw
they re gon e
’
.

H ere y o u are mister said t he lan dlord ; we t ou ght , ,

as y ou as lost I t was a fin e n i g ht t emp t i ng f or awalk

.
, .

Bu t it s clo u di n g over n o
’
.

O h n o sir n au ght o f the sort said t e om a

w
n

h
, , , , .

My m aster h ere he n ever goes t o be d afore th e m i ddl e

o f t e n igh t he don t a n d it s a

w hh
n exc u se f or n o t
’

, g etti n g ,
’

u p i n the m or n i n Bu t you l l hav e to be e arly t o m or row

’ ’
-
.
,

Gregg y o u t ake my ord f or there ll be u n dertakers

, ,
’ ’

m en a n d t hat sort dow n fro m Lon don a nd I ll n o t be

’

h
,
”
bothered ith t hem mi n d y ou t at , .

I su ppose you re righ t t is t ime s aid t e m a

’
n , .

Th ey dri n ks a deal t o keep u p their spirits bei n g as i t ,

i s a ki n d of depressi n g trade .

If I hear y ou lau gh agai n li ke that — an d th e mi ss is

lyi n g i n her co fli n ! Don t y ou thi nk sir as he s g o t n o ’ ’

h
, ,

feeli n g He pu ts it o ff l i ke with a lau gh n ot to cry I

. .

was ki t che n maid u p there an d he was groom i n t e ol d

-
,

days ; an d man y an d man y s the kin d n ess she don e t o me ’

an d mi n e Oh a n d s u ch a pretty l ady ! a
. n d swee t
,
and —

a you n g family lef t j u st at the ages that mos t n eed a

w
mother s care ’
.

They r e all ages Molly if y ou come t o that

’

, , .

Well an d don t they wan t a mother s care at al l ages ?

,
’ ’

What wou ld y ou do ith my children if I was took ,

Joh n Gregg ? an d the colo n el he s j u s t a helpless m an l ike ’

y o u are The o n ly
. hope is as Miss Bee will
her mother I always tho u g t she favored miss is t ou gh
.

some said i t was the colon el she was like It s a d read

t u rn o u t li ke
h h ’
,

h h
.

f ul charge f or her poor thi n g at her a g ;

e b u t i f she , ,

takes after the m issis there will be some Ope f or t em ,

the woma n said .

I thou ght as Miss Bee was goi n g to be mar ried ? said

the lan dlord .
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 1 67

h
.

w
O
hat s all broke
,
t she said a a good thi g
’
n o ff , ,
nd n
in
ee g what s happe ed
too , s wh at co ld ever li le
’
n f or u tt

h
,
"
M iss Betty do ?

t h Au
brey had li gered lis e i g w t slowly
arrow woode s r
e n
,
o

his shabby little room as the

n t ai t o
n ,
t n n ,
en up

t h carr i g
p ai locked the door a
r their lights He heard n d p ut ou t

at h
.

e m their co ersatio
y n on the kitche der nv n in n un
ne for a few mi tes before they their t r nu too i n u n
cl am bered u pstairs to bed O h t hat s all broken o ff and
’

hh
.
, ,

a g o o d thi n g t oo He kept sayi n g these words over an d

.

o v e r miserabl y as if t ey ad bee n the chor u s of some

,

d r e adfu l song of fa t e .

C H APT E R XXI I .

A U BR E Y stayed at the village pu blic hou se day after day

'

-
,

h o p i n g f or some sign or message H e wrote t o Bee this .

,

ti m e by the post b u t he had n o better su ccess Was i t

, .

on ly beca u se of h er grief that she took n o n otice ? Ter

hh h
ribl e as that grief m u st be an d rigorou s as evide n tly were

ww
,

t e ru les o f t e closed u p ho u se from which n o o n e came -

fo r t even f or a mou thfu l o f air it did n ot seem to him

w
,

hh
th at this was reason e n ou gh for p u tti n g him from her
as t o share her life an d whose sympathy was so

ww
e o ,

h
fu l l an d overflowi n g S u rely it was the mome n t whe n
all
.

o l oved her sho u ld gather ro u n d her when she most

w an ted sola c e an d s u p port It cou ld n ot be that her heart .
,

h h
as s o wrapped u p i n sor row that she shou ld pu sh from
her the m an o had the best right t o share her tears

hh
w o m her mother approv ed an d liked whose acceptan ce

w
,

ad ratified an d con firmed It co u l d n o t be that

w
s e He

h
. .

fel t that had he bee n i n the same circ u msta n ces his cry
wo u ld have bee n f or Bee t o stan d by him to comfort im ,
.

Was she s o di ff ere n t o r as she overwhelmed by wh at

w
,

h
as before her th e charge o f her father s hou se the ’
—
,

dre adfu l s u ggestio n that i t was to i m an d the childre n

w
she sh ou ld dedicate herself he n ceforward givi n g u p her ,

o n happi n ess ? It see med t o A u brey after lon g thi n k ,

i n g that this m u st be the ca use o f her sile n ce ; the b u rde n

,

hich s u rely was n o t f or her you n g shou lders which n ever ,

1 68 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

cou l d be i n t e nded f or her m u st h ave come dow n u pon ,

her cru shi ng her She was the eldest girl

,
. Sh e m u st .

hav e like s o ma n y girls an exaggerated se n se o f wh at

, ,

was her d u ty Her d u ty ! Co u l d a nythi n g be more f an

.

ta s t i c more impossible ? T o take her mother s place a nd

’

w
—

w
,

her mother had bee n killed by i t t o h u mor the s ter n

w
—

father to tak e care o f the tribe o f children t o be th e ir

, ,

nu rse their r u ler

,
everythi n g that acreat u re of n i n e te e n
—

cou ld n ot shou ld n o t be ! An d for this she o u ld thro

,

aside her o n life an d him whose life it was also He

h
—
,
.

w ou ld n ever n ever con se n t t o s u ch a sacrifice e s ai d t o

, ,

himself Bee was n o t soft an d yieldi n g like their mothe r

. .

She was a determi n ed lit t le thi n g She wo u ld stan d t o i t .

,

w
an d s acrific e him as she sacrificed h erself u n less he m ad e ,

a bol d stan d from the first N o n o n o ! wha tever was t o

h
.
, ,

be don e that m u st n o t b e don e He wo uld n ot have i t

h
, .

e m u st let her k n ow from the very fir s t i f i t were n o t —

that she k n ew already an d that this was the reas on

she was silen t feeli n g that if ever t ey met she cou ld n o t
,

hold ou t agai n st him Poor l ittle Bee poor poor littl e

, y
h — —

h h
.

Bee ! her mothe r dead an d her father s o stern ; an d t hi n k ,

i ng it e r d u ty her d u ty God bless her ! to take all th at

—

h
,

hou sehold u pon er little shou lders The tears cam e t o

h h
.

his eyes with a s u dden softe n i n g S e thou ght it bette r .

t o keep im at arm s len gth the darli n g k n owi n g t a

’
t , ,

she n ever cou ld stan d agai n st him that he wo u ld n eve r

h
, ,

n ever co n se n t ; the little su blime u nreason able girl ! , ,

The thi n gs they took i n to their eads these i n experien ced , ,

gen erou s creatu res ! b u t than k heave n he was here ; eve n

thou gh sh e hel d him at bay here to make all right
The reader k n ows t at poor Bee was n o t actu ated b y hh , , .

s u ch lofty feeli n gs b u t t e n Au br ey had n o kno wledge i n

h
‘

h is mi n d of that stran ge story which had destroyed e r

w h
faith i n h im Whe n a m an is gu ilty he k n ows al l th a t

w
.

ca n be brou ght agai n st i m i n which i n its way t here i s

h
, , ,

a certai n adva ntage He can n ot be take n by su rpri s e

h
. .

H e k no s t at this or t hat is lyi n g ready like a secret

w h
weapon apt t o be picked u p by an y m an o may wish to
'

d o him ha r m Bu t the i n n oce n t m a

. n as n o t that safe .

gu ard It is n ot likely to occ u r to him that harml e ss cir

.

c um s t a n c es may be s o t ist e d as t o look li ke u ilt F

g o r .
 w w
hthe railway
w
T HE S O R C E R E SS . 1 69

w
is par he had forgotte all abo t tha li
o n t n episode u t ttle
on

h if he remembered it it a
s with a
or —
,

s m i le a n d a g l ow o f mome n tary pleas u re to t hi n k o ,

i th a lit t le mon ey s o small a matter ! he had be en abl e

w
,

to ma ke comfort take the place of misery to the poo r little

wh
f am ily whom perhaps he wou l d n ever have n oticed at

h h
,

al l had n ot his thou ghts been fu ll of Bee H e ad don e .

t a t f or her ith t e feeli n g with which he might h ave

h
g i v e n her a n or n ame n t or a basket of fl o er s k n owi n g —

h
t at she wou ld like it better than an y basket o f fl owers ;
t e on ly drawback t o the pleas u re o f it bei n g that he co u ld

w
n o t tell her o ff han d a n d get the smile o f than ks she wo u l d

w
-
,

g i v e him f o r i t far more tha

—
n he deserved f or he liked ,

d o i n g i t ki n dn ess com i n g n at u ral to this you n g m a

—
n It

h
.

as hard u pon Au brey i n the complicatio n s of fate that

h
t i s i n n ocen t n a
t e occ a
y pr a
,
ise orthy i n cide n t sho
sion o f his trou ble Bu t he had n o su spicion of it
forgo t the fact i n d eed altogether an d wo u ld have
u
.
ld be made
,

w
- —
, ,

l au ghed at the idea that s u ch an acci d e n tal occ u rren ce

c o u ld i n a n y way i n fl u e n ce his fate

h
w
.

H e we n t t o the fu n eral u n n oticed i n the crowd o f peo ,

p l e o were there some for l ove — an d som e f o r c on v e n

h
t i o na
y pm h h
l n ecessity b u t almost all with a pan g o f n at u ral
at y t o see the trai n of
,

chil d re n o followed their

h
m o ther t o her last rest The colon el rigid i n all t i n gs , ,

h
.

h ad i n sisted at l ast th at all except the v ery yo u n gest

w
h
w
, ,

s o u ld be there havi n g wavered for a mome n t whet er

—

i t wo u ld n ot be more i n order that the girls s ou l d remai n

at home a n d o n ly the boys be prese n t at that mel a n choly

h
,

h T o see the little won deri n g faces t o a

c e remo n y . nd t o - -

t at followed the elder children u p t e ai s le an d were i n

w
,

s t al l ed i n the mo u rn ers places som e o f them scarcely tall

’

e n o u gh t o see over the edge o f the pew brou ght m an y a ,

g u sh of te ar s t o sympathetic eyes Bee an d Betty the .

,
“

w
t o i n separable el dest slim black fi gu res droopi n g

w
—
, ,

u n der the heavy veils that covered them from the day

g a r me
,

h
l i ght almost to u ched Au brey with their cli n gi n g bl ack
n ts as they passed D i d they see him ? e saw —
,

h
.

herever he as at whatever distan ce an y moveme n t

h
,

, ,

t ey made H e saw that Bee n ever raised her head ; b u t

.

B etty was yo u n ger a n d less self restrai n ed t at she had - —

 w w
1 7 0 T HE S OR C E RE SS

h h
.

w w w
h h h
see n him at le as t he felt su re An d e fel t t e colon el s
'
.

eye u pon i m pe ne trat i n g t e th i ck es t of the cro d

h h
.

Colone l K ings ar d a d aglan ce tha t saw eve r ythi n g

w
He

h h
.

a s a a
m n be re a ve d t e ligh t o f his eye s t ake n fro m im

h
, ,

an d t e comfor t of i s life an d y e t he s a e verythi n g at

w w
—

h h
h is wife s fu ne ral s a an d n oted t he fac es t at were d u l l

w
’

h
,

an d tired of t e tens i on and those t h at ere alive w i t

w hh
,

sympathy maki ng n ot es f or or agai nst them i n i s me m

w
—

h an d a b ove a ll e s a A u brey Leig Charlie s a

or y —

h
.

i m more a cciden tally ithou t an y con sciou s observ ati o n ,

an d the boys o had c ried all they wer e capable of a nd

h
ww hhh
, ,

no cou ld not help their eye s strayi ng a li tt le con sci o u s

h
,

o f t e spectacle a n d o f the im po rt an t par t the y play e d i n

h
i t everybody l ooki n g a t them All of t hem saw i m b u t

w h
.
,

Bee Was it on ly Bee o as s o l ittle i n sympat y wi t

h h
.

him that she did n ot k n ow e m u st be there ?

w h
H e wen t b ack to i s l o dgi n g a little a n g ry throu gh is
emotion It as t oo m u c E ve n i n t e i n terval b e

h h
w h
. .

tween her mother s d eath an d fu n eral he fel t that a gi r l

’

o loved i m shou ld n o t be so obdu rate as that : a nd e

l i ste n ed wi t h av ery sombre face to all the landlady s d i s ’

c u s s i on of the proc e edi n gs It as a shame she sai d .

, ,

t o bri n g those little childre n there n ot m u ch more th a n

h
,

w
babies ; what co u ld t hey k n ow ? I d hav e kept them s afe ’

w
i n the n u rsery wi t some q u iet game to play the poor li t ,

tle i n n oce n ts ! And so wo u l d missis Miss is wou ld hav e .

tho u ght wha t was best f or th em n o t f or maki n g a display

h
.
,

Bu t G o d kn ows hat wil l become o f th e m childre n n o

h
.

”
What shou l d become of th em ? said the u sban d

h h
.

They ll get t e best o f everythi n g an d servan ts t o wait

’

o n them han d a

w
n d foo t The colo n el e ai n t like a p oo r ’
.

ma n who co u ld d o n o thi n g f or them Whe n t e mother s .

’

gon e the childre n had bet ter go t oo i n a poor man s

w
’
—

hou se .

It s little y ou k now abou t i t said t he wom an it

’
h
h
,

con t e mpt R ich h ou se or p oor hou se it don t mak e n o

’

h
.
,

su c g re at di ff eren ce Nu r ses is a lon g ay di ff eren t

.

from mothers N ot as I m say i ng a word agai n st Sara

.
’

Lan gridge as is a good hon est wom an t h at wou ldn t ’

h
,

wron g her master not by a can dle e n d or a boot lace n ot - -

,

Bu t that s n o t like bei n g a mother The Lord g ran t

’
s e . .
 T HE S OR C E R E SS . 1 7 1

if I die and t h ere s a baby it may g o too a ’

s y ou s a y , .

Y o u re more t ha n a n u rse you r e their fa t her a

’
n d yo u r e
’ ’

, ,

p a rt o f them ; b u t Lord forbid t hat 1 s ho u ld le a v e apoor

'

h
l i t t le baby on you r h a
T e ma
n ds
n t u rn ed on his heel w i th a t rem u lou s lau gh
.

h h
.

W ell I ai n t wish in g it am I ? he s aid

,
’ ”
, .

Bu t sai d Au br ey there ar e t e elder sisters— t e

h
, ,

n g ladies

w
y o u

hh
.

M iss Bee ! Lord bless u s sir d o ye kn ow t e age

w
, ,

t a t child is Ni n et een an d n o more Is that an age t o

?

h
.
,

ta ke t e charge of an u r sery fu ll o f ch ildren ? Why her ,

m o ther as b u t forty as as bee n laid i n her grave t o day -

h
.

I ish t o good n ess as that mar r iage had n t been broke o ff

’

H e was awidower a n d I d o n t m u ch old with widowers ’

—

hb u t I w i sh that I co u ld giv e him a s i gn to come b ack if

e has a n y spiri t i n him a n d try a n d get that poor yo un g
,

w
,

l ad y away
h
”
.

If he as b ee n se n t abou t his bu si n ess said Au brey , ,

”
f o r c i n g a smile he cou ld have n o right t o come back

w
, .

I don t k n ow whose fau lt it as said the la n dlady

’ ”

h
.
,

N on e 0 missis take m word Lord if a

’ ’

y o u y , ; b u t , ,

tlema loves a yo g lady what s hi der i m

’
t t

w
g e n n u n o n p u ,

t i n g his pr id e i n his pocket ? A m an does he n he s real ’

f o n d of a woman i n ou r ran k 0 life

’

h
.

“ ”
I don t k n ow abou t that said her h u sban d
’
If I ,

ad been sen t away ith a c u ff on the side o f my head

w
b l essed if I d e ver have com e back
’
.

”
Yo u re a poor l o t all o f y o u the woman said
’

, ,
.

Au brey cou ld n ot b u t sm i le at the e n d o f the argu men t ;

b u t he a
h
sked himself whe n h e was al on e as he a poor

w
—

l o t ? Was e u n wil l i n g to p u t his pride i n his pocket ?

w
W alk i n g abou t his little room t u rn in g ov er an d over the

w
,

ci rc um st an ces — rememberi n g the glare from Colon el

K i n gs a r d s eye which had recogn ized him he at l a st

w
’

h h
, ,

e v olved o u t of his o n tro u bled feeli n gs a n d imagi n ation

as his part t o o ff er symp at y to hold o u t

w
t e idea that it ,

an olive bran ch Pe rhaps after all the stern man s heart ’

.

as real ly tou ched ; perhaps it wou ld soothe him i n his

h h
g rief
er
,
t o
whic
hear that

i n respect to Bee s mother

whe n t he eye saw her the n i t bl essed
as Au brey s si n cere feeli n g at this mome n t
’
’
-

It seemed t o h im that it was .

,
1 7 2 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

best act u pon this imp u lse before other argu me n t s c am e

to
i n before the sen se of wo u n di n g a n d pai n i n Bee s si le n c e
’
—

w
g o t the u pper ha n d H e spe n t most o f the afte
. r n o o n i n
writi n g a letter so carefu lly p u t t ogether ! copied ov e r
,

an d over agai n that there might be n othi n g i n it t o wo u n d

h
,

the most sen sit i ve feelin gs ; off eri n g to Colon el K i n g s ar d

w h
his profou n d sympathy telli n g him with emotion o f e r ,

ki n d n ess to himself her sweetn ess , her beau ty with t at

w
, ,

heighte n i n g of e n th u si astic admiration which if i t is p e r

w
m issible an ywhere is so over a n e m ade grave An d at -
.

the en d he asked with all the delicacy he cou ld wheth e r

h
, ,

i n these n e circu m stan ces he might n o t ask a h earin g a ,

ren ewed con sideration for her dear sake o h ad bee n s o

good t o him an d who was gon e,
.

I am n ot su re that his j u dgme n t we n t fu lly with t h i s

w
re n ewed e ff ect an d his lan dlady s remarks were b u t a ’

h h
,

poor reason f or an y su ch step Bu t his heart was l on gi n g .

aft e r Bee an gry with er impatie n t beyon d words d i s

h h
, , ,

t u r be d miserabl e n ot k n owi n g o to su pport the sile n c e

ww
, ,

an d separation w ile yet s o n ear An d to do som ethi n g .

is al ways a relief even thou g it may be the worst an d n o t

,

the best thi n g to do In the even i n g af ter d ark wh e n .

h
,

there was n o on e abou t he we n t u p to K i n g s ar d e n an d

h
, ,

himself p u t his letter i n t o the han ds of th e b u t l er o ,

did n o t k n ow him an d therefore k n ew n o re ason why t e

,

letter shou ld be either car ried i n hast e to his master o r

w h
delayed Au brey heard that the you n g ladies were q u it e
.

as well as cou ld be expecte d sir an d t e colo n el very , ,

composed con sideri n g an d th e n he ret u rn ed t o the vil —

h
lage H o silen t the ho u se was ! n o t a creatu re abou t an d

w
.
,

how d i st u rbi n g an d pai n fu l t o the an xiou s spi r it eve n t e

simple n oises an d com m otion o f the village street .

w
Next m orn i n g a letter came delivered by the postm a n , ,

from K i n g s ar d en It con t ai n ed on ly a few words :

.

C o l on el K i n g s a
h
r d i s o b l i g e d t o M r Au b re y L ei g h for is
h h
h h
ww
.

h
cu ms ta h
m e s s ag e o f s y m p at y b u t o n c o n s i d e r at 1 o n o f t e wh o le c i r
n c e s t i n ks it b e tt e r t a
,

t n o p r e te n c e a t i n terc ou rse
s ou l d b e r e s u m e d

p ar
ht i e s a, n d C o l o n el
hK ih
h
It c o u l d b e n o t in g b u t pa
n g s
.

a r d i t i s c o m p l
i n fu l to both
i m
t e li b e r t y t o s u g g e s t t at M r Au b r e y L e i gh w ou l d d o we l l
e
.
n t,s t ak es ,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 73

w
. 1

mai n i n hei hrh a ht at b ood i me as su i s t h is

w
to re t e n g o s s or c on

v e n i ence .

K i ng s ar d e n Oc t ob e r 1 5
, .

I n side were the t o or three n ot es which Au brey on

d i ff ere n t occasion s twice by post a n d o n ce by a private

w
—

h
m e sse n ger had se n t t o Bee They had n o t bee n ope n ed
—

h
. .

T e yo u n g man s color rose with a fiery i n dign a tio n his

’
—

e art th u mped i n his ears This was an explan ation of .

hich he had n o t tho u ght To keep back an y on e s let .

’

ht e rs had n o t occ u rred t o him as a thi n g that i n the e n d of

’

t e eightee n th ce n t u ry a ny m a n wou ld dare to d o It

ww
.

s e e m ed t o bri n g him back face t o face with o l d fashio n ed -

w w
fo rgo tte n methods o f all sorts of an t iqu ated ki n ds He ,
.

p u t dow n th e papers o n the tabl e with a sort of awe How .

as he to str u ggl e agai n st s u ch ways o f warfare ? Bee

h
m ight thi n k he had n o t writte n at all had shown n o sym

w h h
,

p a t hy it her i n her tro u b l e H o likely that it was .

th is tha t ad made her a n gry that kept her from sayi n g

h h
,

a word fro m v ou c s afin g a look ! She might thi n k it as .

h
,

e o was d éfic i e n t who showed n o feeli n g Wh at was

,
.

e to d o ? The l an dlad y com i n g u p w i th his breakfas t

b r oke i n u po n this distracti n g co u rse of thou ght .

“
I did n t k n ow sir as y ou was acq u a inted with the
’

, ,

c o l o n el s fam ily the woman said

’

,
.

A l i ttle said poor A u brey The lett e rs were all l yi n g

h
, .

o n the table givi n g to a sharp observer a very good clew

h
,

t o the positio n Mrs Gregg ad n oted the u n ope n ed let

. .

t e rs retu rn e d to i m i n the colo n el s i n closu re at the first

’

h
l a n ce .

Y o u did n t ou ght to have l e t u s talk

’
W y we might h
w
.
,

ave been sayi n g withou t th i n ki n g some iI l of the colon el

ww
, ,

o r o f Miss Bee .

H e smiled tho u gh with little heart

,
Y ou were on ce .

"
i n their service h e sa i d ; do y ou ever go there n o ?
,

O h yes n o an d ag ai n said Mrs Gregg Sarah

w
, , ,
. .

L a n g ridge as is i n the n u rsery is a cou si n o f mi n e a

,
nd I , ,

d o g o j u st t o see them all n o an d agai n .

Wo ld y o ve tu re t o take a letter from me to M iss

u u n —
'

K ings ar d ? ”

“ ”
Sir ,
said Mrs Gregg .
,
is it abou t the marriag e as
1 74 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

was broke o ff ? I s it she added q u ickly as he a n swered

, ,

her by no ddi n g his head likely to come o n again ? That s ,

’

wh at I wan t to k n ow ”
.

“
If it doe s n ot said Au brey i t will n ot b e— m y

h
, ,

fau lt

w
.

“
Then I w i ll an d welcome t e lan dlady said It s , .
’

n at u ral I shou ld wa n t t o go the day after the fu n eral t o

see abou t e verythi ng Give me you r le t ter sir an d I ll
.
, ,
’

t it t safe i to Miss Bee s ha ds ’

whw
g e p u n o n n .

w
All that he sen t was half a doze n words o f appeal :
h
w
h
h h
w
h h
Be e , t
il l ? I
h
ese
ave
ave t b ac k t o me W as it b y y ou r
b e en
b e e n e re s i n c e e ve r I e a rd of
s en
e r ill n e s s lo ng
.

hw
,

w
i ng t o b e y it
o u t o te l
, l y o u h at I f e lt f o r e r a n d y o u .

An d y o u ou l d n o t s p e ak t o m e ! B ee d e a res t s ay y o u d i d , ,

not me a
n it T e ll m e
. h at I am t o d o A L . . .

Ho lon g the woman was i n getti n g ready o l on g —

h
i n goi n g ! Before she came b a ck it was almost n igh t
agai n of the lin geri ng en dless day She brou gh t i m a ,

little n ote no t re tu rn i n g t he i n closu res t at was always

.

h
w
—
,

someth i n g with a reproach

—
O h sir a n d y ou ver y n ea r .
, ,

w
me i to terrible tro ble I ll ever ever carry

w w
’

g o t n u ! n n n y ,

thi n g from y ou agai n The n ot e was still shorte r th an

.

h w whhw
his o n :
h h
h h
w
It as n o t b y m y ill I ave n e ver s ee n t e m til l n o

hw w
. .

Bu t p l e ase p l eas
—
e let t i s b e t e l as t W e c an t m ee t a g a i n
’

w
. .

T ere c a n n everm or e b e a n y t i n g b e t e e n u s — n o t fro m m y

h
father s ill b u t m y o n An d t i s fore ver an d y ou r o n
’
—
, .

ea

h
rt ill t e ll y o u y . B E E .

n othi n g h
My o n e art w i ll tell me why ! My h eart tell s m e
n oth i n g !
—
”
poor Au brey said to himself i n t e
sile n ce o f his little room Bu t there was li ttle u s e i n r e .

p e at i n g i t t o himself an d t here
,
was n o other e ar t o he ar .

CHAPT E R XXI II .

IT was with a s ort of bewildermen t that Au br e y

s tu p e fie d

read ov er an d over the little letter of Bée Letter ! t o call .

i t aletter ! Thos e s traggli n g l i n es withou t a

n y be gi nn i n
g ,
 w
T HE S OR C E R E SS . 1 75

no name of him to whom they were address ed n othi n g

hh
,

e v e n o f the most s u perficial co u rtesy n othi n g tha t marked

w h
,

t e l i nk tha t had bee n u n less it—

er e perhaps the abru pt
n e ss ,
t e harsh n e ss which s e wou ld hav e u sed t o n o
,

o t her This was a ki n d o f pai n fu l comfort i n its way

h
.
,

he n he came t o thi n k o f i t T o n obody b u t him wou ld .

s e h ave writ t e n s o t his was the li t tle gle a

—
m of l i g ht .

A n d sh e had retai n ed his le t ters thou gh she had forbi d

w
,

d e n him from se n di n g more These l ights of con solation

w whw
w
.

l e aped i nto his mi nd with the first readi n g b u t the more ,

b e repea ted that readi n g the darker g rew the prospect ,

an d th e less comfort they ga v e him No t by my father s

.

ill b u t my o n ; an d you r o n heart will tell y ou why .

W hat did she mean by i s o n heart ? She h ad begu n t o

hhh
r1 t e con scie n ce a n d the n d rew her p e n thro u gh i t Co n

h
w
h
, .

s c ie n ce ! What had he don e ? W at e ad d on e th e

h
,

r e al trou ble o f i s life Bee had forgive n Her father ad

w
h h
.
,

u po n i t an d n othi n g ad chan ged his stan di n g

w
s t ood ,

o d so f a as t colo el was co ce ed b t Bee

w
g r u n r e n n r n ; u o

h
,

d i d n ot u n d ersta n d how shou l d a— n y girl u n ders t a n d ?

ad forgiven him had fl u n g his reproach away an d ac
,

c e p t e d him as he was Ho as i t that she shou ld th us

.

g o b a ck o n her decisio n no ? No t m y f ather s will b u t

’

m ine An d yo u r con scie n ce will tell y ou why A ubrey s

w
’
. .

c o n scie n c e reproached him with n o thi n g with n o tho u gh t

hh
,

o f u n faithf u l n ess t o the yo u n g a n d spotless love which had

r e created his bei n g H e had n ever d e n i e d t e ol d re

w
-
e

h
.

p roach B ut wha t
. as it what was it which she bid
,
i m
t o remember which wou ld explai n t e cha n ge i n her ?

h
,

You r heart will tell y ou why why his he art ? and what
—

h as ther e th at cou ld be t old i m wh ich cou ld explai n

w
h
t is ? He walked abou t his little roo m all n ight shaki n g ,

t e rickety li t tl e hou s e with his tread aski n g himse lf , ,

Wha t was i t ? what was it ? an d fi n di n g n o an swer any

”

here .

When he got u p from a trou ble d mor n i n g sleep these

w
,

d is tu rbed a n d u n refreshi n g sl u mbers fu ll o f visio n s which

t u rn the appearan c e o f res t i n to the mos t fati g u i n g o f
l abor A u brey formed a resolu tion which he said t o him

h h h
,

s elf he shou ld perhaps have carried ou t from the first He .

ad a n advo c at e o co u ld t ake c har g e o f is ca u s e w i th

1 7 6 THE S O RC E R E SS .

o ut an y fear betrayal his mother ; an d to her he wou ld

of
h
w
,

g o witho u t d elay O f all t i n gs i

. n the world to do af t er ,

the reception o f Bee s n ote givi n g i n was the last thi n g

’

w
,

he cou ld thi n k of T o accept that stran ge an d agitated

h
.

decision t o allow that there was somethi n g i n his o n

,

heart that wo u ld explai n i t to i m was what he wou l d ,

n ot a n d co u ld n o t d o There was n othi ng i n his o n c on

.

s c i o u s n es s i n his heart or co n scie n ce as she had said th a

,
t , ,

cou ld explai n it Nothi n g ! It was n o t to his credit t o

.

accept su ch a dismissal eve n if he had been u n aff ected by ,

it He co u ld n o t le t a m ystery fall over this leavi n g i t

.
,

as on e of those thi n gs u n explai n ed which tear life i n

pieces That wou ld be mere weakn ess n ot the m o d e o f
.
,

action of a man o f sen se who had n o expos u re t o face .

Bu t if his letters were i n tercepted miserable folly ! b y —

h
the father a m an of the world who ou ght t o have k n own
,

t at s u ch proceedi n gs were an an achron ism an d rej ected

by herself i t was little u s e that he shou ld con t i n u e writ
—

w
,

i ng . Agai n st two s u ch methods of silen ci n g him n o m an

co uld co n te n d B u t t here was still on e other great card
.

to play He we n t o u t an d took a last view o f the sheltere d

wh h h
.

and flowery dwelli n g o f K i n gs ar d en as it cou ld be seen

amo n g the trees at on e part of t e road T e wi n dows
'

h
.

were ope n and all the bli n ds drawn u p The hou se ad .

come back ou t of the shado of death i nt o t e every day -

composu re of l i vi n g White cu rtai n s fl u ttered i n the wi n d

.

at the u pper wi n dows The late cl imbi n g roses an d pret t y

h
.

bu n ches o f clem atis seemed agai n to look i n I t was st il l

wh
.

like s u mmer t o u gh the year was wan i n g an d the s u n

, ,

still shon e n otwithstan di n g all sorrow Au brey saw n o .

o n e however b u t a ho u sem a id who pau sed as she pass e d

w
, , ,

to p u t u p a i n dow an d looked o u t for a momen t Th at

,
.

was all He had n ot t e cha nce o f seei ng any face !th at

h
.

he wished t o see In the village he met the t wo bo ys

.
,

o recog n ized him sheepishly with their eye s an d a

h
,

look from on e to an other b u t were abou t to sh u ffl e past

w h
, ,

R egi n ald on th e heels o f Arth u r to escape i s n otice

when he s topped them whic was a fac t they were u n pr e ,

pared f or an d had n o t calcu lated how to meet H e tol d .

them that he as goi n g away a defi n ite fact u pon which ,

t hey seized eagerly O h s o are we they said bot h t o

.
, ,
w t
T H E S OR C E R E SS

h er on e o f t hem addi n g t e explana t ion t h at t here as h

.

w 1 77

w
g e ,

al ays somethi n g goi n g on at schoo l An d t here s .

’

n o t hi n g t o d o here the other added I hop e we ll '

w hw
h
, .

s o m e time or other k n ow each other bet t er

”
sai d A u bre y , ,

at hich the boys h u n g their heads “

T ere is a good

w
.

d e al o f shoo t i ng down at my little place he add ed H e

”
, .

as n ot above s u c h a m e an act ; whereu pon t e t o heads

r ai s ed t hemselves by on e impu lse as i f they had bee n ,

u p o n wires a n d t o pairs of eyes shon e

,
Try if y o u c an .

do a n yth i n g f or me ; a n d I ll do every t hi n g I c an f or y ou
’

h
,

th i s i n si d iou s plotter said The boys shoo k ha n ds with .

i m with a war mth which they n ever expected t o hav e fel t

w h
f or a n y su ch spoon an d s aid t o each other tha t he did n t
”
,
’

h
s e e m s u ch a bad fel l ow a t bottom as if they ad search ed —

h i s bei n g thro u gh a n d throu gh

h
Mr Leigh met Charl ie
e n on his way t o t e railway stat ion b u t he ad n o
. .

h
w
,

e n c ou rageme n t to say an ythi n g to Charlie They passed

h
.

e ac h other with a nod very su rly on Charlie s part whose

,
’

a n g er at t e sight o f him as if that m a n had an ythi n g

—

h
t o d o with ou r tro u ble as perhaps n ot s o u nn at u ral

w
C arlie t oo was goi n g b a
—
.

, ,
ck t o O xford n ext day and ,

th an kfu l t o be doi n g so ou t o f this dreary place wh ere

hw
h
,

th e re was n othi n g t o d o .

I t as the aftern oon of t e n ex t day when Au brey ar

w
ri ved at his mother s hou se It was at som e dist an ce from
’
.

i s o n hou se m u ch t oo far t o driv e a

,
n d o n ly t o be g o t ,

at by cross cou n try railways with an i n terval of an hou r

-
,

or t o of waiti n g at several j u n ctio n s facts which he ,

c o u l d n ot help reme m beri n g h is poor little wife an d her

w
c o m pan i on had con grat u lated themselves u po n i n those

h w
o l d stran ge days wh i ch had disappeared so e n t irely like ,

a tal e that is told H e won dered whether Bee wou ld

.

h
e q u ally thi n k it a n advan tage i f she ever a s the part n er —

of i s home There seemed to i m n o somethin g wron g

.

i n the tho u ght ame a n sort o f petty feel i n g u n worthy of

, ,

a fin e n atu re H e won dered if Bee Bee ! how u n likely —

hh
.

w
i t was that she wou l d ever co n sider that qu es tion or k n ow

h
an yth in g fu rt er abou t his ho u se or his ways of li v i n g !
s e who had thr u st
h
i m away from her at the very mo m e n t
when her heart o u g t to h ave bee n m ost soft whe n love
h
—

as most wan ted to stre n gt en an d u phold N o t her .

1 2
1 7 8

www ww
father s il l b ut her o n An d you r o n hea rt ill e x

h h
’

pl ai n it His o n h eart ! i n which there was n othi n g b u t

THE S OR C E R E SS

.
.

h
.

tru t an d devotion t o er

w
.

He arrived th u s at i s mother s hou se very depressed ’

i n spirits Mrs Leigh was n ot the ordi n ary ki n d of mother

h
wh h
. .

f o r a you n g m a n like A u brey Leigh She was n ot on e o f .

t ose m othe rs wholly wrapped u p i n their childre n o

a r e s o ge n eral She had all along made an attempt at an

.

i n depe n de n t life o f her o n When A u brey married she .

was still a comparatively you n g woman by no mean s dis ,

posed t o si n k her ide n tity i n him or i s hou sehold Mrs . .

Au brey Leigh might poss ess t he first place i n t he family

as the qu ee n re gn a n t b u t Mrs Leigh i n her person ality a ,
.
,

m u ch more i m portan t person had n o idea o f bei n g

w
,

swamped an d givi n g u p her n at u ral consequ en c e Sh e

h
.
,

was still a con siderable person thou gh she was n o t ri ch , ,

an d i n abited on l y a sort o f j oi n tu re hou se a s mall ,

place capable of holdi n g very few visitors Au brey as .

her o n ly s on an d she was of cou rse very fon d of h im of

w
—
,

cou r s e she was very fo n d of him b u t she had n o i n t e n t ion —

of s i n ki n g i n to i n s i g n i fic a
tion o f Au brey still less of i s wife
n ce or livi n g o n ly i n the r e fl e c

H u rst leigh where Mrs Leigh liv e d

,

as n ear the sea

h .

w
-
, .
, ,

an d n ear also t o the co u n ty t ow n which was a bri sk an d

w
,

t hrivi n g seapor t It was an o l d hou se that h ad k n ow n

w
.

man y fl u ctu ation s an an cie n t man or hou se i n habited on ce

w h w
-
, ,

by the Leighs he n they were of h u mbler prete n sion s

h
than n o ; the n it became a farm hou se t he n was let t o a -
,

h u n ti n g m an o had grea tly e n larged the stables ; a

,
nd
no it was a j oi n tu re hou se the stables veiled by a n e ,

wi n g the place i n t at trim order which de n otes a carefu l

w
,

master an d more partic u larly mis tress with large la tt i ce

w w
—

hh
, ,

wi n dows heavy m u llion s an d a te r race with ston e bal u s

, ,

trades ru nn i n g all the len g t h of t e ou se Mrs L e igh . .

gen erally sat i n a room open i n g u po n this t errace ith ,

the i n dows always open excep t i n the coldest eath er

w
, ,

an d there i t was tha t A u brey mad e his way withou t pass ,

i n g throu gh the hou se His mother was sit t i n g at on e o f

h h
.

her favorite occu pation s writi n g letters She was on e of , .

t ose wome n o m ai n tai n a large correspo n d e n ce chi e fly

for the reason that it amu ses them to receive letters an d

 w
S O R C E R E SS

w
T HE . 1 79

h a centre o f l i v el y a

w
t o f eel t h em selve s n d varie d life ; b e

h
s i d es t at she was con sidered a v ery clever letter wri t er
h
-
, ,

w
i ch is a temp t a t ion to every on e o poss esses o r i s

s u ppo s e d t o possess that q u alifica t io n She rose qu ickly .

,

i th acry o f A u brey ! i n g rea t su rpri se

”

h
.

Y ou a r e the las t person I expec t ed to see she said

w w
,

e n she had gi v e n him a warm welcome I saw the .

d e ath i n the papers a n d I su pposed o f cou rse y ou wou l d

, , ,

b e t here

h
.

“
I have j u s t com e from K i ngs ar de n he sai d wi t h

h
, ,
“
a l ittl e n od of i s h e ad i n assen t ; an d y e t I as n ot
”
t e re .

Riddle me n o r i ddles A u brey f or I n ever was good , ,

at g u essi n g Y ou w ere there an d ye t y ou were n ot there ? ”

h
.

I am afraid Iam n o longer a welcom e visi t or mother

—
, ,

e sa id with a fai n t s mil e

h
.
,

What ! M r s Leigh s aston ishmen t was s o grea t that

” ’

h
.

i t seemed t o dist u rb t e a fte rn oon qu iet which reign ed

“
o v er the w ole domai n What ! Why A u brey it was
.
!
,

o n ly the o ther day I heard o f yo u r e n gageme n t

w
.

I t is qu i t e tru e ; an d yet it has become an ci e n t history

h
,

an d n obody remembers it any more

w
.

“
W at d o y ou m ean ? she cried ”
My dear Au brey .
,

ww
I d o n ot u n derstan d y ou I thou ght y o u ere dangli n g

hh
.

ab o u t after you r you n g la d y an d that th i s was the reason ,

I e a
r d s o lit t l e of y ou ; a n d the n I was m u ch startled
y

w
t o see tha t an n o u n cemen t i n the papers Bu t y o u said she

w
.

as al ays delicate Well ! b u t what o n earth is the

.

m e an i n g of this other chan ge ?

w
I tol d y o u mother ; for some time I as b u t half ao
,

c e p t e d pe n d i n g Colon el K i n g s ar d s d ecision ’

O h y es — on e k n ows wh at t hat sort o f thi n g mean s ;

h
,

an d t he n Colo n el K i n g s ar d ge n ero u sly co n se n ted — t o o n e

of t e be st matches i n E n glan d in you r con dition of

w
—

l i fe
I am not ayou n g d u ke mot her ,

N o— y ou a r e n ot a yo u n g d u ke ; I said i n you r c on

h
d i tion of life a
t a
n d the K i n g s
,
ar d s are n ot hi n g s u perior t o
t I be lieve Well an d the n ? That was where you r
—

h h
.
,

l as t lett er left me
“
I m a a s a m e d n o t to ave writte n
,
m other ; b u t it
 80 S OR C E R E SS

ww
1 THE .

wasn t pleasan t n ew s — an d I always hoped t o chan ge their

’

mi n ds .

Well I su ppose t here as some cau se f or it s e

,

said after wai t i n g a lo n g mi n u te or t o for his n ext

,
h
,

w ords .

He g ot u p an d walked to the wi n dow which as has

h
,

been i n timated was also a door open an d leadi n g o ut o n , ,

”
to the te r race May I s u t this wi n dow ? h e said tu rn

w
.
,

i n g his back on her ; a n d the n he added still keepi n g that ,

“
attit u de It was of cou rse becau se of tha t ol d aff air
,
.

”
What old a ff air ?
Y ou ge n erally u n dersta n d at hal f a ord mother ; ,
”
m u st I go i n to the whole n au seou s bu s i ness ?
She c ame u p to him an d laid her han d on his shou lder .

”
Miss La n ce ? she said

w
.

What else ? I haven t had so man y scan dals i n my ’

life that y ou sho u ld stan d i n an y dou bt ”

ww
.

Sca n dals ! she exclaimed an d agai n was sile n t f or a

”

“
mome n t Au brey expl ai n i t to m e a little H o did
.
,
.

that bu si n ess come to their ears ?

ay ! he cried
h
“ ”
O h i n the easies t way the s i mplest
, , .

The i n j u red woman called on the father o f the girl

w
o

was goi n g to be give n to s u ch a reprobate as me He .

la u ghed lou dly an d harshly preservi n g the most tragi c ,

face all the time .

“
The i n j u red woman ! Good heave n s ! An d as th e
m an su ch an ass s u ch an ass —

H e is n ot an as s mother ; h e is a model o f every ,

virt u e My e n gagemen t if y ou like t o call i t so l aste d

w
.
, ,

abou t a week an d the n I was su dde n ly t u rn ed adrift

h
.
,
”
Au brey when did all this happe n ?
,

I su ppose abo u t three weeks ag o Pardo n me mot e r

w
,
.
,

f or n o t h avi n g ritte n b u t I had n o heart t o write I , .

left them at Colog n e an d travelled hom e by myself ; an d ,

the first thi n g I did of cou rse was t o go an d see Col o n e l

, ,

K i n gs ar d

w
.

We l l
No it wasn t well at all
,
He refu sed t o liste n t o m e
’
.
.

O f cou rse I got it o u t from my side as wel l as I cou l d ;

,

b u t it made n o di ff ere n ce He wo u ld n ot hear me He . .

ou l d u n d ers ta nd n o excu s e .
 ww
T HE S O RC E RE SS 1 81

hladies
.

An d t e ?
Mrs K i n g s ar d as too ge n tle an d yieldi n g
.
.

n e v er opposed him and ,

A u brey the girl whom y ou loved an d had su ch faith

,

in Bee d on t y ou call her ?

’
—
,

Bee s t ood by me mother n ever hesitated gav e me , , ,

he r han d an d stood by m e

h
,
.

Ah well sai d Mrs Leigh with a littl e sigh o f relief

w
, , .
, ,

t e n that s al l right The father will s oon come

’
.

rou n d

w
S o I shou ld have said yesterday Ileft them i n th at .

fu l l fai t h Bu t si n ce they ca m e back t o K i n g s a

. r d en
som ethi n g has happe n e d I wrote to her b u t I got n o .
,

an s wer I s u pposed it was her mother s ill n ess n o I ’

w
— —

h av e fou n d that he stops my letters ; b u t somethi n g far

w o rse wait a momen t she Bee herself wrote t o m e
— —
, ,

y e s terday dismissi n g me w i thou t a word o f explan ation

,

d eclari n g she did it by her o n will n o t her fa ther s ’

w
—
,

an d addi n g my con scien ce wou ld tell me why

,
”
.

M r s Leigh looked her s on strai gh t i n the face f o r a fu ll

h
.

m i n u te Au brey an d does you r con scien ce tell y ou —

w
y
N o,
mother I am too bewildered eve n t o be able t o.

th i n k I have n ot an idea what she m ean s She k n ew all

. .

th e re was t o k n ow withou t u n derstan di n g it i n the least

—
,

i t n eedn t be said an d held fast t o her word ; an d n o I

’
—

k n o w n o more what she mean s t han y ou d o Mother

h
.
,

th e re s only on e thi n g t o be don e y ou m u st t ake it i n

’
—

an d .

I take yo ur love a ff airs i n h a

— nd !
”
she said .

CHAPT E R XXIV .

BU T thou gh Mrs Leigh said this i t is by n o mean s cer .

t ai n that she mean t it eve n at the first mome n t It is on ly .

a v ery pr u den t woman who obj ects t o bei n g asked t o i n

t e r f er e i n a you n g ma n s love a ff airs Ge n erally t he r e ’

u es t its e l f is a complime n t a n d n o t less b u t perhaps

q , ,

m o re s o when made t o a mother by her s o n

,
An d Mrs . .

L e igh thou gh a sen sible an d pr u de n t person en ou gh i n

,
 w
1 82 T HE S O RC E R E SS .

ordi n ary afl ai r s did n o t attai n t o the h eight o f virt ue

h
,

above i n dicated Whe n she we n t u ps tairs to ch an ge her

.

f di er af ter t alki g it over a d over wit A brey

w wh
g o n o r nn n n u
i n e very possi b le po i n t o f view her m i n d thou gh she had , ,

n o t yet con se n t ed i n words had begu n to t u rn over the ,

best methods of open i n g th e q u estion with the Ki ngs

wards and ha t it wou ld be isest i n t e circu mstan ces
,

t o do Tha t Au brey sho u ld be beaten t h at he sho u ld

.
,

have to gi v e u p the girl whom he loved an d of whom he

w
,

gav e so exalted adescrip tion s e emed the on e thi n g that ,

m u st n o t be permitted to be Mrs Leigh was very au x

h
. .

iou s t ha t her s on sho u ld marry if it were on ly to wipe ou t ,

the episode of that l ittle silly Amy o was fo n der o f

w
,

her frien d than of her h u sban d ; an d the half l u dicrou s -

,

half tragic chapter o f tin ! woman stayi n g on r esisti ng

-

h
, ,

all e Eor ts to dislodge her for so lon g u n til she h ad as she ,

thought acqu ire d rights over the poor you n g man o was ,

h
n o t stro n g mi n ded e n o u gh to t u rn her ou t of his ho u se
-
.

To obliterat e these circ u mstan ces fro m the mi n d o f t e

cou n ty altoge ther as co u ld o n ly be don e by a happy an d
,

s u itable ma r riage Mrs Leigh wou ld have don e m u ch ;

h
.
,

and t o be s u re her son s happi n ess was also dear t o her

’

Poor Au brey ! H is firs t a d ven tu re i nto life ad n ot bee n

a happy on e an d his d e s cr i p t 1 on s o f Bee an d all h er b e
,

l on gi ngs had bee n f u ll o f a yo u n g lo ver s en th u siasm n o t

’

tame an d t epi d as she had always felt his sen time n t s t o

ward Amy t o be Wha t wo u ld it be best to d o if I reall y
.

u n dertak e t his b u si n ess ? she said t o herself Herself re .

plied that i t was n o t a b u si n ess for her to meddle w i th ,

that she wou ld do n o good an d ma n y other d issu asion s o f

,

the con ven tion al ki n d ; b u t whe n her imagi n ation an d

h
feeli n gs were o nce lit u p Mrs Leigh was n ot a woman t o

w h
.

p smothered i n tha t way After di n n er

. witho u t s till ,

h
formally u n dertaki n g the mission s e talked with Au brey

hh
o f t e best ways of carryi n g i t o u t

o shou l d she set abou t it ? “

If she d i d i n terf e re
Mi nd I don t p ro m i se
,

h h
,

an yt i n g b u t su pposi n g
,
Shou ld she write ? Shou l d
s e go ? Which thi n g wo u ld it be best to do ? If s e m ad e
u her mi n d to g o sh ou ld sh e write beforehan d t o w a
p rn
t hem ? What on t he Whole wou ld it be most appropri at e
, ,

t o do ?
 hmeI dohod tfisayallythatdecided
T HE S OR C E R E SS .

w
w
1 83

w
T e t po be ee them n if I u n t n

hBeed firsta witho

bu t I will go a tha Mrs Leigh t
’

g o — n — s .

oul t war i g or preparatio e deavor n n to

w
s u n, n

h her to c h
,

see ascertai whether a

,
nd represe tatio s n ny ne n n
a bee ma e
d n a ge her mi d a the a
d to n n ; nd n, c

h o d
c r i g to her s ccess
n s ccess with Bee decideu or n on u
-
,

ther sh e sho ld a a i terview with her fa her

e u sk n n t .

A rey slept
b der his mother s roof wi th greater ra t
’
u un n
q u i l l ity an d refreshme n t than h e had k n own for some ti m e

h
,

an d with someth i n g of the vagu e hope o f his childhood

w
t at she cou ld se t every thi ng ri g ht , do away with pu n ish

h
m e n t or proc u re pleasu re , when she took it i n h an d
ad always be en so i n the childi s h d ays , which seemed to
co m e n ear him i n the sight of the ol d fu rn it u re , t he ell
It .

h
k n o w n pict u res an d o rn amen ts an d c u riosities which Mrs

w
.

L e i gh ad brou gh t with her when she settl ed i n this

h
di m i n ished hou se How well he remembered them all ! .

t e ol d pri n t of t h e little Sam u el o n his k n ees , the attit u de

h
of h i ch he u sed half co n sciou sly t o copy whe n he s aid -

i s prayers ; the little ol d fa shion ed books i n bl u e an d

h
-

br w o morocco o n the shelves t e chi n a orn ame n ts on the

n ,

m an tel piece

w
H e smiled at their an tiqu ity n owadays
-
.
,

b u t he had t ho u ght them very gra nd an d imposi n g o n ce

u p o n a t ime .

In th e morn i n g Mrs Leigh coqu etted a litt l e or else

w
.
,

sa the whole su bj ect i n a col d er light Don t y ou thi n k ’

.

it i s possible tha t I might do more harm than good ? she

s ai d ; thi n gs might settle of themselves if y ou gave them
a little t i me Colon el K i n g s ar d wou ld come t o i s h
w
'

se n ses an d M iss Bee

,
”
Moth er cried Au brey pale w i th alarm o n the c on
, , ,

tr a ry Do y ou forget t h e circ u mstan ces ? Mrs K i n gs

. .

ard is dea d there is a large fam ily of little chil d ren an d

w
, ,

B e e is o f the race of the Q u ixotes Don t y ou see wh at .

’

w ill happe n ? She will get it i n to her m i n d an d every ,

b o dy will pe r su ade her that as the eldest dau ghter she is ,

an ted at home It will be impresse d u pon her on all . .

sides ; an d u n less there is a very s t ron g i n fl u en ce to cou n

t er ac t it an d at on ce Bee is lost t o me fore v er
, ,
.

My de ar don t b e s o tragical These dreadfu l th i n gs

,
’
.

”
d on t happe n i n ou r days
’
.
 T HE S OR C E R E S S

hmo her h
.

Y ou ma lau g t bu t it is lau g i n g matter

w
y , , no
to me .

I don t l au gh she said

’
I see the stren gth o f you r
,
.

ar gu men t ; b ut my dear b oy n othi n g will be s o e ff ectu al

,

h
,

i n sho i n g you r Bee t he h appi n ess that is a waiti n g her as

wh
a little trial of the trou bles o f a large fam ily o n er
shou lders I k n ow what it is
. .

Au brey spran g from his seat tho u gh i t was i n the m i d

dle of his breakfas t Mother he said t here is o n e
.
, ,

thi n g that I belie v e y ou will n ever k n o and th at is Bee -

The bu rde n is exactly what wil l hold her fas t beyon d a

, .

ny
f
arg me t the sen se o d ty the feeli n g that s e i s
h
u n — u —

bou n d t o take her mot er s pl ace

h
’
.

What was i n M r s Leigh s mi n d was the tho u ght A .

’

, ,

th at s all very well at first til l she has tried it

’
Bu t what
, .

sh e said was : I beg you r pa r don A u brey O f c ou rse

w
.
,

that is a m u ch more elevated feeli n g Sit down m y d e ar

w
.
, ,

an d take you r breakfast It is n ot my fau l t that I don t

.
’

h
”
k n ow Bee

h
.

Upon w ich A u brey had to beg her pardon an d sit do n

com m iserati n g her for t at deficien cy which as i n d eed

w
her m isfort u n e an d n o t her fau lt .

At the e n d Mrs Leigh was wou n d u p to take the stron g

.

est step poss ible She j oi n ed her s on i n Lon don aft e r

'

w
abou t a eek had elapsed H e chafed at the delay b u t .
,

allowed th at to leave Bee i n qu iet for a few d ays after all

the storms that had gon e over her head was n ecessar y

w hh
.

Mrs Leigh wen t down early o n a bright O ctober m o rn i n g

.

t o K i ngs a r d e n with m ore exciteme n t tha n she ad e x

'

p e c t e d to feel She was herself i n cli n ed t o ta ke a l ig t e r

h
.

vie to la u gh at the idea of i n terru p t ed l etters o r pare n t al

h
,

cru el ty an d t o believe that poor Bee was worn ou t e r

h
, ,

n erv es all wron g a n d possibly her temper a ff ected by t e

h
w
,

irritability w ich is so ap t to accompan y u n accu stom e d

g r ief an d that i n a little time s e wo u ld o f herself c o m e

hh
,

rou n d Seei n g however that these su ggestion s o n l y

.
, ,

m ade Au br ey a n gry s e ad given them u p an d as i n

w h
, ,

fact m ore i n fl u en ced th an sh e cared to sh ow by his e m o

tion an d an xiety whe n s e th u s sallied forth i n to th e u n
k n own t o plead her so n s cau se They had ascert ai n e d
h
’
.

th at Colon el K i ngs ar d had retu rned t o his ofli ce so t at ,

w w h h
T —H E S O RC E R E SS

w . 1 85

hldre were a home Mrs Leigh said to h

w
t e coas a clear t s rl s a the l ittle
. On l y t e t o g i nd
c i n terself as she . .

alked to the gate that it was a shame to take the l ttle girl i ,

w
p o or little thi n g th u s u n protected ith n obody to stan d
, ,

b y her If i t were n ot that i t was e n tirely for her good

.

N o body that k n ew Au brey cou ld de n y that he wou ld

m ake the bes t h u sban d i n the world a n d s u rely t o have

w
,

a g ood hou s e of her o n an d a good h u sban d an d a dis

h
, ,

t i n ct place 1 n th e world was better th an to g r ow t o mat u r ity

a arassed woman at the head of her father 3 ho u se acti n g
h h
’

m o ther to a troop of childre n o would n o t obey her n or

w
e v e n be gratefu l f o r her ki n d n ess to t em S u rely there .

h
c o u ld n o t be two opi n ion s as to what it wo uld be best for

t e girl t o do Yet she felt a little like a wolf goi n g

h
w
.

d o n i n to the midst of t e l ambki n s whe n she open ed the

u n g u arded gate .

Mrs Leigh was a clever woman an d a woman o f the

.

o rld ; she had a great deal o f n at u ral u n dersta n di n g a nd

w
ac on si d erable k n owledg e o f life ; b u t she was n o t u n like
i n appearan ce to the ordi n a ry British matron who is n o t ,

m u ch credited with these qu ali ties That is to say she

w
.
,

h as sto u t which is a calamity common to the ki n d She

—

h
.

ad wh ite hair con siderably frizzed o n the t 0 p of the fore

w
ead as it is becomi n g to white hair to be an d dark eyes
, ,

an d good comp l exion These thi n gs ere i n her favor ;

.

s ti ll it is impossible to de n y that whe n Bee an d Betty

h
,

sa comi n g toward them followi n g the postma n across ,

t e law n a sto u t figu re n o t very tall n o r disti n gu ishable

, , ,

fro m v ariou s ladies i n both cou n ty an d tow n whom they

kn ew an d with the n atu ral imperti n e n ce of yo u th set
,

d o w n as bores th e y had both a stron g revolt i n their

,

m i n ds agai n st their visitor O h who is i t who is i t ? —

h
,

th ey said to each other Why did Ja m es l et her i n ? .

W y did he let an y o n e i n ?

w
It was a warm morn i n g thou gh the season was s o far

h h
,

h
advan ced an d t hey were seated agai n o n that ben ch u n d er
,

t e tree wher e they had watched t e white clo u d floati n g

h
a ay o n the n ight of their mother s d eat They we n t ’
.

t e re i n sti n ctively whe n ever they we n t o u t Mother s ’

h
.

tre e they began to call i t an d sat as she had been u s ed

,
—

t o d o with t e ch i l dre n playi n g n ear a

,
n d n u rse walki n g ,
 w
86 O R C E R E SS

w
1 T HE S .

w h w
up an d down with the baby her arm s They had be en in .

talk i n g more that morn i n g than ever before It a s l ittle .

more than a w e ek sin ce Mrs K i ngs ar d s fu n eral b u t

’

w h
.
,

they ere so you n g that t heir earts n o a n d the n f or a

momen t b u rst the bon dage o f t heir sorrow and escaped ,

the le n gth of a s mil e or two i t was n o t m u ch ; an d t o be —

s u re f or the childre n s sake i t as i n d i spen sable that they

’

shou ld n ot b e cryi n g an d m iserable always as at firs t they ,

had fel t a s if they m u st co n ti n u ally be Bu t it was a n ot e

; .

thi n g t o receive visitors an d h ave perhaps to an swer qu e s

t io n s abou t the circ u mstan ces o f the i r loss

h
.

Mrs wha t did James say ? Neither o f the m were

—

h
.

su re thou g a thrill r an throu gh Bee s v ein s It was a

,
’
.

stran ger W o cou ld it be ?

.

I have t o apologize f or comi n g withou t kn owi n g y ou —

w
— an d at su ch a t ime said Mrs Leigh maki n g a li ttle ,
.
,

pau se till the n u rse had g ot to the e n d of the g ravel w alk

h
with the baby an d J ames was ou t o f heari n g
o are Bee
gir l s han ds
’
.
”
,
,

I am th e mother of A u brey Leigh

It is y o u
is it n o t ? sh e sai d s u dden ly taki n g t e ,
.

.
h
All the color wen t ou t of Bee s face ; she d rew away her ’

han d s h u rriedly an d dropped u pon her moth e r s sea t ’

h
.

She felt that she had no power t o say aword

h
.

O I thou g ht it was Mrs Leigh he said cr ied Betty

,
.
, ,

b u t I cou ld n ot su ppose o Mrs Leigh whatever Be e —

,
.
,

may say I am s o glad so glad to see y ou perhaps y ou

, ,
—

will be able t o make thi n gs righ t .

I hope I shal l said Mrs Leigh an d I shall alway s

”

h
, ,
.

be obliged t o y ou my dear for givin g me you r c o u n t e

, ,

h
Bu t you r sister does n ot look as if s e mean t to let
n an ce .

me pu t thi n g s rig t .

I am sor ry if I seem ru de said Bee gatheri n g herself , ,

toge ther b u t Idon t thi n k that papa wou ld l i ke u s t o

,
—
’

receive visitors .

I am no t a common v isitor said Mrs Leigh I , . .

hope y ou will d o me the credit to thi n k th a t it is w ith

a d i ff eren t feeli n g I come I am very very sor ry f or .
,

y o u,
so yo u n g as y o u are more so rr y tha n I c an s a
,y .

An d Bee if i n deed I am to hope t o be o n e d ay yo u r

h
, ,

mother
Bee did n ot S peak ; b u t she fixed her bl u e eyes u pon e r
 O R C E R E SS 87

w
THE S . 1

v i si t or with a sort o f e n treaty to be left alon e an d mou rn ,

f u ll y shook her head

We can t thi n k j u st n o of tha t n a
.

’
me s aid li t tle ,

B etty with the t ears s tan di n g i n her e ye s

h
, .

My dear children I cam e t o t ry t o comfort y ou n ot

, ,
”
t o open yo u r wou n ds D ear s e said pu tti n g her han d

h h
.
, ,
“
o n Bee s sho u lder wo l d see A brey let
’

y o u u ,
n o t u n or ,

i m have a word from y ou Bu t he sai d y ou had eard

hh h
.

e v erythi n g a n evil woman co u l d say an d did n ot give

w w
,

i m u p f o r that a nd e is heart broke n

— H e thou ght

w
-
.

p e r aps y o u wo u ld tell me if he had do n e a n y t hi n g t o dis

hh l a e if i t was o n l y the e ff ec t f yo r rief t

—
p e s y o u or o u g o ,

ich e ou ld be s u bmissive at on ce All he w ant e d

'

as to S hare you r trou ble my dear child

h
.
,

This was n ot at all what Mrs Le i gh i n ten ded t o say . .

S e had mean t t o represe n t her visit as on e o f s ym pathy

h
s ol ely wi thou t a t first referri n g t o the hard case o f A u brey ;

h
w
,

b u t Bee s l ooks a d co n fu sed eve n th is experie n ced woman

'
’
.

T e girl s pale face p u t on a n expression of dete rm i n e d deci

’

h
s io n or rather o f that bla n k o f resista n ce n o t e n t er i n g u po n
,

t e q u estio n hich is a ki n d of defen ce which i t i s almos t

i m possible t o break down
-

w
.

I wou ld rather if y ou please no t say any t h i n g o f Mr

, , .

L e ig

h
Dear child ! d o n o t take tha t ton e If he has don e
an y th in g that does n ot please y ou o is h e ever t o clear h
h
.

h
,

“
h
i m s elf if y ou will n ot tell him w at it is ?
She is like t is all the time c r i ed Betty s e will

h w
w
h
, ,

n o t say what is wron g an d yet she is j u st as miserable

—

erself as any on e cou ld be .

Bee gav e her S ister al ook i n which Mrs Leigh closely .

,

at c i n g s a the l ight n i n g of the glan ce the br illian cy an d

, ,

s p l e n dor o f the bl u e eyes of wh i ch A u brey had raved

h
.

P oor little Betty was ill u mi n ated as if with a great flame .

It was all that s e cou ld do to restrai n a very i n appropriate

w
s m ile . Y o u k n ow n othi n g a n d how do y ou d are to say ,

w
an ythi n g ? Bee said
”

h
.

I am s u re that Bee is j u st said the older lady She ,

.

o u ld n o t co n dem n a n y o n e u n heard A u brey Leig is

h
.

m y s on b u t we have bee n separated for man y years a

,
nd ,

I t hi n k I j u d g e i m impartially H e does n o t al ays .

 ww
1 88 THE S OR C E R E SS .

ple ase m e an d I am s ure th at at some ti me or o t h e r he

,

has m u ch displeas ed y ou Yo ur eyes tell me tho u gh y ou

h
,
.

have n o t sai d a ord Bu t my dear I have n ever si n ce

'
.
,

he was a child foun d him ou t i n an ythi n g except t e o n e

thi n g y ou kn ow i n which he as so sorely sorely tr i ed
, , .

He has always b ee n ki n d He gets i n to tro u ble by h is

h
.

ki n dn ess as other men do b y ill behavior I don t k n ow ’

'

-
.

what y ou have agai n st him b u t I feel s u re that e wil l ,

clear hi mself if y ou will l et him speak Be e .

”
I do n ot want cried Bee to seem ru de O h I don t
’

h
.
, , ,

wan t t o b e ru de ! I am s u re qu ite su re that y ou are , ,

ki n d ; b u t I have n ot hi n g t o say o n ot hi n g to say t o —

h
, ,

an y on e I am n ot abl e to disc u ss any s u bj ect or e n ter

w w
.
,

i n to t hi n gs I have a great deal t o thi nk o f for I am t e

h
.
,

eld est an d i t will n ot do f or me t o to break down o r t o

,
—
,

have any more t o e ar I am very very sor r y an d y o u .

, ,

so ki n d Bu t— Imu st g o i n n o

w
. I m u st go i n n o . .

Bee Bee

h
,

Y ou c a n s t ay Betty a n d ta l k t o the lady

,
Y ou c a
, n .

stay b u t o
,
forgi v e me I can n ot can n ot help it ! I
, , ,
—

m u st go i n n o .

This was the en d of Mrs Leigh s embassy She had a .

’
.

lon g t alk wi t h Betty who was b u t t oo glad to pou r i n to

,

this kin d woman s bosom all her trou bles Betty co u l d

’
.

n o t tell what had happe n ed to Bee She was n o t the Bee

h
.

o f ol d a n d she did n o t k n ow what it was that had hap

,

w
pe n ed abou t Au brey or if Bee had heard an yt i n g agai n st
,

w
him She was as mu ch i n the dark as Mrs Leigh herself
. . .

Bu t she made it v ery evide n t that Bee had a grievan ce a ,

real or s upposed grou n d of complai nt which made her very

an gry an d which she rese nted b i tt er l y Wh at as it ? .

B u t this Bet t y di d n ot k n o .

C H APT E R XXV

M a
mi l i a
s LEI G H wen t back to
.

t i on , which was rare i n

w i th a sen se o f u
e r con scio u sn ess S e h ad h
her s on

. hh
be en completely u n su ccessfu l which was a thi n g which ,

had ver y rare ly happe n ed t o her She had ex p e c t e d i f .

, _
 T HE S OR C E R E SS 1 89

h
.

w
adm ssio at all that a n ythi n g which s o you ng a
i

w
s e g ot n

h
,

g i l might have
r o n her mi n d m u st have b u rst forth an d
al l have bee n made clear

h
o verawe a
S e had expected at on ce t o
n d t o s oothe a yo u n g creat u re o loved A u brey
.

h
h h
,

an d o had some u n told grievan ce agai n st Au brey Bu t

h
.

s e was n o t prepared for t e d u al perso n ality so t o speak , ,

o f Bee or the power S e had of retreati n g herself a nd

w
,

l e avi n g her little sister as her represen tative t o f u lfil all

whh
n ecessary civilities witho u t the power o f be t ra y i n g a ny
t h i n g that the visitor wa n ted t o k n ow She we n t back t o .

t o n very an gry with Bee t u rn ed agai n st her ; very l ittle ,

d i s posed t o sympathize with A u brey hich s e had s o

wh h
,

f re ely don e before My dear boy she sai d y ou h a v e

.
, ,

m ade a mistake that s all The elder sister as a temper

,
’
.

l ik e her father E verybody wil l tell y o u th a

. t Colon el
K i n gs a r d is a sharp tempered m a n Bu t Betty is a l i t
h h
-
.

t l e da rli n g It is S e that s ou l d have bee n t e mistress

.

of F ores t l e i g .

In an swer t o this Au brey simp l y tu rn ed his back po n his u

m o ther H e was deep l y disappoi n ted b u t this speech
.

t u r n ed his disappoi n t m e n t i n to a ki n d of ra g e
m isman aged the whol e matter That was as clear as day
She ad
.
,

. h
l i g ht a n d s u ch a s u ggestion was a n added i n s u lt Betty !

h
,

h
.

ac hild a little girl a n obody

,
H is Bee seemed t o tower
, .

h
o v er her i n i s i m agi n ation so di ff ere n t so igh above , ,

an other species It was some m i n u tes before he

w
er ,
.

c o u l d tru st himsel f t o S peak .

O f cou rse y o u thi n k me a fool said Mrs Leigh

,
an d ,
.
,

s o I am to tel l a yo u n g m a n that there is a n other i n the

w
orld eq u al to the obj ect o f his fa n cy

w wh
.

“
Mother said A u brey i n a choked voice y ou mis
, , ,

tak e the matt er altogether ; that is n ot what i s i n q u estio n

h
.

h
h
What I wan t to k n ow i s hat has bee n said ag ai n st me
w at ne thi n g s e has heard or i n what n e light S e
, ,

w
,

h as been tau ght t o see me

e c r ied a n gri l y
“

b e tter i n you r place as i n hers

Y o u might as well s u ggest
that an other person might have bee n
,
—
.

.
,

If that is all I don t mi n d allo i n g it said Mrs ’

,
.

L eigh with an aggravation pec u l i ar to mot hers Y ou

h
.
,

m ight hav e had some on e who wou ld h ave been all ro u n d , ,

m a a m b l l
’

o f o r e u s e to yo u s o t e r u t o n l y it s a lit t e a te —
'

to
9 0

thi n k of tha t H owev er

Somethi g o m eth i
.

is one thi n g eviden t that s e has some grie v an ce agai n st

g d efi ite
,
w
ww
h
which
T HE

ithou t an y p ers i fl ag e here

she b
S O RC E RE SS

,
.

w
y o u . n n e s n n ,
e

l i e v e s y o u t o be con sciou s of hich she is t oo prou d t o ,

discu ss I s u ppose ? sai d Mrs Leigh looki n g at h im

—
”
.
,

h
with the look of the t oo profoun dly experi en ced n e v er s u re -

h
,

o far h u man weak n ess may go .

Mother ! Au brey cried H e was as i n dig n an t a

”

w
s s e .

was u n assu red .

“
Well my dear don t be an gry I am not imagin i n g ’

w
.
, ,

an ythi n g I o n ly ask whether y ou are qu ite su re that

.

there i s n othi n g which mig t be twisted i nt o a ne ao

cu sa t i on agai n st y o u ? There might be man y i n ciden ts i n
h
,

h ich y ou were qu ite b lamel ess which an e n emy might ,

w
twist
Y ou n eed n o t be melodramatic mother I have ,
.

n othi n g i n the world that cou ld be a n e n emy s o far as I —

h h
”
kn ow .

O as f or that ! ther e are people

,
o make u p s tories

o u t o f p u re deviltry An d I had n o i n ten tion o f bei n g

w
.

”
melodramatic said Mrs Leigh with displeas ure She
, . .

added after a momen t E xami n e Idon t say you r c o n

, ,
—
’

scie n ce which probably has n othi n g t o d o wi th i t b u t

,
—

h at has occ u r red for the last S i x mon ths ? See if there
is an ythin g which admits of a wron g i n terpre t ati on whi ch

h
,

co u ld be as I say twisted

h h
, ,
.

Au brey pau sed a mome n t t o attempt to d o as s e s aid

h
,

b u t the littl e episode of t e railway station t e poor ,

wom an an d e r babies he did n ot thi n k of If tru th

w
, .

w
mu st b e told he thou ght that i nciden t was on e of the
,

most creditable thi n gs i n his life H e felt a little pl eas ed .

with himself when he thou ght of it It was on e of th ose

h
.

t hi n gs h ich t o men tion m ight seem like a brag o f h is

o n ge n erosity H e felt that it was real ly one of t e few

h
.

i n cide n ts i n his life which modesty kept him from tell i n g

hh
,

on e of th e t hi n gs i n which t e right h a n d sho u l d n o t

k n ow what the left han d did Had he t ou g t of it th at

w h
.

wou ld have bee n h is feelin g ; b u t when he was asked s u d

d e n l y to e n deavor t o recollect somethi n g whic mi gh t be
twisted t o his di s advan tage n at u rally this good dee d a
h
—
,

deed o f charit y if ever on e as di d not c ome i n to i s —

m i n d at all H e S hook his head
am that ki n d of m an mother
.
T HE S OR C E R E SS

.
.

Y ou kn ow w hether I
1 9 1

w
.
,

Do t refer i t to me Au brey a you n g m an s mother

n
’

,
—
’

w
p r o bably is the v ery last perso n t o k n ow I k n o w y o u .
,

m y dear d af ond I kn ow a great deal abou t y ou ; b u t I

, .

kn o t oo that y ou h a
,
ve don e m an y thi n gs which I n ever
,

c o u l d have s u pposed y ou wo uld ha v e do n e ; co n su lt yo u r

n recollecti on Pro b ab ly it is somethi n g s o i n sign ifican t

w
o .

t ha t y o u wil l have di ffi c u lty i n recalli n g it On e c a n .

n e v er calc u late what trifle may move a yo u n g girl s i m

’

w
ag i n at i on A gr ai n of sa n d is e n ou gh t o pu t a wa t ch al l

w
r on g

hh
.

Th u s it will be see n that Mrs Leigh s lon g experi e n ce ’

h
.

as after all good f or somet i n g She divi n ed the char

h
.
, ,

ac ter o f t e dreadfu l obstacle which ad come i n her so n s ’

h ay a n d shattered all i s hopes If he had recoun ted t o

e r that i n cide n t which it wou ld have s eemed oste n tation
t o him t o refer to pro bably she wo u ld have pierced the
.

h
,

i m brogl io at o n c e— or cou ld she have see n i nto h is life

an d his memory S e wo u ld n o dou bt have p u t her fi n ger
at o n ce o n th at place
h
Bu t there they s tood two h u ma n
cre at u res i n t e closest relation t o each other that n at ure
ca n make a n xio u s t o find o u t betwee n them the key t o a
.
,

p u zzle which n either o f them c ou ld divi n e b u t the secret

w
,

o f which lay certa i n ly betwee n them cou ld they b u t fin d

.

it— an d cou ld make ou t n othi n g A word from the s on .

m i ght ha ve set the keen witted m other better acqu ai nted -

,

th an he ith the man n er i n which scan dals arise on the

h
w h
,

s c e nt Bu t it n ever occ u r red t o him t o say that word

. .

T ey looked in to each other s faces an d m ade o u t n ot i n g ’

h
.

Stran ge v eil o f i n divid u al ity which is betwee n h u ma n

cr e at u res as t e sea is between t o worlds an d m ore c on
, ,

f u s i n g more impe n etrable s till than an y distan c e ! Au brey

w
,

m ade the most co nscie n tiou s e ff orts t o lay bare his heart ,

t o di s cover someth i n g that migh t be t wisted as she sa i d ;

h
h hw
h
,

b u t he fou n d n othi n g H is thou g ts si n ce he met the .

K i n gs a '
r d s first ad bee n f u ll of n othi n g b u t Bee his —

v e r y dreams had bee n fu ll of her H e wan dered vagu ely .

t ro u gh i s o n re collec t i on n o t k n owi n g what to look

f or — what was there ? Th ere was n othi n g H is moth er .

sa t by a n d n otwithsta n di n g h er a n xiet y cou ld s c arcel y r e

1 9 2 T HE SO R C E R E SS .

frain from smili ng at his p u zzled trou bled e ndeavor to

fin d o u t somethi n g agai n st himse l f Bu t t here was n ot
H e shook his head at last with a sort of
,

. h
i n g to fin d o u t .
,

appeal to her o u t of his trou bled eyes He was distre ssed .

n o t t o fin d what he so u ght I k n ow n oth i n g he s aid

.
, ,
“
shak i ng his head On e n ev e r does an ythi n g very g ood

h
.

i n deed b u t n ot very bad either

— I h ave j u st bee n as I .

always am n o t m u c t o br ag of b u t n othi n g t o be
— —

ashamed of b etwee n on e m an an d an other

,
”
.

The qu estio n is between on e m an an d on e woman ,

”
Au brey which is di ff eren t
, .

”
The n he cried with a short lau gh I defy discovery
, ,

—
t here has bee n n othi n g i n all my tho u ghts that n eed
have bee n hidde n Y ou d o me grievou s wrong mother
.
,

if y o u c an thi n k even if I had bee n i n cli n ed that way

w
— .

I don t thi n k I have the most complete faith i n y o u

’
.
,

Au brey I say an ythi n g that could be twisted by a

—

h
.

”
mal i gn i n terpretation ?

w
He shook his head again An d o wo u ld t ake the

w w
.

trou ble to m ake a malign i nterpre t ation ? I assu re y ou I

have n o e n emy .

Colon el K i n gs ar d is e n emy en ou gh

h
.

Ah Colon el K i n gs ar d I have n o reason ho ever

h
, ,
.
,

t o t hi n k that e wou ld d o a d ishon orable action .

W at do y o u call i n tercepti n g letters A u brey ? ,

It is very a n tiqu ated an d ou t of d ate b u t I do n t k n ow —

’

h
tha t it n eed be called disho n orable ; an d he has a high

ww
idea o f i s au thority ; b u t to make a false represe ntatio n

w wh
of an other m an
A u brey those disti n ction s are t o o fin e for me There
,
.

is on ly on e thi n g that I c an do I will n o go an d i n ter

w
.

vie Colon el K i n gs ar d If e k n ows of an ythi n g n e

.
,

b e will soo n reveal it t o me If he goes on ly over the o l d

.

grou n d the n we may be su re that you r fiance? has bee n

,

told Somethi n g i n her o n ear somethi n g apar t from —

her father which she has betraye d t o n o on e u n less

— —

perhaps it was got from the mother

hh h
No t a word abou t the mother S e is dead an d sh e
is sacred an d beside s S e was the last the very last
—
.
,

h
,

Y o u have you rself said S e was very weak A u brey ,

.

Wea k so f ar as resis t i n g her us b a n d Wa s c on ce rn e d ,

 T HE S O R C E R ES S 93

w
. 1

but

hh i n capable of an u nki n d word ; i n capable of an y

,

tr e ac ery or falsehoo d ; a creatu re b oth i n body a nd so u l , ,

h
om y o u co u ld almost see thro u gh

w w
.

Mrs Leigh s ook her hea d a little

ww
. .

“
I kn ow those tra n spare n t people sh e said they are , ,

n o t always s o Bu t n ever mi n d Ia m goi n g t o i n ter .

v i efi C o lo n el K i n g s ar d n o .

Colon el K i n g s ar d as v ery c o u rteo u s t o his vi s itor

w
.

h
H e received her visit of sy m p a thy with polite g ratit u d e

w
,

ac c epti n g
f am i l i e s a h
e r e xc u se

d bee n a
'

hh
th at so n e ar l y con n ected as the
bo u t to b e s e cou ld n o t b e i n tow n

h
,

ithou t comi n g to expre s s e r gr e at regr e t an d feeli n g

f o r his family left mot e rle s s Colon el K i n g s ar d was

h
.

very azgrze He had the fu llest se n se of what was expected

’

w
.

i n h is p o s i tio n a nd
h h
e d i d n o t allow a n y other feeli n g t o

w
,

co m e i n the way of t at H e tha n ke d M r s L e igh for her

w
. .

sym pathy an d ex aggerated i s se n se o f her goo d n ess i n

h
,

co m i n g to e x press it It a s more m u ch m ore t han he

h
w w
.
, ,

ad an y right t o e x pect I f th e re . as an y alleviatio n t o

i s g r ief i t as i n the se n s e o f the great ki n d n e s s of

h
fr 1 e u ds an d eve n o f s t ra n g er s he s ai d with a grave

h
,

h
,

bo ,
w ich S eem e d to thro M r s Le i gh i n d efi n itely back .

i n t o t e regi o n s of the u n kn o w n This p u t e r on her

w
.

m e ttle at o n ce
‘
f I do n o

h
t feel like a
.

stra n ger e said I ha ve hear d h

w
S ,
.

s o m uc of y o u r fam ily e v ery m ember of it throu gh m y

, ,

s o n A u bre y I re g r e t greatly that the co nn ectio n

. hich ,

s e e m e d t o be s o s u it a ble s ho u ld han g at all i n do u bt

,

I t doe s n o t han g i n d o u bt said Colon el K i n g s ar d ,

.

I am s orry i f y o u have g o t that i m pre s sion It is q u ite

,
.

b r o ke n o f f o n ce for all
—

h
.

That i s ahard th i n g to s ay to Au b r ey Leigh s mother ’

s e sa id ; s u ch as ti g m as ho u l d n o t be p u t u pon a you n g
m an l i ghtl y

w w h
.

I am sor r y t o disc u s s s u c h m att e r s wi t h a l a d y Bu t I

w
.

d o n t k n ow what y o u c a
h h
ll li g tly Mrs Leigh I do no t
’

. .
,

bel ieve f o r am om e n t t at y ou wou ld g ive a da u ghter of

y o u r o n I do
—
n o t k n o whet er y o u have da u ghter s o f
yo u r o n

h an d s
Two
.
h appily marri e d t hank heav en an d o ff my, ,
 ww w w
1
94 THE S O RC E R E SS

h
.

K i ng s a
dau ghters !
Y ou
will u n ders tan d me s o m u c the be tter
r d kn e perfectly all abo ut Mrs Leig s t o
( Colo

I d o n o t believe that y o u wou ld have given

.
nel

'
.
.

h ’

on e o f th e m to a m a n to hom a nother lady p u t forth a

—

prior claim .

I am n ot at all s u re of that I sho u ld hav e ascertai ned .

first what ki n d of perso n pu t forth the cl ai m

We n eed n o t go i n to these details said Colonel Ki ngs

w
,

ward wavi n g his h an d

h h
, .

It i s most i m portan t to go i n to these details I can .

give y o u every partic u lar abo u t t is lady Colo n el Ki ngs ,

w ard an d so c an a do ze n people at least

,
o h ave n o i n

t er e s t i n the m at t er except to tell t he tru th .

The q u es t io n is c losed i n my m i n d Mrs Leigh I . .

hav e n o i n te ntio n o f ope n i n g it agai n .

An d this is the sole gro u n d u pon wh i ch my s o n i s r e

w
j e c t e d she said ,
fixi n g her kee n eyes
,
u po n his face .

It is the sole gro u n d ; i t is q u ite e n ou gh I bel i eve ; ,

su p posi n g eve n th at the lady was everythi n g y ou allege ,

an i n timacy bet ee n a woman o f that character an d your

s o n is q u ite e n o u gh to make him u n s u itable f o r my

h
w
dau ghter .

“
W o was n o t of yo u r opi n ion however M r s Leigh , ,
.

said .

Colo n el K i ngs ar d was co n fu sed by this spe e c h He .

got u p an d s tood b efore the fire H e avoided meeti n g her .

My dau ghter is very yo u n g an d very i n ex p er i

h
“
eye

w
.
,

e n ce d he said,
She is at prese n t more moved by er
.

feeli n gs than her rea s o n I believe that with an i n crease .

o f mat u rer j u dgme n t she will f u lly adopt my V iew .

Colo nel K i n g s ar d believed that he had altoge ther

. h
cru shed his visitor b u t h e was n o t so right as he th o u ght

He kn ows n othi n g more she s a i d

,

Mrs Leig we n t back to her s o n with tri u mph i n her e yes

He doe s n o t
.

hh
, .

k n ow that she h as t u rn ed agai n st y o u Whatever i s her .

reason it is somethi n g di ff ere n t from his an d S e as n o t

h
w wh
, ,

con fided it to him I t ho u ght as m u ch whe n y ou tol d me

h
.

of t e le tters stopped A m an does n o t i n tercept a g irl s

.
’

letters whe n h e k n ows S e has come rou n d to his w ay o f

thi n ki n g N o y o u have got to fin d o u t hat sh e as
.

heard an d to set her righ t abo u t it wha t ever it may b e

, .
 THE S O R CE R E SS . 1 95

C H APT E R XXVI

w
.

,
To se t on e s self t o fin d ou t withou t any clew or gu idan ce
’

wh at it i s which has a ff ected the tho u ghts of agirl f or or

agai n s t h er lov er withou t an y k n o ledge of her s u r
—

ro un di ngs or from wh at qu arter an ad v erse i n fl u e n ce an

h
, ,

ill report cou ld have come who cou l d have spoke n to her
—

on t e s u bj ect of A u brey or wh a ,

h
t ki n d of story to his dis
advan tage (f o r this was w at Mrs Leigh con vi n ced erself
mu st have happe n ed! she had heard t o discover every
.

—
h
thi n g an d co u n teract it was a mission that mi ht we l l
,

have frighte n ed any on e who u n dertook it An I don t .

’

dou bt th at Mrs Leigh to en co u rage her s on spoke a great

w
.
, ,

deal more con fide n tly tha n she felt and that she really ,

i n te n ded to give herself u p to this discovery an d to take ,

n o rest u n til she had made it a n d cleared u p t he m atter

h
,

w
hich threate n ed t o separate these two you ng people for
ever an d make ha v oc i n bot the i r lives
, .

Au brey h imself shook his head an d declared himself t o

have little hope ; b u t he was n o t really more opeless
tha n h is mother as the reverse While h e shook his head .
-
h
h
ther e was a warm se n sation of comfort at his heart That
she s o u ld ha v e un dertake n to fin d it ou t seemed like half
.

the bat t l e Whe n a man retai n s an y con fi d e n ce i n his

h
w
.

moth er at all which is by n o mean s alway s t he case

,
e ,

is apt t o be i n fl u e n ced m ore tha n he is awar e by th e ol d

prej u dice of childhoo d th at she c an do anythi n g that is

h hh h
an ted .She by n o mean s felt hersel f t o be s o powerfu l
as h e did thou gh S e professed e r cert ai n ty of su ccess ;
,

h
a nd e was m u c more held u p an d s u pported by her s u p

w
h t m
'

p o sed co n v i c io n s tha n he allowed i self to appear

h
.

w hw
T u s they separate d A u brey remai n i n g i n tow n ready to

hh
, ,

ta ke adva n tage o f any occasio n that mig t prese n t itself ,

ile S e ret u rn ed t o her hom e t o make every exertio n ,

to discover the cau se of Bee s estran gemen t Ver y easy ’

.

ord s t o say b u t o to do it ? She had n ot a n otion

—

e v e n what ki n d o f story had bee n told to Bee She di d .

n o t k n ow a n y S pecial poi n t of weak n ess o n the par t of

Au brey wh i ch co u ld ha v e bee n exaggerate d or made t o
1
9 6

a ppear wors e than it as T here was n o i n cli n at ion towa r dw

T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
.

di s s ip ation abou t him ; he did n o t gamble ; he was n o t

addicted to bad compa ny What was there t o s ay ab o u t
.

him ? The episod e o f Miss La n ce and t at was all An d

.

— hh
w
.

i t as n o t the episo d e o f Mi s s La n c e which ad revolt ed

h
w h
Bee H ad Mrs Leigh ever heard o f A u brey s adve n t u re ’

w
. .

at t e r ai l way statio n i t i s possible that er mi n d exci ted

w
i n that direct i on o u ld have bee n kee n e n o u gh to h av e

d ivi n ed that the my s t e ry as so mehow co n n ected with

h
that ; f o r it as certai n ly Q u ixo t ic o f a you n g m an t o pu t

h hw
h
a poor oma n an d e r child r e n i n to a sleepi n g ca r riage ,

t e mo s t expe n s ive m o de o f travelli n g a n d wholly bey o n d

w
,

e r c o n ditio n b y a mere ch a
,
rit able an d ki n dly impu l se .

An d t e orl d wh i ch be lie v es that n othi n g is give n with

'

hequ iv ale nt m ight easily have mad e a story ou t of

,

out a

hh
,

it . Bu t the n M r s Leigh as q u ite i gn ora n t on th is

,
.

poi n t wh ic as as be e n said had n ever occ u rred agai n

w h
, , ,

to A u brey himself e x c ept as on e o f the few action s i n

w
,

h is life which e co u ld look back u pon with en tire satis

h
fa c tion an d eve n a l i t tl e c o m p l ace n c e An d th u s the o n ly

w
.

ay of s etti n g thi n g s r ight was ermetically closed .

Mrs Le i gh we n t back to her j oi n t u re hou se It as

.
-
.

nea r the sea as has be e n said an d n e ar a lively seaside

w
, ,

to n wh e re i n the s u m m e r there were man y visitors an d

w
, , ,

a gre at deal goi n g o n s t r an gers a ppe ari n g an d disappe ar

,

i n g from all p arts of the co u n try Bu t i n wi n ter th e re

h
.

as n othi n g of the ki n d ; the worl d closed u p witho u t

w h h h
,

l e avi n g o n ly the reside n ts the people o were i n d i g e

h
,

nous the c o n t racted society o f n eighbors who k n ew all

,

abo u t each ot er an d were ac q u ai n ted with the same

wh w h
,

p ieces of n e s an d e x cep t i n g by lo n g i n te r v als heard b u t

,

little of the o u tside go s sip or t e doi n gs of ot er c i rcl e s .

M r s Leigh re t u rn e d to her n at u ral s u rrou n di n gs whi c

.
,

k n e n o mo r e of Colo n e l K i n g s ar d an d his family tha n

people i n w at i s called a certai n pos i tion k n ow of e aq
“ ”

wh
other someth i n g o f his n ame his co n n ect i on s b u t n othi n g
, , ,

of i s im m edi ate circ u mstan ces There were in deed man y

h h
.

q u estio n s abo u t A u brey s marriage which she had t o

’
an
s er as she co u ld The n ews of i s e n gagemen t ad bee n
.

received with man y con gratu lation s E verybody fel t that .

p o or A u brey s first es s ay at m atrimo n y had been a v ery n u

’
 h hh
T HE s o nc ap ns s .

w 1 97

w w
f o r t u n ate i a c i to Fores
on e . T e s o o ne r e br ng s ni e fe t

igh re r ed af er her brief abse e h a y callers

l i gh the be ter everybody a aid
e whe Mrs
t d s An d n

om h
,
.

h
.

Le tu n t nc t e m n
received daily er f ll of i q i es abo
S e he e u n u ri ut t

h
ww w
m arriag It was ge erally s pposed th at his m her s
e . n u ot
’

h
S e
s

l in n
h
a ty expeditio had bee

e whic h
n u
some way co ected with it
a go e abo t the ref r ishi g abo t the ho sehold
d u n n ,
perh aps a ted re e i g a which a
n n n
u

nd
u
n

s not
n in nn .

i n a ma n s sphere abo u t some t hi n g i n the settleme n ts

’
—

w
at al l eve n ts , whatever it was , her obj ect m u st have bee n
c o n n ected with the approach i n g m arriage T ey came
d own u pon her f ull of the most eager q u estio n s I s up
.

.
h
o se the day is fixed I s u ppose all the arran geme n ts a r
p e .

m ade How n i ce i t will be to see the hou se open ed an d

.
,

a n e lively you n g married lady to p u t a little life i n

e v e r ythi n g ; matro n s an d l ittle maids all con c u rred i n

w
th i s speech .

Y o u have n o t heard the n ? said Mrs Leigh with a

w
.
,

v e r y g rave co u n te n a n ce everythi n g al as ! is postpo n e d ,

f o r the mome n t Mrs K i n g s ar d a mos t charmi ng

w
. .
,

w o man adored by her family died last week

w
, ,
.

I told y o u it was those K ing s a

”
r ds ! o n e o f the ladies

sa i d t o an other

h
.

There are n o other K i n gs ar d s th at I k n ow of said ,

M r s Leigh
. o always h eld her head so high
,
I we n t .

u p with A u brey to pay them a visit o f s ympa t hy The r e

h
.

i s a very large yo u n g family I fou n d them q u ite broke n .

d ow n with grief O f cou rse we had n o t t e heart either

.
,

A u brey or I t o press an y arran geme n t i n these dreadfu l

w
,

c irc u mstan ces I con fess I am rather dow n abou t it al t o

h
.

gether Poor little Bee my fu t u re dau ghter i n law is the

.
,
- -
,

elde s t I am q u ite terrified to hear that S e has take n

h
.

some tragic resol u tion su ch as girls are so apt to d o n o ,

adays an d thi n ks it her d u ty t o dedicate erself t o her

,

little brothers an d sist ers .

O h b u t su rely she wou ld n o t be permi tt ed t o d o t hat

, ,
”
whe n e verythi n g was settled !

h
“
I hop e n o t I most si n cerely hope not s ai d Mrs
.
, .

“
L e i gh Nat u rally I ave n ot s aid a word t o A u brey
. .

B u t gi rl s n owadays are so f u ll o f their idea s their mi s ,

si on s an d th e ir du ty an d all that !
,
”
1

S co
9

“
8

-
Not
mn g lady
w
hh en

.
. t ey

I wish Ic ou l d be su re of that M i ss K i ng s ard i s

THE SO R C E R E SS

are e n gaged to
.

—
be m a
r ried ,

w sai d a

on ly n i n e teen j ust the s e lf s ac r i fic in g age I wish I

,
-

w
.

co ul d be su re There was somethin g i n her eye

. But .
,

however n o t a word n o t a word abou t this I still hope

, ,
.

that as soon as a reas o n able time has pas sed

h
w
It is su ch a pity said an other where u nn ecessa
”
,
ry ,

w
del ays are made I am su re n o mot er ou ld wish her

h
.

dau ghter s marriage to be p u t off thi n gs are s o apt to

’
—

happe n I thi n k it s t empti n g Provide n ce e n t here i s

'

u n n ecessary delay .

Colon el K i n gs ar d i s a very particu lar m an He wi ll .

al low n othi n g to be don e that the most pu n ctiliou s could

w
obj ect t o H e will n ot have an ythi n g S poke n of even

wh
.
. .

All the arran geme n ts are i n abeyan ce It i s most try i ng

h
. .

O f cou rse I am v ery sorry for t he fami l y and for him

, , ,

o has lost s o excelle n t a wife Bu t at the same time I .

can t help thi n ki n g of my o n s on kept han gi n g i n s us

’

pen se an d all his plan s broke n u p

,
.

There was achoru s o f regrets from all t e visitors on e ,

party after an ot her ; b u t from more than on e g ro u p of

w
ladies as they drove away there arose the most gloomy
au gu ries S poke n amid m u ch S haki n g of heads I don t .
’

be l ieve it will ever come t o a m arriage after all on e

h
,

said if Colon el K i n g s ar d is s o very partic u lar a man

“
, ,

an d i f he hears of all that took pl ace at Forest leigh i n t e -

first wife s ti me ”
Whatever took place said an oth er
’
.
,
” ”
1 t was her fa u lt as everybody k n ows Ah yes sai d

w
.
, , ,

the first speaker who represen ted more or less the com m on
,

voice I k n ow the first wife was a little fool an d wh at

,

ever happe n ed bro u ght it all o n herself Bu t t ere i s

h
,

h
,

h
, .

n ever a n y b u si n ess o f that sort it ou t bl ame o n both

sides Th u s the world gen erally j u dges havi n g alf
.
,

forgotte n what th e facts o f the case were thou gh m os t of ,

the i n divid u als who co n stit u te t he world cou ld ha v e r e .

h
called them very easil y with an e ff ort of memory Still
h
w
.

t e bl u rr ed ge n eral view is the on e t a t prevails after a “

t ime a n d works ou t gre a

,
t i n j u st ice witho u t an y e v il i n
te n tion at al l .

It as th u s th at M r s Leigh tho u ght it pru d en t to fo re .

 w
T HE S OR C E R E SS 1 99

h
.

stall all remarks as to postpon eme n ts of er so n s m arriage ’

.

She s u cceeded well en o u gh perhaps t oo w el l Mrs

hh
.
,
.

K i ng s a r d s death acco u n ted f o r everythi n g Still the

’
.

impression g o t abroad that A u brey Leig t at u nl u ck y

h
,

fellow had somehow broke n dow n agai n An d as the

h
. .
,

days we n t on an d sile n ce closed arou n d fu rt er an d fu rther

h h
,

did A u brey s mother fin d erself from m aki n g an y dis

’

w w
c ov er y I n deed S e d i d n ot try s tron g as e r resolves
.
, ,

t o d o s o had bee n For i n dee d she did n o t k n ow what

w h
, ,
.

to d o H ow was she t o clear u p su ch a myste r y ? H ad she

.

k n o n the n eighbors abou t K i n g s ar d e n an d e ard thei r

talk amon g themselves she might h ave bee n a ble to form '

'

som e pl an of action Bu t her o n n eighbors who did .

,

n o t eve n k n ow of Mrs Ki n g sward s death how co u ld she

’

h
.
,

fin d o u t a ythi g from the m

n n ? She tho u g ht it over a great

wh h
deal an d whe n an y frien d o f er son s drifted n ear her
,
’

expe n ded a great d eal of i nge n u ity i n e n d eavori n g to

ascertai n whe ther there was a n ythi n g i n A u brey s life
’

w w
hic cou ld have i n j u red him i n Bee s estimation Bu t ’

w w
.

M r s Leig was perfectly aware even while ca u t i o u sly

wh h h h
.
,

ma ki n g these i n q u iries th a t wh atever his frien ds m ight ,

k n ow agai n s t i m his mother as t e l ast perso n,

o

as likely to be told AS a m at t er of fact ho ever th e re

w
.
, ,

as n ot i n g to tell ; an d grad u ally this very fru itless qu est

hw h
d i ed from her mi n d an d she did n ot even dream of p u r
,

s u in g i t a n y more

h
.

h h An d A u brey rem ai n ed i n to n discon solately getti n g

t rou gh t e i n ter as best e cou ld n eglecti n g all i s

hw
,

d u ties o f ospitality keepi n g h is ho u se sh u t u p a n d lea v ,

h
,

i n g his game to be shot by the gamekeepers i n di ff ere n t —

t o e v erythi n g H e cou ld n o t bear the place wit wh ic

h
.

h e had so ma n y p a i n fu l association s sharpe n ed n o by ,

th e loss of all the hopes that ad fallen s o q u ickly of tak

i n g Bee to it a n d begi n n i n g a real l ife of happi n ess a nd

w h
,

h
u sefu l n ess Wh at he wan ted m ost i n life was t o f ul fil all
i s du ties i n the a
—
.

ppiest way i n which su ch d u ti e s c an

b e f ul fil l ed after the methods of a n E n glish cou n try ge n tle

h
,

m an i t h su ffi cien t b ut n ot t oo great position m on ey

'

, , , ,

an d al l th at accompan i es t em H e was n ot an enr ag é

h
.

foxh u n ter or s p ortsm an ; b u t he was qu i t e disposed to

.

follow al l t e o c c u p ation s an d recre ation s of cou n try life ,

200 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

to m ai n tai n a hospita b le hou se to take i s par t of eve ry

h
,

thi n g t hat was goi n g o n i n the coun try an d above all t o

w
, , ,

e fia ce t e recollectio n of that first chapter of his life whi c h

h
whh
had n o t bee n happ y Bu t all these h opes an d i n te n ti o n s
.

h
seeme d to have been killed i n i m by the c u tti n g o ff o f
is n e hopes H e kept up his con fide n ce i n his moth e r

w
.

'

u ntil he we n t t o her at Christmas to spe n d ith er t o s e

day s of e n forced famil y l ife wh i ch whe n the y are n o t

hw h
,

more are so m u ch less happ y th an the ord i n ary c o urse o f

h
w
,

life He wen t do n still fu ll o f ope an d th o ugh M r s

’

hw
h
.
, ,
.

Leig received i m w i th pro fe s sion s of u n imp ai r ed c o n

h
,

fid e n c e he as qu ick to see tha t s e had i n r e al ity ( l on e

,

n othi n g for that best o f all reason s that the r e as n ot

—
,

i n g to do Y ou don t see m to have made pro g ress

’
o

w
.
,

ever he said on the fi r s t n ight

h
, , .

N o perhap s I have n o t m ade m u ch p rogr ess I don t ’

w
, .

kn ow that I expected to make m u c progre s s at this ti m e —

o f the year Y o u k n ow i n i n ter o n e o n ly sees o ne s ’

w
.

h
n eighbors who k n ow n o thi n g Later o n whe n th e

hw
.
, ,

eather imp r oves whe n t er e i s more c o m i n g ian d g oi n g

, ,

h
wh e n I h ave more opportu n i t i e s

w
Th is did n o t sou n d very c e e r f u l b u t it as still les s ,

h
cheerfu l whe n he saw o little eve n his mother s mi n d ’

was occ u pi ed with his a ff airs It was n o t e r fa u lt ; al l

w
.

the thi n ki n g i n the orld c o u ld n o t m ake Bee s motives ’

more clear to a wom an livi ng at a dist an ce of three or

h
wh
fo u r broad cou n ties from Bee An d on e of A u brey s ’

h
.

married S isters as i n so m e family d i fli c u l t y wh i c o c '

c up i e d all her mot er s tho u ght s Au brey di d n o t refu se ’

whw
.

to be i n terested i n his sister H e was illi n g to give

’

an ythi n g h e c o u l d either of sym p athy or help to the

,

h
,

solvi n g of her problem ; b u t con scio u s of s o m u c h i n i s

w w
n fate t at as ar d er tha n cou l d fall t o the l ot of an y

w
o

c omfortable m id d le a g ed per s o n it m u s t be a
,
llowed th at
-
,

he got very tired of he ar i n g o f M ary s tro u b l e s H e an ‘

h
.

s ere d rather c u rtly o n o n e o r t o oc c as i on s an d ch illed ,

h
his mother whose he ar t was fu ll of M ary an d
,

al ready disposed to bl ame erself i n respe c t t o A u b rey

o was ,

h h h h
,

yet to be irritated by an y s u spicion of bl am e fr o m him

h h
.

On the last morn i n g o f i s stay h e ad be gg ed e r if s e ,

c o u ld ab s tract e r tho u g ts for amo m e n t fro m M ary to

,
 w
SO R C E R E SS ! OI

h of h
.

t i nk do t w an t to tro u ble y ou f u rther

im . I n
’

m
other I n
o ly wa t. n y o u to tell m e if y o u thi n k my hole
b u si n ess so hopeless that I had better give every expecta

w
tio n u p

h
.

Thi n k y ou r b u si n ess hopeless A u brey ? O h n o ! I , ,

do n t thi n k t at
’
.

Bu t we kn ow j u st as m u ch n o as we did i n O ctober .

I do no t thi n k we ha v e a dva n ced a step

If y o u mean t o reproach me with my wan t o f s u ccess ,
”
Au brey !
N o I don t mean to reproach y o u with an ythi n g
—
’

m oth er Bu t I thi n k it seems j u st as hope l ess as ever

h
.

an d n o t a step n earer

w
.

Th i n gs can n ot be don e i n a mome n t she said u r ,

r i ed l y. I n e ver exp ecte d When the su mmer comes

rou n d whe n on e sees more people whe n o n e c an really
’

hh h
, ,

p u rs u e on e s i n q u i ri e s’
Mrs Leigh as very con sciou s .

th at she had p u rsu ed few i n q u i rie s ; an d t e t ou g t ma d e

her an gry R ome . she ad d ed was n o t b u ilt i n a d ay
, , .

A u brey Leigh sai d n o m ore b u t he wen t back to L on —

d o n feel i n g that h e was a beate n m a n a n d the battle o n ce ,

m ore l ost .

w
CHAPT E R XXVI I
h
.

h T H E R E is n othi n g more c u rio u s i n life than t e way i n

h ic i t closes over those gre at i n cide n ts that S hape its
c o u rse . Li ke a ston e dis appeari n g i n a pool the slow
c i rcles of commotio n wide n a n d melt away ; t e missile h
,

w
l l l kS i n to the depths of the water
‘

an d tra n qu illity comes ,

ba ck to its s u rface E very ripple is gon e an d yet the

.
,

s to n e is a l ways there .

This c u riou s calm came i n to the l ife of Bee K i n gs ar d

sh
after the i n ci d e n ts related above The m an with who m
e had expected to s hare every thi n g d i sappeared from
h h
.

h er exi sten ce as if he ad n ever e n tere d i n to i t an d a dead

h
w
,

p eace fell o v e r her a

o n ce bet ter for Bee a

n d all t i n gs aro u n d

h
,
er It
n d worse that the mo u rn i n g for
was at
er
.

h
m o t h er s wept er aw ay ou t of all the com i n g an d goi n g ,

of ord i n ary l ife f o r a time better becau se she as saved —

ww
20 2 T HE S OR C E R E SS

w h
.

the tormen t of a perpet u al stru ggle wit her trou ble an d

w
,

orse beca u se it Sh u t her 1 1 p to a perpetu al recollecti o n

o f that tro u ble Th e K i n gs ar d family re m ai n ed at
.

K i ng s a r d e n for the whole of t hat wi n ter a n d spri n g .

Whe n the season bega n there as some qu estio n of r e

wish to go o u t s e said h
m ovi n g to tow n wh ich Bee opposed s tTon gl y I have n o
I co u ld n ot papa s o soon
.

h
, .
, ,

an d we have n o on e to take us ”
.

Y ou will fin d ple n ty of people rea d y to t ake y ou e ,

said .

An d then Bee took ref uge i n tears Nobody that we .

—

co u ld e n d u re to go with s o soon so soon n o t yet a

w
— —
,
”
year she sai d Betty followed her sister d u b i ou sly It

w
.
,
.

was n at u ral that she shou ld always echo what Be e s aid

w w h h
b u t this time she was n o t q u ite s o s u re as u su al N o t to

h
.

balls ! o n o t t o alls ! as Betty s secret comm en t b u t ’

hw
, ,

Betty felt th at to spe ak occasion ally to s o me o n e o

as n ot of her o n family n ot the rector or th e r ector s

,
’

wi fe the c u rate or the doctor wou l d be an advan tage

w h
, , ,

b u t she did n o t u tter that se n t ime n t After all w at as .

,

h
o n e season to the me a su reless hori zon of eightee n ? Bee
ren ou n ced e r seaso n eagerly an d u ttered excl am ation s
of con ten t whe n Colon el K i n g s ar d an n o u n ced th at i n
,

w
those circ u mstan ces he had let their ho u se i n tow n ; b u t I

h h
am n o t s u re that sh e was so co mpletely satisfi ed as s e
p r ofessed to be She ad d ismissed Au brey forever
an d yet w e n the deed
.
“ ”

as d o n e a lo n gi n g seized h er

h
, ,

sometimes to hear his n ame that som e o n e sho u l d speak

h h
,

of him i n her prese n ce that S e shou ld hear accide n tally

h w
h
,

whe r e he was an d what e was doi n g She ad i m agi n ed .

little scen es to herself i n which she ad heard s tran gers

h
sayi n g to each oth e r that A u brey Leigh had soon g o t over
i s disappoi n tme n t t at he
So a
,
as goi n g to be m a r r i ed t o
n d s o ; o r that he was goi n g to make the to u r o f the

w w
- -

h hh h
worl d ; or to shoot big game i n Africa or an yth i n g i n —

h
,

S hort so lo n g a s it was a b o u t im E ve n w e n s e had

hh h w
h
.
,

h
bee n so determ i n ed a gai n st go i n g o u t t ere ad b een a ,

hope i n e r mi n d that somehow s e d i d n o t k n o o

h
, ,

some n ews of i m an d of what e was d oi n g m i g ht be

h h
wafted her way a c cid en t ally She d i d n ot an t s e s a
to ers e lf pass ion ately ever to h ea ,
.

r i s n ame ag ai n ! Y et
id ,
 w
THE S O R C E R E SS 20 3

h h
.

w
s e a alc l aed
d cheari g a m ch a hat heari g
u t on n s u s t ,
n
accide tally at the
te oyal Acad my pe haps R

w
q i u n e r or

h th
, ,

so me here where she might hap e to be calli g hat he p n n t

w
,

a g i g
s o n e ds the ea th
to t at h e was goi g
e n of r or n

the sligh
,

to b e married th i gs which the speakers might s ppose

,
n u

w
e e n o t of
r test i terest her She said a the n to ll

form ed them hat h

.

sa metha she was delighted whe Colo el

t a i n n K in gs rd h

h
had let the ho se t tow verye u in n—

e h
gl a b fore it had t me get shabby the poor
d! e ho se i to ,
ol d u ;
y e t retiren s her room for the ight Bee cried
e d to .
n ,

w
Sh eddi g ma n alt ears ny s t

cl s h h
w
.

But othi g this was appare t of

her life The cir in

ww
n n n .

T hho sehold r med its former r g larity q icke ed

e a all melted away from the still bosom
e
d
u
pool
es u
a l ittl e perhaps by the e n ergetic s eepi n g of t e n e h e u
of t

,
u
e

n
.

, ,

bro o m Mrs K i ng s ar d had been an easy m istress abou t

ww
. .

m a n y tr i fl es wh i ch Bee n e t o au thority a n d more e u

w
, ,

h
t e r p r i s i n g th a n er mother exacted a rigid acco un t o f At
t e begi n n i n g 5 1 e set all the serva nts by the ears each of
,

,
.

w
th em b ei n g an xiou s t o S ho t hat th eir o n con scien tiou s
as perfect an d their desire to co n sider their master s

w
n ess
’

i n t e rests ; b u t by degrees m atters settled dow n with an

hh
,
“
i n crease d s tr ictn ess o f order As mamm a wou ld have .

ished it Bee said ; an d S e erself ch ang ed i n a way that

w
,

o u ld b e almos t miracu lou s were it n ot a tran sformation

c om m o n ly v isibl e fro m time t o time fro m a light hearted ,
-

irl f u ll o f little am u s i n g misdemean ors a n d mistakes i n to

g
that s eet seriou s figu re of the el d est d au gh ter the

h h
, ,

m other s ister s o ofte n visible i n E n gla n d whe n the m i s

-
,

h
tress of t e hou sehold as bee n removed i n early life
T ere i s n o more beau t i fu l o r more t e nd er visio n ; it i s
fi n e at a l l ages b u t i n the first bloom o f you th it has a
.

path e tic grace which goes to the heart Bee u n derwe n t .

t his chan g e q u ite s u dde n ly after a period of tro u ble a nd

,

agitation an d over activity It migh t n o t perh aps have

-
.

c o m e b u t f or the l etti n g for the seaso n of the tow n ho use

w
h h
,

which seem ed to make so complete a se v eran ce betwee n

w h
h er and t e ordi nary c u rre n t of life .

It was perhaps t is th at open ed w a t m i ght almost be

Ch arl ie ,
h h
c all e d a n e re l ation ship betwee n Bee an d her brother
o was t e n eare s t to er i n t e fa mily tho u gh h h ,
 204

h
T HE S OR C E R E SS

there ad n o t bee n h ithe r to an y u n u s u al sympa thy bet e e n

them For on e thi n g Betty; feeli ng hers elf a little forl orn
.

i n the coun try with all the ec oes o f Lon don wh i ch o c h

.

,
w
ca s i on a l l y cam e to her ears had been permitted t o accept ,

an i n vit ation t o Portman Sq u are t o v isit a q u iet el derl y

family n o t likely to lead her i n to an y dissipati on ou t o f

w h
keepi n g with her black frock ; an d Bee was virt u a lly al o n e

h
with the chil dre n t o who m S e gave herself up with a d e
,

v o t i on which was t e very q u i n tes s e n ce of motherho o d

Colon el K i n gs ar d also was in t o wn am an c ann dt sh u t —
.

himself u p ( this was what he said! whate v er his pri v ate

h
griefs may be He mu st keep a calm face before t he
h
w
.

world e m u st n ot allow himself to be h u stled o u t of t e

w h
,

way F or this reaso n he rem ai n ed i n Lon don livi n g i n

.
,

chambers to which he h ad an o fli c i al right i n t e di n gy

‘

o fli c i al gran de u r of Pall Mal l a n d comi n g to K i n g s ar d e n

h
,

on ly n o an d then from Satu rday to Mon day Thi s s u n .

h
dered Bee still more completely from t e world An d
w e n Charlie came back from O xford s e was more eager
to meet h im more ple ased with i s compa n y t han ever h h .

before Thi s was n o t perhaps e n tirely the you n g m an s

.
’

mi n d That he shou ld c hoo s e to S h u t himself u p i n the

.

cou n try i n J u n e was perhaps scarcely to be expec t ed .

Accordi n g t o the c uriou s r ule which prevails i n E n gl an d

”
h e did n o t mi n d the cou ntry i n Jan u ary Bu t i n J u n e ! .

Howe v er it was soon apparen t that there were other

,

thi n gs tha n the season i n Charl i e s mi n d He bega n a ’

.

series of l ame n tation s t o Bee u po n the sit u ation o f th e

h
family an d thi n gs i n ge n eral by th e u su al compl ai n t o f a
yo un g m an i n the cou n try of avi n g n ot i n g to d o
h h
hh
.

“
A m an cann ot sit at om e an d dot u p the acco u n ts
like y o u h e said ; thou gh I d on t s ay b u t t at it s hard
”
,
“ ’ ’

u po n y ou Still wome n l i ke to tie u p c i ldren s ’

t oo . ,

h
,

sashes an d tha t sort o f thi n g an d calcu late how m u ch their

h
,

boots cost i n a year I s ay mot er ca n t have h ad half ’

h
.
,

su ch an easy life as we al l tho u g t

wh h hh
.

I n ever th o u ght S e had an e asy life said Bee which , ,

was perhaps n o t exac t ly tru e ; b u t the thi ngs t at Bee ad

tho u ght a year ago were so u n like th e thi n gs she t ou gh t
no that S e d i d n ot believe life ad ever appeared t o her
i n a d iff ere n t light .
h
 O R C E R E SS

w
T HE S . 20 5

W e ll said Char l i e
,
he ad a way of maki n g it ap
,
h
p e ar s o
. Do y o u remember th a t last time at the baths ?
W h at a l ittle thi n g y o u seemed the n Bee ! an d n o he r e ,

I am t a lki n g t o y ou qu ite seriou sly as if y o u were mother .

Look here I w an t y o u to speak t o the govern or f or m e

, .

I am doi n g n o good h e re In fact ther e s n othi n g t o do

’
.

u n l e s s I am to drop i n to dri n ki n g a n d that sort o f thi n g

”
i n th e village .

”
Ch arlie !

w
Well he said I e a n t sit an d sew stri n gs o n pi n a ’

A man m u st do s omethi n g at my age

, ,

f o res lik e y o u

w
. .

1
An d wh at sho u ld y o u do at Oxford ? an d why d o y ou
an t to go there whe n everybody is away ? "

E verybody aw a y ! th at i s all y o u k n ow Th e do n s are

w
.

a a y i f that is what y o u mea n There are n o lect u res .

o in g on B u t lect u r e s are a mere loss of time There

g . .

ar e lots o f fellows u p there readi n g If y ou w an t to read .

h ard n o is the best time . o

“
H ow c u riou s said Bee i n gen u i n e s u rpr ise when

w
, , ,

al l the people who t e a c h are away ! An d I n ever k n ew

that y o u wan ted to r e a d hard

w
.

No . I n ever was m ade to thi n k that I ou gh t to said ,

“
C ha rlie ,
ith risi n g c o lor In this ho u s e n obody thi n ks
.

o f a n ythi n g more th a n j u s t g ett i n g thro u gh .

Bee was a l ittl e a n gry as e ll as s u rprised by this c e n

s u re u po n the f a m ily She s aid : The r est o f u s m ay n ot
.

b e clever b u t everybo d y says there are few m e n that

w
—

“
O hh
kn ow as m u ch as papa
in
.

i s special s u bj ect s I s u ppose ; b u t I am n o t

w
, ,

g o i n g i n for the army B ee said Charl ie the col or ri s i n g

hw
, , ,

h
h igher o n his yo un g f ac e
face t o u gh n o t of a v ery high order
h
h ich was still an i n ge nu o u s
,

It is su ch a .

h
,

o n de r fu l th i n g to av e y o u r d u t y set before y ou an d ,

o u o u ght t o make t e be s t o f yo u r life I for on e

o y .
, ,

n ever tho u g ht of it before

h
I was always q u ite satisfied

w
.

t o get thro u gh a n d to ave p le n ty of time to am u se my

w
s e lf ; b u t i f y o u come to thi n k of it that s a very poor sort
’

w
o f ide a l f o r al ife ”
.

Bee lo ok e d ti p at Ch arl i e i th m ore an d more s u rprise .

He as p u l l i n g his yo u n g m u st ache n ervo u sly an d there ,

as a g re at d e al o f e m o tio n i n his fac e I t seemed a maz .

 20 6

i ng to
be e n o n
h
the
is
ister tha Charlie
s
na s
emotio l ide
Charl ie
T HE

to had alw a
shou ld take this heroi c
y s
S OR C E R ESS

—
.

w
h

w
un —

ton e or d o anythi n g b u t l au gh at the su gges t io n o f an

,

ideal i n life She gazed at him i n some bewilderm ent

. .

What are y ou goi n g t o re ad ? she asked with do u bt and

”
,

o n der i n her voice

w
.

It is j u st li ke a girl t o ask am an what h e is goi ng to

r ea d ! Why e verythi n g ! I j u st p u she d thro u gh my mods
, ,

y o u k n ow a p a s s—
l wh ich it covers me
—
with shame to
thi n k of no I m u st do somethi n g better than that I
.

h
.

do n t k n ow th at I m very goo d at an ythi n g ; b u t work

’ ’

aft er all steady work is t e great thi n g ; an d i f work c an

, ,

do it cried Charlie breaki n g o ff a little breath l ess , ,

with astran ge light i n his eyes

h
.

'

Y ou almos t frighte n me , Charlie ! Y ou were n e ver .

mean t for hon ors or a hig degree were y ou ? Papa Said

h
,

w
y o u n eed n o t g o i n f o r ho n ors i t wo u ld lose time n d ,
—

y o u t o u ght s o t o o .

I have chan ged my mi n d said Charlie n ervou sly I , .

thou ght like other asses that i n diplomacy y o u don t

, ,
’

wan t m u ch ; b u t n o I thi n k di ff ere n tly How are y ou .

to u n dersta nd how to con d u ct n atio n al a ff airs an d all th at

an d recon cile co nflictin g claims an d so fo rth an d settle

w
— —

the real bu si n ess of the world

B u t Charl ie I t hou ght it was la n gu a g es a
, ,
n d great ,

politen ess an d and even d an ci n g an d that sort of thi n g

—

h
,

t hat as wa n ted i n an attach é

Att ac es said the yo u n g m a
,
n with a gravit
y which , ,

serio u s as she also was almost made Bee lau gh are th e , ,

m aterial o u t of which ambassadors are m ade O f co u rse .

,

it takes time
Here Bee b u rs t withou t mean i n g it i n to a n ervou s
, ,

lau gh .

Y o u are so dreadfu lly serio u s abo u t it she cried , .

An d what sho u l d a m an be serio u s abou t i f n o t that ? ”

the yo u n g m an replied .

Here f or the momen t i n great i mpatie n ce o n his part

an d i n the call of some lit t le hou sehold n ecessity on ers
,

h ,

h
,

the con versat io n closed ; b u t it was res u med as soon as

w
the brother an d S ister were together agai n T e b i g boys
e
re still at school the little on es e n g aged with their les
,
.
 THE S O R C E R E SS . 20 7

so n s an d baby walki n g u p an d down i n his n u rse s arm s

,
’

di d n ot i nt e r ru pt the talk which we n t on betwee n the

el d e rs o f th e fam ily An d there is n othi n g with which it
.

is s o e as y t o i n doctri n ate a girl than e n th u siasm abou t an

w
.

i d e al whatever that may be or sympathy i n a lofty view

w
, ,

hh
of d u ty s u ch as this which had daw n ed it seemed u po n
e r brother Bee took fire as was s o n at u ral She said
.
,
, ,

h
.

to e r self that i n the u tter dow n fall of her o n l ife i t

o u ld b e a fin e thi n g to be able to fu r t er his ; a n d k e pt

w
to th e idea o f Ch arlie as a mb assador settli n g all sorts o f ,

di ffi cu lties an d decidi n g the fort u n es of the world f or war

'
or f or peace as easily as if the qu estio n had bee n on e of
,

l eadi n g a cotillon Ho sple n did it wou l d be ! She

.

th o u ght of herself as an ol d lady white ha ired i n acap ,

-
,

an d shawl (for i n a n imagi n ation o f twe n ty there are few

g radatio n s betwee n yo u th an d that pathetic yet s at i s f ac ,

tory u l timate period ! seated i n a partic u lar corn er o f a

,

m ag n ificen t room at the embassy looki n g on at her ,

brother s tri u mph These sort of reflected su ccesses were

’
.

the o n l y on e s she thou ght that wou ld ever come t o Bee .

C HAPT E R XXVI I I .

C H AR L IE wishes to go u p to O xf ord to read ? Why does

h e wish t o go u p t o O xford to read An d what readi n g is
?
”
it n ecessary t o do there ?
H e says papa that i t is easier t o get on whe n y ou have
, ,
.

al l you r boo ks abou t y ou an d whe n y o u c an a r ran ge all

—

yo u r way o f livi n g f or that i n stead o f the i n terru ption s

,

at home
h
.

hh
O h there are t o o ma n y i n terru ption s at home ?
,
I
s o u ld have tho ught y ou were q u iet e n o u g here I hope .

ave throw n you rself i n to law n te nn is parties and

w
y o u n o t -
,

t e ap arties a n d th a
,
t sort of thi n g s e soon Bee —
,
.

H er father looked at her with a seriou sly reproachfu l

air H e had begu n to di n e ou t pretty freely tho u gh o n ly
.
,

i n serio u s ho u ses a n d where he ex plai n ed it ou ld be

h h
, , ,

prej u dicial t o him i n his profession n o t to appear .

T e un des e rv ed reproac
’
brou ght qu ick tears t o Bee s
 '

20 8 T HE so RC E REss .

eyes I have thrown mys e lf i n t o no parties she s ai d

h
.
,

hastily “
Nobody has bee n h ere What Ch ar lie m e an s
’

. .

is the meal ti m es an d ho u rs for everythi n g an d all t e

wh
-
, ,

childre n abou t I have ofte n he ard y o u say that y o u

.

cou ldn t work whe n the chil dre n were pl ay i n g abou t

’
.

My work an d Charlie s are r ather di ff eren t Col o n e l ’

K i ng s a r d said wi t h a smile .

“
Well papa ! b u t to read for a g ood d egree so that y o u

w w
, ,

may disti n gu is you rself m u st wan t a great d e al of ap

h
,

plication
Oh e wa n ts a g ood de g ree d p e s he ? he sho u ld h av e

h
, , ,

thou ght o f it a l ittle earlier An d hat u s e ill tha t b e .

to him i n the Fo r eign O ff i c e ? Let i m learn Fre n ch an d

”
German that s what he has got to do
—
’
.

Bu t e ve n f o r Fre n ch an d Germa n said Bee Germ an

h
, .

is dreadfu lly d i fli c u l t an d Char lie does n o t pick u p a

h
,

lan g uage eas i ly an d besides S e added he has n ob o d y

—
,
”
,

t o teach i m at home .

An d who wo u ld he have at O xford ? Why i n the L o n g ,

e ve n the shopkeepers go away

Bu t that is j u st the tim e for good hard readi n g s ai d ,
“
Bee acti n g o n her i n stru cti o n s when ther e are n o l ec
, ,

t u res or an ythi n g formal t o i n terru pt y o u

He mean s I su ppose whe n he c an do whatever h e l ikes
, ,

an d there are n o proctors n o r gate bills to keep him righ t .

Pap a said Bee earn estly I don t thi n k that is at all ’

w h
, ,

wh at Ch arl i e mea n s Iam s ure that he has a r eal desir e .

-

t o get o n H e says that he fe e ls he has bee n wasti n g i s

.

time and an d n o t n o t respon din g properly to all y o u

— —

have do n e for him H e a n ts t o make h i mself fit f o r

ww
.

a n ythi n g that may happen If y ou will thi n k pap a "

w h
, ,
.

“
she added with the deepest gravity wh at a great d e al
, ,

of st u dy an d readi n g an amb as s ador m u st re qu ire

h
Col o n el K i n g s ar d as n ot giv e n
“
An ambassador !
”

“
to l au ghter b u t e la u ghed n o ,
H e may thi n k i m .

self fort u n ate i f he is anythi n g b u t an u n paid attach é f o r

the n e x t t e n years which is an o ffice wh ich d oes n o t r e—

qu ire ag rea t deal o f st u dy

h
.

Bu t papa ,

N o n s e s e Bee He wan ts I s u ppo s e complete free

,
.
, ,

dom , and to am u se him s elf as he p l e as es with n o co n tr o l

 w
T HE S O R C E R E SS 20 9

h
.

h
I kn ow w at it me a
t e Lon g
i d r d
n i
n s to stay u p at O xford to read d u ri n g
O h yes ; I don t do u bt m en
n
. o k n ow how to
,

b u t Charlie is n o t on e of them
’

Let him
h
g r g
—
, .

s t ay at home Y o u are a great deal S ha r per tha n he i s at

w
.

l an gu ages y ou c an help him with his Germ an as well as

an y
“
ho ne

O
”
.

cried Bee from the ottom

! her heart b of n ot

w th
, ,

i th Germa with Germa papa n , n ot n, !

w
An d ere came over her a s dde visio of the garde s u n n n
at the aths the m rm r of talk
b the air the Ger a
,
u u in ,
m n
o ffi cers ith their S pu rs an d o n e comi n g for E n glishman

ww
,

ard amo n g them an E n glishman withou t spu rs witho u t , ,

u n iform so m u ch more disti n g ui shed it had bee n Bee s

’

, ,

pride to thi n k i n his simplicity than all these be d i ze n ed

, ,

w a r riors an d n o ! A g u sh of hot tears c ame to her

—

eyes ; there was reaso n e nou gh for them witho u t Au brey

w w h
L e igh ; an d Col on el K i ng s ard whose heart was still ,

w
te n der to every recollection of i s wife d i d n o t thi n k of ,

th e other memory that thrilled poor Bee s heart He ’

.

alked u p a n d do n thro u gh the r oom for a mome n t say

i n g n othi n g a n d the n he pa u sed by her side a
,
n d p u t h is
h a n d with an u n u su al caress u po n his da u ghter s bo ed ’

h ea d .

Y o u are right y o u are rig t he s aid I co u ld n o t h

w
.
, ,

ask th at of y o u Bee

w
.
,

O h ! if he had b u t k n ow n ! Bee felt n o t o n ly miserabl e

hh
b u t gu ilty whe n her father s to u ch came u po n her hair
’

h
.

To thi n k o little the dear mother s prese n ce t old i n that ’

p i ct u re an d o mu ch how m u ch ! t at of the m an who

, ,
—

had bee n v u lg arly u n tru e to her a m an withou t se n se of ,

p u rity or ho n or ! o n e whose n ame she n ever desired to

w
hear agai n She co u l d hardly accept the i mpu t ation of
.

so m u ch higher an d n obler feeli n g wh ich her fath e r s ’

w h
to u ch con veyed The dear mother ! wh o n ever c on .

d e mn e d who was always ki n d S e as moved t o cry

h
.
, .

o u t i n self abaseme n t It was n o t mamma I was thi n k

www
-

h
,

i n g of ; it as him ! him ! ”
B u t S e did n o t do this She .

raised e r hea d an d took u p her work agai n with a trem ,

bli n g ha n d
“
.

I s u ppo s e said Colon el K i n g s ar d as a n xiou s as i s

,

d au ghter was to g e t awa y f r o m a s u bject hich as t o o

h ,
2 I0 THE S OR C E R ESS

movi n g for discu ssion that Charlie fin d s K i n g s ar d en

.
,

d u ll It is n ot u n n at u ral at his age an d I shall n ot o b j e c t

if he wishes to come to town for a week or so H i s o n
.

.
w
w
good feeli n g I hope wou ld keep him from a n yth i n g u n

wh
, ,

b ecomi n g i n the circu mstan ces Bu t I mu st b e ar n o m or e

h
.

o f this goi n g to O xford It is qu ite ou t o f the qu est i o n

. .

If he had s own an y des i re to go i n for hon ors at the ri gh t

time Bu t n o it is worse tha n folly He m u st g e t
throu gh as qu ickly as he c an an d take advan tage of i s
n omi n ation at o n ce W o c an tell how soon it m ay b e
.
,
.

h
o f n o val u e ? The Foreign O ff i ce may be throw n ope n ,

like all the rest t o every cos t ermo n ger i n the cou n try i n
,
”
a year or two f or a nythi n g on e k n ows .

Charlie received this co n cl u sio n wi th disappoin tm e n t

rapid ly tu r n i n g i n to rage an d rebellion I shou ld h a ve .

thou gh t the most old fash ion ed o l d fogy i n the wo rl d

-

wou ld have k n own better he cried ”

What preven t a
,
.
,

ma n from readi n g whe n he is at the U n iversity ! Di d

y o u ever hear of s u ch a thi n g Bee ? Why
m an tho u gh they are the most obsti n ate i n t e world
eve n a militar
, y ,

h
h
, ,

m u st k n ow that t o be rea l ly e du cated i s everythi n g i n

t ese days A week i n town ! What do I care f or a wee k
.

i n tow n ? It is exactly l ike the m a n i n the Bible wh o b e

'
”
i n g asked f or bread gave a sto n e .

Bee was g reatly i mpressed by her brother s an xiety t o ’

w
con ti n u e his st u dies It filled her with a respect an d ad
.

m ir a t i o n wh i ch u p to t his time she had n ever e n tertai n e d

h
for Charlie an d occu pied her mi n d m u ch with the q u es
,

ti on o if her father were obdu rate he mig t be ai ded

at home i n those st u dies She reme m bered su dde n ly t a t
.
h h
Mr Be n so n s c u rate had been spoken of as a great s ch ola r
.
’

do u s hon ors S e had heard

,
h
whe n h e came first to the parish He had take n trem e u
An d why might n o t he be
secu red as an aid to Charlie i n his most lau dable am bi
.
.

tion ? She thou ght this over a great deal as she m oved
abou t her hou sehol d d u ti es Bee as a h ou sekeeper was

w
.

m u ch more a n xiou s tha n her mother had bee n for ma n y

hhw
years She thou ght that everythi n g that was don e r e
.

qu ired her person al atte n tion She had prolon ged i n ter

h
.

v i ews every mor n i n g with the cook o ad bee n m o 1 e ,

or less the ho u sekeepe r for a lo n g time a with a

nd o
( ,
 T HE S OR C E R E SS . 2 II

secret se n se o f h u mor! perplexe d Bee with t e chn icalities

wh i ch she wou ld n ot allow that s e did n o t u n derstan d
Th e gir l ordered everythi n g mi n u tely f or din n er an d l u n ch
h .

h
an d breakfast an d decided what was t o be f or the n u rsery
,

as if S e k n ew all a bo u t it an d reproved c oo k g ravely ,

wh e n she fo u n d that ce r tai n alteration s had bee n made i n

the me n u whe n those meals were served
,
I assu re y ou .

as tha t is what y ou ordere d miss cook said with a

w
, ,

twi n kle i n her eye All this Bee did n ot on ly b ecau se o f

.
,

her s tron g determi n ation to do her d u ty b u t also becau se ,

pre occ u patio n with all these details was her g reat salva
ti o n from thou ghts which do hat sh e wou ld cl aimed ,

h
,

her atte n tion m ore tha n n u rsery p u ddi n gs an d the e n tré es

that pleased papa Bu t while S e pu rsu ed these l abors
.

there was still ti m e f or other tho u ghts an d sh e occu pied

ww
,

herse l f very m u ch with this q u estion abou t Charlie Why

h
.

cou l d n o t Mr Delai n e come t o read with him ? Mr De

w
. .

lai n e ad showed an i n cl in ation to flirt with Betty b u t ,

Betty as n o abse n t so that n o h arm cou ld be don e i n

,

th at direction She thou ght it al l ou t d u rin g the so m e

.

wh at gloomy days which Colon el Ki n g s ar d spe n t with

his family i n the cou n try It rai n ed all the S u n day which
.
,

is a d olefu l addition t o the u su al heavi n ess o f a day i n

h
whi ch all u s u al occu pation s are p u t away Colon el Ki n gs
ward imself wrote letters an d was very fu lly Occ u pied
.

h
on S u n d a y aftern oon after the ch u rch p arade on S u n day
morn i n g w ich was as vigo ro u sly mai n tai n ed as if the
,

h
l e sse n i n g rows of little on es all marshalled f or morn i n g
s ervice ,
ad bee n a regime n t b u t he did n ot like to see
,
—

h An d
”
Be e doi n g a n ythi n g b u t readi n g a book o n S u n day

h
w
.

h
it a d always bee n a r u l e i n that well or d ered hou se that -

h
t e toys s o u ld be p u t away o n Sat u r d ay eve n i n g ; so that

w
t e day h u n g rather heavily e s pecially whe n it rai n ed , ,

o n the yo u n g o n e s heads Colo n el K i n g s ar d did n ot

’
.

mea n to be a gloomy visitor H e was always ki n d to his

.

ch ildre n an d w i ll i n g to be i n terested i n hat they did

h
,

a n d s aid ; b u t as a matter of fact those three d ays were

, ,

the lon gest an d t e most severe of an y that passed ove r

the widowed an d motherl e s s ho u se When Bee c am e

h h h h h
.

dow n stairs fro m the S u n day lesso n which she gave i n the
nu rs ery s e fou nd
, er bro t e r at t e wr i ti n g ta b l e i n t e -
 w
2 I2

dra i ng room composi n g what seemed a very lon g letter

THE S OR C E R E SS .

w
-
,
.

H is p en was h u rr yi n g over the page ; he was at the fo u rth

sid e o f a S heet of large paper an d ope n ed o u t o n the —

tab le b efore him were seve r al sheets o f a very lon g cl osely

rit t e n letter t o whic he was evide n tly replyi n g Whe n
,

Bee appeared Charlie s n atched u p t his l etter an d h as t ily

h .
,

, ,

foldi n g it thr u st it i n to its e n velope which he placed i n

w
, ,

his breast pocket H e p u t the blotti n g paper hastily over

-
.
-

the letter which he was himself writi n g an d the color ,

mou n ted to his very forehead as he t urn ed half rou n d It

h
.

as n o t an y color o f gu ilt b u t a glow o f mi n gl ed e n

w
,

t us ia sm a n d shamefaced n ess beau tifu l u pon the face of ,

a you th Bee was too yo u ng herself to admire an d ap

.

p re c i a t e this fl u sh o f early fee l i n g b u t she was so far ,

sympathetic i n her o n experie n ce that she divin ed some

“
O h
thi n g at least of what it mea n t
”
Charlie ! he said “
y o u are writi n g t o so m e ,
.

w
Most as s ur e dl y I am writi ng to some o n e he s aid

h h
, ,

with the half pride half shame of a yo u n g lover

h
.
,

W o is she cried Bee

?
”
O Charlie te l l me ! O h .
, , ,

tell me ! Do I k n ow o it is ?
I do n t k n ow he said what y o u are maki n g s u ch a
’

, ,

fu ss abou t I am writi n g to a frie n d

. He pa u se d a —
.

mome nt an d the n said with fervor : the best fr i e n d th at

,

ever m an had .

“
A frie n d said Bee a l ittl e disappoi n te d
,
B u t is n t
,
.
'

”
it a lady ? she asked .

“
I hope he sa i d with a ha u ghty air that y o u are
, , ,

n o t o n e o f those limited people that thi n k there c a n be n o

frie n d ship between a m an an d a woman for if that s so ,
‘

I ve go t n o t hi n g t o say
’

h
.

Bee was scarcely philoso phic al en ou gh t o take u p this

hh
challe n ge S e looked at him bewildered f or a mome n t
an d t e n S e said
.

O h tell me a b o u t her Charli e ! It

,

wou ld d o me g ood i t wou ld i n deed to hear abou t some

—
,
, ,

,
,

w
, ,

b ody whom there cou ld n o t be a n y obj ectio n to ; who

wou ld b e perhaps happi e r than m e cried poor little
, , ,

Bee the tears comi n g to her eyes

,

h
Happier tha y n o u
s ai d t e e ld e r broth e r
? An d
H e ma
y s

de a
o u l d n t y o u be happy
n e ff o r t to t u r n away
? hh .

.
 w
T HE SO R C E R E SS 21 3

hh
.

in dign ified S ile n ce ; b u t t e e ff o rt was too mu ch for the

yo u n g m an lon gi n g to talk of t e n e t hi n g i n his life .

There is no comparison at all betwee n a little thi n g l ike

a a

w
y o u n d n d the
— lady I was writi n g t o he sa i d holdi n g

h
, ,

h i s head high “
If y ou thi n k it is an y sort of n on sen se

w h hh h
.
.

y o u are very m u ch mistake n Why she she i s as m u c .

,
—

above me as heave n is from earth That S e S hou ld take .

th e tro u ble t o S ho any in terest i n me at all j u st proves

h at an an gel s e is I an i dle ordi n ary sort Of fellow .
, , ,

an d S he l th e sort of wom a n that o n e dreams o f

—
Bee .
,

y o u ca n t thi ’
n k what s e a s do n e for me already Charlie ,
“
c ri ed forgetti n g his first defian ce I m an other fellow ’

, .

e ver S i n ce she bega n to take n otice of me 3

’
.

Bee stol e t o her brother s side an d gave him a sympa ’

“
th etic stroke u po n his shou lder O h ! Charlie ! what is

w
.

h er n ame ?

h Y ou wou ldn t k n ow her n ame if I were to tell y o u

’

e said An d the n a
. fter a momen t s hesitation : Her
,
’

”
O n n ame h e we n t on her real n ame as I call it is
, , , ,

La u ra ; like Petrarch s Lau ra don t y o u kn ow Bee ? But ’ ’

I don t s u ppose y o u d o k n ow
’

h
.

“
Yes i n deed I do said Bee eagerly She added i n
, , ,
.

e r t u rn
“
I shou ldn t have thou ght y o u wou ld k n ow an y
,
’

”
thi n g like that .

N O ; I m n o t u p to it said Charlie with u n expected

’

, ,
“
h u mility ; b u t I read it all u p as soon as she said it .

Do n t y ou thi n k it s a beau tifu l n ame ?

’ ’

h
” ”
Yes said Bee yet n o t with e n th u siasm
, ,
Bu t Oh ! .
,
“
sh e added I hope S e is n ot married Charlie ; f or that
, ,
”
wou ld n o t be n ice at all .

”
Mar ried ! cried Charlie I wish y ou were n ot su ch .

a horrid little Philisti n e Bu t she is n ot married if

—
.
,

that is any satisfaction to y ou

h
.

An d is she beau tifu l Charlie ? a— nd a r e y ou very very ,

h
,
”
fon d of her ? O h ! Charlie ! Bee clasped i s arm i n both
e r han ds a n d sobbed I t made her wretche d yet filled

w
.
,

her with a delici ou s te n der sen se of fellow feel i n g If he

,
-
.

wou ld on ly tell her all ! It wou ld b e h ard u pon her an d

h
,

y e t it wo u ld b e a sort o f heave n ly pa n g to hear a n other

an d o su rely this time a happy love tale
, ,
Bee sat do n .

close by him an d clasped his arm an d sometimes lean ed

,
21 4

w w T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
her head u pon it i n the armth of her t endern ess an d

wh
sympathy An d Charl i e was pers u aded by degrees t o

h
.

speak Bu t his tale was n o t l ike Bee s It as a tal e o f ’

w
. .

a lady o had stooped as from n e r t hro n e t o the you n

g

h
fello o f n o accou n t the ordi n ar y you n g m an who cou l d
,

n ot u n dersta n d how she had ever come t o thi n k o f i m at

,

hh
all It was S e who had i n spired him with his n e am
b i t i o n who had m a d e him so an xiou s t o disti n g u ish i m

w h h
,

self t o make somethi n g Of his life She had taken t e

,
.

tro u ble to write to i m to keep h im u p t o i t S i n ce he ad

,
”
come down She had pro m ised to let him come t o s e e
.

her he n he came u p agai n to i n spire him an d e n

“

h
,

cou ra ge him l ook at her is better than a d oz e n

.

coaches Charlie cried i n the fervor of i s heart

,
.

Do y ou mean that y o u are g oi n g to see her i n town ? —

asked Bee dou btfu lly .

I N 0 She detests tow n I t s all s o v ai n

w
n tow n ?
’
. .

an d s o hollow a n d s u ch a ru sh She came to live i n O x

h
.
,

ford at the begi nn i n g of last term Charlie said ,

.

O h ! said Bee a
“ ”
n d she fo u n d n o more to say
,
S e .

did n ot herself u n derst an d how it as th at a little ch ill

came u pon her great sympathy with Charl ie a n d this u n
k n own lady of his frie n dship if n ot love
—
,
.

C H APT E R XXIX .

C O L O N E L K IN G S W AR D however cou ld n ot be moved ei th e r

, ,

h
by Bee s represe ntation s or by an ythi n g said by his s o n t o
’

gran t to C arlie the permission an d the fun ds n ecessar y

” “
to p u rsu e his st u dies i n O x f ord by goi n g u p to read i n
the Lon g It was i n deed very little that Ch arl ie said t o

h
his father on the s u bj ect H e respon ded somewhat s u l
l e n l y to t e col on el s q u estion s
’

So I he ar y o u wa n t to g o back to O xford to rea d ?

.

Yes said th e yo u n g m an
,

Y o u have ge n er a lly fou n d before this that by t e en d

o f the term y ou had had too m u ch readi n g
.

, ,

.
h
No reply .

“
I su ppose y ou wa n t to be free o f su pervisio n an d d o
exactly what y ou please An d y o u fin d it d u ll at home ? .
 T HE SOR C E R E SS . 21 5

I h av e er said s o said Ch a
n ev r li e , .

Y o u ou ght t o feel that i n the circ u m s tan ces it was a p

p r o p r i a t e that it sho u ld be d u ll Good hea v e n s ! were .

co t e m plati g am si g yo rself rioti g with yo r

w
y o u n n u n u n u
c o m r ades whe n yo u r poor m othe r

h
,

h I ha ve n ever tho u ght of rioti n g with comrades s aid

C ar lie wit averted head
,

w
,
.

O n e kn ows hat that mean s goi n g u p to read i n the —

L o n g : boats a n d billiards a n d hotels ban ds o f yo u n g men

hh
,

in fl a nn e l s lo u n gi n g abo u t a n d every decoru m throw n t o

w
,

t e i n ds .

h T e colon el looked severely at his s o n who stood before

i m t u r n i n g over the pages of a book i n his h a n d with
,

h
,

l o e ri n g brows an d c losed mou th .

”
Y ou thi n k I d on t k n ow he said S arply ; b u t y ou
’ '

ar e mistake n What wou ld have bee n best f or y o u wo u ld

.

h av e bee n the discipl i n e of a regimen t I always thou ght .

s o ; b u t at least I m n o t goi n g to permit every dece n t bo n d

’

h
”
t o b e br oke n thro u gh .

”
I thi n k sir said Charlie that it s e n ou g to say ’

h
, , ,
‘
No withou t acc u sin g me of th i n gs I n ever thou ght of
’

h
.
,

h
I am the best j u dge of w at is e n o u gh said the an gry ,
“
f at er . If y ou wan t a week o r so i n t ow n I d on t o
j b O xford i the Lo g I o ly hope he

wh
e C t ; u t n n n o n —
.
,

a d ded severely that there s n o woman i n the case

,
’ "
.

C harlie s cou n te n an ce fl u shed crimson H e gave his

’
.

”
fath er a fu riou s gla n ce If that s all he said I may
.
’

, ,
”
no go perhaps ?
,
“
Yes go s aid the colon el an gr ily He was himself

w
,
.
,

sorry f or t at last i n si n u ation as soon as his s on h ad left

h
,

th e room H is a n g ry s u spicio u sn e s s had carried him too

.

far Not that e blamed himself f or the s u spicio n Bu t

w
. .

h e as aware that to speak of it was a false step and ,

co uld do n o good If th ere was a woman i n the case that

w hh
.

flyi n g dart wou ld n ot move the you n g m an to pe n ite n ce

o r t u rn him from a n y dan gerou s way Colon el K i n g s ar d .
,

however qu ickly forgave himself f or this i n adver te n ce an d

, ,

reflected ith satisfaction t at at least he had preve n ted

the you n g fool from m aki n g an ass Of himself f or this
s u mm er An d i n s u c cases abse n ce i s the best remedy
.

an d hi n ders m u ch mischief Charlie rej ect e d wit i n di g . h ,

21 6 T H E S OR C E R ESS

h
.

w
n ati on t e week i n town which his fa t her o ff ere d A

h
.

week i n town he said t o Bee con temp tu o u sly

,
To .

waste my time an d debase all my ideas ! What doe s e

thi nk I wan t with a we ek i n to n ? That s th e way a fel ’

low s father en cou rages him to do the b est h e c an C u ts

’
.

o ff all i n spirat i on a n d t hrows on e o n th e dregs of life !

,

It s e n ou gh to make a man kick ove r the traces altoge th er

’
.

Bu t Charlie said Bee wi t h timidity don t y o u th i n k ’

w
, , , ,

i t s very very q u ie t here ? We hav e n othi n g t o dist u rb u s

’

h
,
.

If y ou were to try to do you r work at hom e ? y ou wo uld —

ha v e the library t o sit i n all t e week wh il e papa is i n

to n .

Ou t o f reach of books ou t of reach Of a n y coach it s ’

—
,

li ke t elli n g a m ason to bu ild a wall wi t hou t an y s t o n e ”

.

The library is fu ll of books said Bee with a l ittle i n ,

d i gn ation .

What ki n d o f books ? mil i tary books an d t ravels an d —

, ,

thi n gs f or referen ce Ol d pee ra ges an d so forth an d som e

w
—
,

O f the heavy ol d reviews a n d a few n ovels M u ch good a .

ma n who is g oi n g i n f or real readi n g wo u l d get o u t o f

h
”
that !
Bu t y ou a v e yo u r o n books all those that y o u c a rry —

”
abou t with y ou Charlie ,
.

”
O h ! he said with impatie nce what ar e they ? H or ,

rible cribs and thi n gs that I pro mised n o t to u s e an y m ore .

“
Does Lau ra said Bee wi t h a litt l e awe
,
say y ou , ,
”
are n ot t o u s e cribs ?
An d as for the q u iet said Charlie con ti n u i n g his , ,

h
strai n o f co m plai n t if y ou call that q u iet ! wh e n y ou —
,

h
n ever k n ow t at n ext mome n t there may n o t be a r u sh
dow n t e n u rsery sta irs like wild horses let loos e a ‘

shrieks over all the ho u se f or Bee or for n u rse s e n di ng

nd ,

every idea ou t of a man s head : or else baby screa m i n g fit ’

to bri n g down the hou se Y ou k n ow n othi n g abo u t it to .

,

be su re ; it is like t alki n g t o the wi n d to talk to a li ttle

thi ng li ke y ou A m an c an t work u n less he s i n the ’ ’

h
.

right place f or worki n g If an y di ffi c u lty arises i n a p as

.

sage f or i n stan ce w at do y ou th i n k I am t o do here

, ,

Do y ou go to— Lau ra when there is a di ff i cu lty abou t

”
a passage Charlie ? ,
”
N O y ou little fool !
,
With a fl u sh o f a n ger an d sh am e
 T H E SO R C E R E SS 21 7

hbl gged
.

e her pard
e o n n ext it is S O hard to m i n u te . But
e x p an
i thi gs to n y o u Bee Y o u are so ig n ora n t n at u —

w w h
.
,

r al ly for o f co u rse y ou n ever were tau ght an ythi n g

w
, , , .

Do n t y o u k n ow that Oxford is fu l l of coaches ?

’ ”
e sai d .

That was j u st what I was thi n ki n g o f Charl i e i f y ou

w
—
,
”
i l l n ot be a n gry b u t let me speak

w
.

Speak away he said Th is as on Mon day after ‘

h
,
.
,

C o l o n el K i n g s a r d h ad left The days which he spen t at .

K i ngs a r d e n were the heaviest as has bee n said t o t e , ,

y o u n g party ; n evertheless whe n h e e n t away the bl ank

hw
o f th at lo n g world Of a week witho u t a n y comm u n icatio n

h
,

t o speak of from witho u t closed dow n alarmi n gly u pon

w
,

t e elder s Of the family E ve n whe n papa was cross whe n

.
,

e as dissatisfied with his d i nn er or fo u n d fa u lt with the

h
n o ise o f the ch ildre n it was more o r less a ,
n eve n t
e n he departed there was ase n se of bei n g c u t off from
Bu t .

h
al l even ts separated from the world altogether sh u t ou t

w
, ,

fr o m n ews an d the u m o f society which was very blank ,

an d deade n i n g Bee an d Charlie di n ed alo n e an d it was

.
,

d reary ; they spe n t the eve n i n g together o r else alon e ,

o n e i n the l ibrary o n e i n the garde n

,
here the beau ty ,

o f th e s u m m er eve n i n g was terrible to the o n e poor little

irl with her recollectio n s i n capable o f sh u tti n g them ou t
g

h
,

i n that u tter still n ess a n d tryi n g very i n e ff ect u a

,
lly n ot to

h
b e u n happy
t e library a
.Whe n Charl ie t rew open the wi n dow of
n d stro l led forth to j oi n her as b e ge n erally
d i d it was a little better Bee had j u st d on e very con sci
.
,

e n t i ou s l y all her d u ties i n the n u rsery had he a rd the chil ,

d re n say their prayers i n which they still with a little

w h
, ,

h
p a u se of awe prayed God to bless dear mother an d had —
,

h
m a d e all t e valoro u s little e ff orts S e cou ld to keep down
t e cl i mbi n g so r row Whe n she hea r d the sou n d of the
.

l ibrary i n d ow she qu ic kl y dried her eyes an d con trived

asm i le . An d she was a very good liste n er She s u ff ere d .

Ch arl ie to t alk abo u t him s elf as m u ch as he pleased an d ,

was i n te rested i n all he said She ma d e those l ittle all u

sio n s to La u ra which ple ased i m thou gh he gen era l ly
an swered with a scorn f u l word as wh o s ou ld say that a
.

h h ,

,
”
l i t t le thi n g like y ou was i n capabl e of compreh en di n g
th at lady Bu t this was the sole diversion of these youn g
.

p eople i n the eve n i n g People called . i n the aftern oo n ,

21 8

h w T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
an d t r a occasio a y a game
e e ts is n ll of en n . Bu t i n the
e ve i g they were almost i va iably alo e
n n n r n

hh
.

They w e re strolli n g a bou t the garde n on this occ asion

w
whi l e the you n g m an b e ailed himself Bee tho u g S e .
,

made those all u sion s to L au ra had n ev er got over th at ,

little chill i n respect t o her which had arise n i n th e m ost ,

ca p r 1 c i o u s ca u seless a y whe n she k n ew that La u ra l ive d

w
,

i n O xford Nothi n g cou ld be more u n reason abl e b u t yet

.

h
,

it was so It s uggested somethi n g fictitio u s i n her brother s ’

w
.

eagern ess to get back an d i n his s u pposed devotio n t o i s

h
,

work H ad his E geria bee n an y here else Be e wo u ld n ot

.

have felt this ; b u t S e di d feel it tho u gh she cou ld n ot

h
,

tell why She as ve r y a n xio u s to please him to c on tent

.
,

him if possible with i s presen t life to m ake her sympa ,

thy swee t to him seei n g th at he had n obo d y b u t herself

,

to console him and m u st b e separa t ed from La u ra u n til

,

O ctober Poor Charl ie ! it was hard i n deed that this shoul d

h
.

be the case that he shou l d have S O d u ll a hom e an d no

,

h
,

com p an ion b u t his s i ster Bu t it co uld n ot b e helped : i s .

sis t er at least m u st do what S e cou ld .

“
Y o u m u st n o t be an gry said Bee very h u mbly It , ,
.

is on l y an idea that has come i n to my head there may

w
—

be n othi n g at all i n i t b u t don t please sh u t me u p as y ou

—
’

d o sometimes hear me ou t — Charlie ! there is Mr De . .

w
lai n e

h
.

Mr what ? said Charlie which i n deed did n ot Sho

.
—
,

a v ery complaisan t frame of mi n d b u t a c u rate i n t e

h
—

hou se
at home
h
cou n try is Of less importan ce i n t e hor izon Of the s on of a
o is at O xford than he is i n that of the da u ghter

h h
.

Mr D e lai n e repeated Bee Y o u do n t remember

’
.
,
.

him p er aps at all He is the c urate Whe n e came

, , . .

first he was said t o be a great scholar He took afirst .

cl ass Y o u n eed n o t say pooh ! E verybody said s o and

.
,

it is qu ite tru e .

“
A first i n theology I su ppose said Charli e di s dain

h
, ,

fully .

N 0 n ot that that s n ot w at people call a first M r

,
—
’
. .

Ben son I have alw ays heard is a good s cholar h i mself

, , ,

an d he said a first of co u rse y ou kn ow better than I do ,

what that me a ns .
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 21 9

h h
Well ,
said Charlie an d su pposi n g f or the s ake of
ar g u men t that e took a fir s t what then ?
W y Charlie dear ! H e is an O xford man t oo ; he
,
—

w
,

m u s t k n ow all the thi ng s y ou wan t to k n ow d i fli c u l t pas —

s ag e s a n d all t hat Don t y o u think perhaps ’

h
.
,

O h a coach ! cried Charl ie

”
Then he pau sed an d

w
.
, ,

i t witheri n g satire added N O do u bt for little b oys , , ,

y o u r c u rate might do very well Bee ,

.

H e is n o t my c u rate said Bee with i n dign ation ;

, ,

h b u t I have alway s he a
t o u ght that was what y ou wan ted
rd he as a g reat sch olar I
”
.

h
.

”
It i s n ot to be expected said her brother loftily , ,

t at y ou shou ld k n ow what I wan t It is n ot a coach that .

hh
i s e verythi n g If that were all there n eed be n o su ch
.

t i n gs as u n iversities What a m an n eeds is the whole.

m ac i n ery ; the ways Of thi n ki n g ; the arran gemen ts ; the

,

v e ry atmosphere

w
.

H e strolled alon g the walk with his ha n ds i n his pock

e ts a n d his sho u lders u p to his ears .

I do n o t thi n k it is possible h e added t u r n i n g to her , ,

i th a softe n ed to n e that I cou ld make y o u u n de rstan d ;

,
”
f o r it is so di ff eren t from an yth i n g y o u h ave ever k n ow n .

“
I hope I am n ot so dre adfu lly stu pid ! sa id Bee i 1 1
”

If L a
,

cen s e d u ra u n de rsta n ds why S ho u ld it be so i m

h
.
,
"
p o s sible for me ?
f o r good n ess sake talk of thi n gs y o u c a n k n ow
’
O,

hIathi
s o m eth i n g abo u t ! as if there was a

er nd y
n
o u
k
.
”
n y compariso n betwee n

are very u n civil sa i d Bee ready to wee p

u
y o , , .

I m ay n ot be cl ever b u t yet I am yo u r sister an d i t is

, ,

o n l y beca u se I wa n ted to help y ou that I took the tro u ble

t o speak at all

h
.

Y o u are very well mean i n g Bee I am s u re -

said , , ,
“
C arl ie with co n desce n sion ; I do f ull j u stice to you r
o od i n te n tio n s A n other fellow might thi n k y o u wan t ed

w
g .

t o h ave Delai n e here f o r yo u rself

”
M e ! cried Bee with a wild pan g Of i n j u red feeli n g

h
an d se n se Of the i n j u stice an d i n appropriaten ess the cru el
ron g Of s u c a s u ggestion An d that Charlie cou ld speak .
,

h
l ike that who kn ew everythi n g ! It was almost more than
—

s e c o u ld be a r .
2 20

www h
T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
.

w h
Bu t I do n t s ay that e n t on i n i s lofty ton e s
‘

h
.

I k n ow y o u mea n ell It is o n ly that y bu don t t at .

’
—

ca t ders a d H sho ld she he said t o i m

’

y o u n u n t n o u ?

h
.

self ith m u si n g s u periori ty an d a n o d of his h ead as i f ,

agreei n g to the impossibility Bee resen ted t he ton e t e .

,

ass u mption the comparison th at was implied i n e ve r y

h h
,

word .

I won der S e cried if y ou ever tell Lau ra that S e

, ,

doesn t an d c an t u n derstan d ?
’ ” ’

H e stopped short oppos i te to her an d grasped her arm ,

.

Bee he said almost Solem n ly Don t ! If y o u k n e w

w
.
,

her y ou wou ld k n ow what folly it is an d presu mption to

compare you rself for on e mome n t an d do me the favor -

n o t t o profa n e that n ame as if it were o nly a girl s n am e

’

like you r o n

w
.

“
Is she a pri n cess the n ? cried Bee or an an gel ? or
, ,

what is she ?

h
“
She is bot h I thi n k said Charlie i n a voice fu l l of
, ,

awe at least t o m e I ish y ou wo u l d n t talk of e r i n ’

h
.
,

that way I am sorry I ever t old y ou her n ame A n d

h
. .

please j u st let my a ff airs alon e Y ou ave n t been able .

’

t o do a n ythi n g f or me with my father which is t e o n ly ,

thi n g y o u might have don e an d I don t wan t t o di s c u ss —

’

oth er thi n gs with y ou S O please j u st let my con ce r n s .

”
alon e from this day .

”
It was n ot I that ever wished to i n t erfere ! cried B e e
with great m or t i fic at i on an d rese n tme n t ; an d after a few
mi nu tes sile n t wal k toget er i n m u ch gloom an d stat e li
’

n ess th e brother a n d sister bade each other a n Ofl en d e d

h '

an d ang ry good n igh t -

.

C HAPT E R XXX .

T H IS made howe v er b u t a very temporary breach b e

, ,

tween Bee an d her brother They were a little sti ff n e xt .

morn i n g at breakfast an d elaborately refrai n ed from talk

h
,

i n g on a n y b u t the most trivi al thi n gs b u t by n oon th is ,

reserve had broke n down an d 1 n t e e v e n i n g thou gh Bee

h
, ,

prou dly refrai n ed from an y refere n ce to La u ra they w e re ,

as con fide nti al as e ver

’
Bee s mi n d had pas se d th r ou g .
 O R C E R E SS

w
T HE S . 23!

w
v ar i o u s v icissit u des i n respec t to this obj ect of Charlie s ’

ad o r ation H er first overwhel m i n g i nterest had gi ven

h
‘

h
.

h
ay t o a little dou bt an d this was n at u rally stre n gt e n ed
,

b y t e overwee n i n g estimate Of t e u n k n ow n hich Char h

l i e t ru st u pon her
-
h
A girl is very willi n g to a d mire at
.

s e c o n d han d er brother s love b u t w e n she is tol d that ’

h
h
,

i t i s presu mption to compare herse l f with that divi n i ty ,

e r s ympath y is strai n ed t oo far Bee began to ha ve an

h a
.

unea s y fe l i n g abo u t this u nk n ow n La u ra It was on e

w
.

t i n g to s t 1 m u l at e Charl ie to work to stir u p all that was

w
,

b e s t i n h im to u rge him to disti n g u ish himself f o r Char

, ,

l i e s sake o r for their j oi n t sakes if they married an d b e

’

w
, ,

c am e o n e h i ch was the on ly th i n g that co u l d happe n i n

h
w
,

B e e s idea b u t i t
’
as q u ite an o ther thi n g to prete n d an
—

he n t u siasm for t his i n order that Charl ie sho u ld be kept

i t i n her reach an d at her feet d u ri n g t at q u iet time
of th e lon g vacatio n Bee k n e e n ou gh t o k n ow that
h
h
.

s e v e re work is n o t compatible with m u ch love maki n g

h hw
-
.

'

S e imagi n ed her brother strol l i n g away from his books

to t a ke Lau ra o u t o u the river or lie at her feet i n the -

h
,

gar d e n which had be come th e habits of his life as he b e

, ,

f r ayed to her accide n tally Bee t o u g t i t a little i n '

.

di g n ation that the lofty i n te n tion s which wou ld probably

e n d i n these proceedi n gs were o f the n at u re of false pre

w
t e n c es a n d that the girl whom Charlie e n dowed with the

h
,

m o s t s u perlative q u alities sho u ld n o t attempt t o take him

fr o m i s home for su ch reason or at least if she did —

hs h o u ld d o it fra n kly for love s sake which as always a ’

t i n g to be forgive n an d n o t o n an y fictitio u s prete n ce

,
.

F or Charlie bei n g refu sed that heroic way of worki n g

h h
,

g o i n g u p to read d id n o t read at al l as was appare n t to

”
, ,

i s sist er s kee n eyes He did n o t attempt to do t e best

’
.

h e cou ld bei n g preve n ted from doi n g what he desire d

h
.
,

H e settled himself it is tru e i n the li b rar y after break

, ,

fas t with his books as if wit the i n te n tio n of worki n g ;

w
,

b u t before Bee had got thro u gh the little l esso n which she

w
gave every m orn i n g t o the little o n es Charlie was o u t

w
,

stroll i n g abo u t the garde n or lyi n g o n the grass i n the

h
,

shade with a book wh ich was either a n ovel or o n e hich

,

lay closed by his s ide ile he aba n d on e d him s elf to

tho u ght — t o t hou ght n ot ab ou t his books it as t o b e ,
222 T HE S O R C E RE SS

h
.

feare d f or Bee with t remors of sy m pa thy i n e r h e art

, ,

recogn ized too well the dreamy look t e droop e d eyel ids h ,

ww h
, ,

the air as tray from an yt hi n g goi n g on arou n d Fr o m

h
.

qu estion s of s tu dy as far as Bee had perc eived i n her s o rt

,

exp er ien ce t e mere s t footstep on a path t he dro ppi n g of

, ,

a le af as en o u gh to rou se the stu den t Charl i e s thou g hts .

’

were of a far more absorbi n g ki n d .

Colon el K i n gs ar d s u g gested on c e more t he wee k i n

t own when he came on a n other Satu rday even i ng t o Ki n gs
warden H e was am an n o t very open to a perception of
.

the wan ts of others b u t as ti m e wen t on an d he h imself

, ,

be came more an d more se n sible of the amel i orat i n g i n fl u

e n c e s o f socie ty an d occ u pation the sta gn an t a t mosph ere ,

at home where his two elder children were vegetati n g so

m u ch agai n st all their previou s habits stru ck him wit a
sen sation which h e cou ld n o t wholly get th e better o f It
,

.
,

h
was on ly righ t t hat Bee at least shou l d remai n i n the , ,

cou n try an d i n retireme n t the firs t s ummer after her

m o ther s dea th It wou ld ha v e bee n most u n becom i n g
’

w
.

had she bee n i n town seei n g people an d n ecessarily m ore , ,

o r less bei n g see n by the world

,
B ut yet h e felt the still .

n ess close ro u n d him like a se n sible chill a n d was aware ,

of the great qu ie t aggravated by his o n prese n ce thou gh

—
,

of this h e was scarcely aware as if it h ad bee n a blight —

i n the air I t made him a n gry for the m omen t In other

. .

times his hou se i n the cou n try had always been refreshi n g
an d deligh t fu l to him Now the air n otwithstan di ng
.
, ,

that i t was fu ll su mmer chilled him t o the bon e , .

When y ou are escapi n g from the atmosphere o f grief

an ythi n g tha t draws y ou back t o it feels like an i n j u ry

w
.

He was very cross very impatie n t with the si le n ce at

w
,

table the s ubd u ed looks of the you ng pe ople an d that

w h
, ,

they had n othi n g t o say Was i t n o t worse for h im th an .

for th e m ? H e was the on e o had lost the m ost a n d to ,

whom all mi n istration s ere d u e to softe n the smart of

sorro Bu t afterward his thou ghts toward h is children

w
.

softe ned It was very du ll f or them On the Su n day

. .

even i n g he took the trou ble t o press that week i n town

u po n Charlie There s a spare closet y ou c an have at my
’
'

“
rooms at the o ffi ce he said It s very ce n tral if n ot
,
.
’

mu ch else , an d Idare s ay you r fri ends i l l ask you ou t

 T HE S OR C E R E SS . 223

q u ietly as they d o me I thi nk even y ou might bri n g u p .

Be e f o r the d ay to see the pictu res She co u ld stay the .

n i g h t with the Ol d H ammo n d s a n d see Betty

h
.

O h don t thi n k of me papa

’

, cried Bee I wou ld , , .

rath er far rat er stay at home I don t care for the pic ’

w
, , .

t u res this year

—
.

“
That is foolish my dear said the colon el There

w
, , .

is n othi n g i n the least u n becomi n g to you r mou rn i n g i n

h
g o i n g there I n d eed I wish y ou to go Y o u ou ght n ot

www
.
, .

t o m iss t e pict u res a n d it ill be a little ch an ge O f , .

cou rs e I c a n n ot go ith y Ou myself bu t Charlie will take

h
, ,

y o u ,
a n d y o u c an go to Portm a n Sq u are to sleep Y o u .

i ll see Betty o m u st be t hi n ki n g of com i n g home

,

abo u t n o : i n deed it is qu ite n ecessary y ou S hou ld settle

w h
h
th at with her She can t stay there all the season an d it ’

w
.
,

i s rather eartless lea v i n g y ou like this alon e .

“
O h n o papa I t is I that wish her t o stay She

w h
.
, , .

ou l d have come back lon g ag o b u t for me .

Bee s ge n erou s ass u mption of the blame if there as

’

an y blame excited er father s s u spicion rather tha n ad

’

m i r at i on H e looked at her some hat severely

. I c an
n o t co n ceive what Obj ect y ou c a n have i n preferri n g t o be
alo n e he said ,
I t is eithe r morbid o r .I
n eit er ,

c ase it makes it more desirable that Betty shou ld come

b ack Y ou c a
. n a r ra n ge that We will say Wedn esday . .

I s u ppose y o u will n ot be n ervou s abo u t ret u rn i n g hom e

w
al on e ?
Bu t p a pa ,

I con si d er the qu estion settled Bee sai d Colon el , ,

K i n gs a rd a n d after that there was n othi n g mo r e to be

,

S di d .

Poor Bee wept m an y tears over this compu lsory first

h
s tep back i n to the world withou t her mother witho u t
h
—
,

S e did n o t mea n (a s she said i n er i n most tho u ghts ( m

! y

w
.

h
o ne el s e; b u t it m ade the whole worl d vacan t ar o u n d her to

t i n k that n either on o n e si d e n or the ot er was there h h

an y on e t o walk by h er si d e to take her han d to make e r
h
w h
, ,

feel that she as n o t alon e Nevert eless it can n ot be .

,

d e n ied that i n the morn i n g this was the first tho u ght t at

h
, ,

c am e i n to her m i n d with a fai n t exp an sion of her you n g ,

bei n g T e cha n ge thou gh it was n o t j oyfu l

. as st i ll , ,
2 24 T HE SO R C E R E SS

h
.

so methi n g ; an d w e n she set o u t with Charlie on Wedn e s

day morn i n g her heart i n spite of herself rose a little

w
.
, ,

T o see the pictu res ! The pictu res are n o t g en erally very
excit i n g an d there was n o t as it happe n ed a se n sation
in a
,

ny on e of the m i n this partic u l a r year eve n ad Bee

,

,
,

h
bee n capable of it wh ich sh e as n o t Bu t y e t she had a

h
w
.
,

sensatio n an d o n e o f the most startli n g description As .

h
,

S e was goi n g l a n g u idly al on g looki n g at o n e pict u re aft e r

h
w
,

an other mechan ically referri n g t o the catalogu e wh ic

, ,

con veyed very little i d ea t o e r mi n d her atte n tio n as ,

su dde nly attracted by a l ady sta n di n g i n front Of o n e of

w
the chief pictu res o f the year She was talki n g ith g re at .

a n imation to some f r ie n ds who s u rrou n ded her poi n ti ng ,

o u t the q u alities an d e x ce l le n ces (or n o n exce l le n ces f o r -

,

Bee was n o t n ear e n o u gh to hear ! Of the pict u re She as .

pictu resq u ely dressed i n black a tall an d com man d i n g ,

figu re with a great deal O f lace abou t her an d a fine pro

, ,

fil e clearly c u t a n d impressive Bee s whole at t e n tion ’

w
.

h
,

was cal led to her as by a charm Where had she see n her

w
.

before ? She seemed ac q u ai n ted w i th e v ery detail of er

on e h
figu re an d pe n etrated by a vagu e remi n isce n ce as of som e
,

o had bee n o f p e rso n al importan ce t o herself tho u g

she cou ld n o t tel l whe n or how Who is she ? O o .
,
h
hh
,

is she ? Bee asked herse l f She was very han dsome i a —

h
.

deed Bee tho u ght her a beau tifu l woman ; n o t you ng

, ,

which is a t i n g always n oted with a certai n pai n and

compassion by a you n g girl b u t f u ll of grace an d i n ter

w
—

est Wh il e Bee gazed ope n eyed forg e tfu l Of herself a

.
,
-
, ,

you n g figu re very i nteresti n g too to behold i n her dee p

, , ,

mou rn i n g an d with the c omplete forgetfu ln ess of hersel f

,

i nvolved i n that istfu l i n q u iri n g an d admiri n g g az e

, , ,

the lady t u rn ed rou n d prese n ti n g her fu l l face to th e g irl s

,
’

tro ubled vision Bee felt her breath come short h er heart

w wh h
.
,

beat She fell back h u rrie d ly u pon a vacan t pl ace o n one

.

o f the be n ches whic some on e h ad charitably left empty

h
.

Bee did n o t k n ow who the woman was n o r what possibl e

whw
con n ectio n sh e cou ld ave with her o n fate an d yet th ere

hw
,

was a con viction i n the girl s heart that she had to d o wit ’

hh hh
it that somehow or oth er her life was i n this om an s ’

h
ha n ds It as the l ady whom s e ad m e t t at a u t umn
.

mor n i n g l ast y ar i n t e fir o od s ro un d t e Bat s

e er e ,
 w
T H E SO R C E R E S S 225

h
.

h
Bee h ad gon e to fi n ish er sketch the lady who ad ap
h
w
—

p
by
e
ha r e d
er a
s u dde n ly from amo n g the trees o had sat
n d poi n ted o u t the errors i n the little pict u re a
,

adv i sed her how t o p u t them right The black lace which
dow n
nd
.
,

as so co nspic u ou s i n the stra n ger s dress seemed to sweep ’

w
o v e r B e e as she passed with the same fai n t pe n e t rati n g

hw
o do r ,
the same thrill of u n accou ntable se n sation Bee .

c o u l d n o t take her eyes from t his fig u re as it moved slowly

s enr . h
al on g pau si ng here an d t he re
, ith the air of a con n oi s
W o was she ? W o as she ? Bee t u rn ed as S e
t u r n ed followi n g her with her eyes
,

h
, .

A n d the n there occ urred the most won derfu l i n cide n t ,

s o s tran ge s o u n s u spected
, so u n acco u n table that Bee

h
, ,

w
c o u l d scarcely s u ppress a cry o f asto n ishme n t Charlie

hh
w
.
.

“
ad been doi n g the pictu res i n his way goi n g fast er
”
,

t an i s S ister a n d had bee n roami n g d ow n the whole

,

S i d e o f the lon g gallery while Bee occ u pied herself with

on e o r t o favori tes He appeared n o at a little dis

h
.

t a n ce havi n g made the rou n d Of th e room an d Bee was

, ,

t e i n vol u n tary m u ch su rprised witn ess o f the e ff ect pr o

,
-

d u c e d u po n Charlie by the s u dde n appearan ce which had

s o m u ch excited herself H e stopped short with i t seemed

wh
.
,

h
a s u dde n exclamation let the bo ok i n h is han ds drop i n
,

i s a m azeme n t the n cleavi n g th e crowd precipitated h im

,

s e l f u po n the gro u p i n which the lady st ood Bee watched

w hh
.

i t h co n ste r n ation the h u rried eager greeti n g the ill u , ,

m i n ation Of his boyish face eve n the gest u re bot ha n ds —

h
,

p u t fort a n d the q u iver o f his who l e eager figu re

,
S e .

e v e n heard a little cry of s u rprise from the lady o pres

wh
,

h
e n t l y separated herself from her frie n ds a n d we n t o n with

h
w
C arl ie i n the closest con versa tion I t seemed to Bee as .

s
h
h
e watche d fo l lowi n g them as well as she co u ld throu gh
,

t e crowd which got betwee n her a n d t hese t o figu res ,

h
t at there were n o t o heads so c l ose together i n all t e

w
t ron g . They seemed to drift i n to a corn er where the
i c t u res were of n o importa n ce where they were compara

w
p

h h
,

t i v e l y u n dist u rbed as if for the most co n fide n tial talk It .

as n o mere ac qu ai n tan ces ip a c an ce meeti n g wi t h

h
,

s o m e on e he k n ew ; it was u t ter forgetfu l n ess o f everythi n g

e l s e complete absorptio n i n t is n e
,
i n terest tha t seemed
t o m ove her brother For ati me Bee formed no concl u
.

l
5
2 26 T HE S O R C E RE SS

ww
.

sion thou gh t of n o explan ation b u t w atched th e m o n l y

h
“

hw
, ,

with all her fac ulties The catalogu e which Ch arl i e ad .

w
dropped as sh u ffl ed an d kicked t o h er fe et by th e p as s e r s

h
w
b y a visible sig n that someth in g u n u su al had h ap p e n e d

w h
, .

What was it ? o as S e ?
An d the n there darted i n to Bee s mi n d a su ggesti o n an
’

w
hh
,

idea hich she c ou l d n ot ou ld n o t e n tert ai n L a u r a!,

.

a s it possible that th is co u ld be La u ra ? Th e t o u g t

hw
se n t a thrill throu g an d throu gh her Bu t n o ! n o ! n o !

h
.

she cried withi n herself impossible ! This lady as y e ar s ,

Older th an C arlie o f a n other ge neratio n altogether — n o t

—

a girl at all She gazed thro u gh the crowd at t e t o

w
.

heads i n the cor n er Of the roo m sta n di n g as if they w e re

h
,

looki n g at the pict u res They had their backs t o Bee an d .

,

she co u ld see n ot i n g b u t occasion ally a side glim p s e O f

Charlie s cheek and the lace bonn et
’
ith the u nu su al ac ,

c o mp a n i m e n t o f a floati n g veil which covered his c om p a n

h
,

ion s hea d She had remembered the veil at o n ce n o t

’

w
.
—

primly faste n ed over her face as most ladies wore t e m

w
n d falli n g behi n d a he a
h
,

b u t throw n back a d d ress su ch as

w w
-
,

It d istin g u ished fro m every other e ad

w
n obody e l se wore .

hh h
th at of the woman who Bee n o f elt su re was like s o m e

h
w
w
, ,

body i n a tragedy of Fate somebody o ad to d o s e —

h
,

cou ld n o t tell o with the shipwreck of her o n l ife

,

f o r had S e n o t appeared mysterio u sly from she k n e no t

w h h
,

where o n the very eve of misery an d r u i n ? an d n o

, as —

overshadowi n g Charl ie s bri n gi n g him some calam ity ’

, .

Bee shi v ered an d trembled amon g all the c r owdi n g peopl e

h
on the seat hich so man y peop l e e n vied her an d fel t th at
S e was retai n i n g far lon ger than her share She was t o o
m u ch frighte n ed t o do as s e cou ld have w i s ed to do t o
.
,

ru sh after them to draw her brother away t o break th e

—
,

spell S u ch a dark l ady had bee n k n ow n i n story lon g

.

before Bee was born Co u ld it be tru e that hatefu l b e i n gs

.

were perm itted to stray abou t eve n i n the brigh t est sce n es

w
,

bri n gi n g evil a ugu ry an d all ki n d s of tro u ble with th e m ?

Ma n y a time had Bee thou ght o f this lady Of her s u dd en

w wh hwh
—

appeara n ce an d of her qu estion s abou t the Leighs Of som e —

An d n o
h
thi n g i n her look an air of mean i n g hich eve n at the

Charlie Wha t a s S e?
.
,

m o men t ad con fu sed the u n s u spiciou s u n alarmed g irl

W o as s e ? Lau ra ?
, .

,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 2 27

h
.

w
O a h dred times
n o, no If Bee co ld have
!

w
,
un no . u sup
a mem er of her

w w
ps d that her respectable father
o e Or ny b

h ce t family co ld have wro ged

i n no
av tho ght e
h at a silly tho ght
n
u
broad daylight
she wo ld
a a ghost lady omi o s of tro ble
it
the Academy
u
h
u
s
in
-
n
n
an y
u
in
o ne ,

u .
u
O ,

o f al l places i n the world !

'
There as very little that as
v i si o n ary o r s u perstitio u s i n s u ch a place

w
.

Charlie came bac k to j oi n his sister after a co n siderable

t i m e with a glowi n g face O h , y ou are there he cried

h
. .

I v e bee n looki n g everywhere f or y ou I cou ldn t thi n k

’ ’

w
.

ere y o u cou l d have gon e

I S hou ld have see n y ou had y o u bee n looki n g for me ,

sa id Bee .

Well n ever mi n d n o that I have fo u n d y o u H ave

, , .

y o u see n as m u ch as y o u wish ? It s time to be movi n g ’

o ff if y ou mea n t o get to Portman Squ are i n time for

te a

hh
.

Charlie said Bee very gravely getti n g u p an d mov

, ,

i n g with i m toward the door who is that lady y o u were ,

t alki n g to wit the black lace abou t her head ? ”

w
What lad y ? said Charlie with a ve r y fictitiou s look Of

h
w
,

s u rprise a n d the color mo u n ti n g all over his face

,
Oh .
,

h
t e l ady I met that lady ? Well she is a l ady whom I
— —
,

ave met else here

h I have m e t her too cried Bee breathless do n at

t e Baths j u st b efore O
,

who is she who is she

,

h , ,

w
, ,

C h arlie ? I thi n k she is on e of the Fates .

Y o u little goose cried her brother : an d then h e

h
,

l au ghed i n an u n steady way Perh aps she is i f there —

as a good on e he cried S e is
,
he added i n a dif .
,
”
,

f e re at ton e an d the n pau sed agai n : b u t I cou ld n t tell

—
’

u half what she is if I were t talk till n ext week an d

h
—
y o o

n ever i n s u ch a n oisy v u lgar place as t is ,

.

The n Bee s mi n d drive n fro m o n e tho u gh t to an other

’

w
, ,

c ame s u dde n l y back with a j ar a n d strai n of her n erves to

th e q u estio n a b ou t La u ra : was it possible that this shou ld
b e she ? f o r i t was t e to n e sacre d to Lau ra i n w ich her
b rother n o spoke
— h
O h te l l me a b o u t her te l l me abo u t
h
h
.
, ,
”
h er ! she cried i n vol u n tarily claspi n g her ha n d s
,
she
is n t is S e ? O h Charlie y ou will have time to tell me
’
—
, ,

whe n we get i n to the park Did n t sh e w an t to speak to .

’
2 28 T HE S O R C E R E SS

w h h
.

me Why did n t y o u i n trod u ce me t o her i f s e is s u c a

? ’

"
great frie n d o f you rs ?

H ush for good n ess sake n o ; y o u are m a ki n g p e o p l e

,
’

stare said Charlie He h u rried her dow n the stai r s an d

h
.
,

acro s s the road o u tside maki n g her almost r u n to ke e p u p ,

with him “
I s ay Bee he cried h u rried ly whe n e h ad

w
.
, , ,

si gn alled to a han som sho u ld y ou mi n d goi ng by y o u r ,

self I hate drivi n g whe n I c an walk Why yo u v e b ee n

?
.
,
’

i n a ha n som by yo u rself before ! Yo u re n o t goi n g t o be

’

s u ch a little goose as to make a f u ss abo u t it n o .

O h b u t Charlie Id ra ther walk t oo a

“
n d t he n y o u
’
—
, , ,

ca n tell me
”
O h n on s e n se ! he cried yo u re tired already It ’
.
, ,

wo u ld be too m u ch f o r y o u Portma n Sq u are N o

h
. .
,

Good b y Bee I ll look y ou u p later he cried as to

-
,
.
’

, ,

Bee s con stern ation the w eels o f the han som j arred u pon
’

the cu rb an d she felt herself carri e d rapidly away .

w
C HAPT E R XXXI

h
.

P O R T M AN S Q U AR E had seemed to Bee t e first step into

w
the world after all that had happen ed ; b u t whe n she as
there this ge n tle i l l u sion faded It was n ot the world .
,

b u t o n ly a n other dry a n d faded corn er o u t o f the worl d ,

more sile n t an d recl u se tha n eve n K i n g s ar d e n had be

come f or there were n o voices of childre n withi n and no

w
, ,

r u stle of trees an d si n gi n g of birds with ou t The meeti ng .

with Betty was sweet b u t the air of the little old fashi on ed -

h
,

tea ta b le the lon g solem n di nn er with the b utler and

h
-

h
, , ,

h
the footman steal i n g like ghosts abo u t the table
was laid o ut wi t hea v y silver an d c u t glass wit only
ic
,
,

h
o n e small b u n ch o f flowers as a sacrifice t o modern i dea

w
s

i n the mi d dle a n d t e sile n ce o f the great drawi ng room

,
-

afterward hal f lighted an d dreary came w i th a chill upon

h
w
h
,

the girl who had bee n afraid of be i ng dazzled by t oo muc

bright n ess There ere on ly the Ol d lady an d t e Old
.

ge n tlema n Betty an d he r self aro un d the big ta ble a

, ,

on ly the same party wit o u t the Ol d ge n tleman after a

M r s Lyo n asked Bee q u estion s abo u t her excelle nt fa
.
rd

t er
h
nd

h
,

,
 w
T HE SO RC E RE SS 229

h
.

an d s e exami n ed Bee closely abou t her dear mother

w
,

wishi n g t o k n ow all the particu lars o f Mrs K i ngs ar d s .

’

ill n ess

h
.

I can t get a n ice seriou s a n swer from Betty She is

’

h
, .

s u ch a little thi n g ; an d s e tells m e she as no t at home

t rou gh the wors t Mrs Ly on said ,
. .

I t was n ot a s u bj ect to i n spirit Bee or e n able her t o rise

w
,

ab o ve the level of her home tho u ghts Betty did n ot seem .

t o feel it i n the same way Sh e was i n a white frock with .

b l ack ribbo n s for Mrs Lyo n did n o t like t o see her i n

h
.
,
“ "
b lack ,
s u ch a little th i n g y o u kn ow Bee on dered ,
.

v ag u ely whet er sh e herself o n ly a year a n d a h alf the

h h
,

e l d er was s u pposed t o be q u ite middle aged a n d beyon d -

h
,

al l the appier su rrou n di n gs o f life Mrs Lyon gave e r

h
. .

agreat deal of a d vice as to what S e o u ght to do an d ,

t alked m u c o f the respon sibilities o f th e elder sister

w
.

Y o u m u st teach them to obey y ou my dear Y ou m u st ,

.

n o t let dow n the habit o f O bedie n ce ; y ou m u st be ve r y

s trict with them ; a sister has more n eed eve n than a

m other to be very strict to keep them i n a good ,

ay ”
.

B e e sat v ery still while the O ld lady prosed

,
It was S O .

s il e n t b u t for that vo i ce t h at the ticki n g o f the clock b e

c ame q u ite a n importan t so u n d i n the large dim room , .

An d Bee strai n ed her ears for the so u n d o f a han som

h
d r awi n g u p ; f o r Ch arlie s step on th e pave me n t Ma n y
’
.

a n soms stoppe d at n eighbori n g ho u ses an d footsteps ,

“
s o u n ded Bu t Charlie did n o t make his appearan ce
. My .

brother said h e wou ld look i n later she had t old Mrs ,

.

h
“
Lyon whe n sh e arrived Well my dear we shall hope
.
, ,

e will the Ol d lady had said b u t a you n g m an i n L on

, ,

d o n fi n ds a h u n dred e n gageme n ts
”
And Betty who h ad

w
,
.

be e n s o seriou s who had bee n so sweet a perfect com

h
, ,

pa n ion at the time o f their mother s dea t h more deeply ’

pe n etrated by all t e i nfl u e n ces o f the time than Bee her

self n o fl i t t e d abou t i n her white frock with all her Ol d

h
,

hbrightn ess an d san g her littl e son g wi t ho u t falteri n g to

w
, ,

S ow Bee what progress S e had ma d e si n ce she had bee n

w
taki n g lesson s Bee cou ld scarcely ye t si n g the hym n s

h
.

i n ch u rch withou t breaki n g dow n tho u gh to be s ure a girl ,

o was hav i n g the best lesso n s wou ld be obliged t o get

O v er th at After th e l o n g eve n i n g h en they were at last
.
 ww
2 30 T HE S O RC E R ESS .

alon e together Betty d i d n ot respon d war mly t o B e e s ’

su ggestion that she Sho u ld n o b e thi nki n g o f ret u rn i n g

home Y o u seem to thi nk of n othi n g b u t the c hildre n
.
,

she sai d ; y ou c an t wa n t me to hich Bee cou ld o n l y

“ ’

,
'

h
reply that there were more th i n gs than the chi ldre n t o

w
thi n k o f an d th at s e was very lon ely an d had n o o n e t o

h
,

talk t o .

Bu t y ou ave Charlie s aid Betty

Charlie is very f u ll o f his o n con cern s H e as n o t
—

m u ch sympathy with m e Al l that he wan ts i s to g e t b ack .

, .

. h
to O xford .

To O xford i n the v acation ? What wo uld he do there ?

H e says he wo u ld work said Bee

w h
.
,

O h Bee how n ice of Charlie ! I k n ow they d o so m e

, ,

times Gerald Lyon tells me ; b u t I n ever thou ght t at

,

Charlie
NO said Bee
,
an d I don t feel very s u re n o ; there ’

is some on e to whom he writes s u ch lo n g letters

w
—

O h Bee ! This is far far more i n teresti n g tha n rea d

in g !
her ?
,

Do y ou k n ow who s e is ? Does e tell y o u abou t

,
,

h h

w
Her n ame is Lau ra said Bee that is all I k n o , ,

h
.

Oh cried Betty
,
Charlie too ! an d then a fl u sh

h
,

came over the girl s u plifte d face Bee poor Bee a

’
.
, ,

sorbed i n the ma n y thi n gs hich had daw n ed u po n e r

which were beyo n d Betty did n o t observe the color n o r ,

eve n that sign ifica n t too which had come to Betty s ’

l ips i n spite of herself .

I thi n k he met her o r some o n e belon gi n g to her at —

h
the Ac ademy to day ; an d that s why he has n t come ’ ’

w
-
.

O ,
Betty I am n o t h appy abo u t i t Iam n ot happy at
,
—

al l ! ”

w h
Betty p u t her arms ro u n d Bee an d kissed her She .

thou ght it was the remembra n ce of er o n disappoi nt

men t an d disaster which mad e her S ister cry o u t i n this
heart broke n ay Betty l ooked very wistfu lly i n Bee s
h
’
-
.

e yes . She was more sorry th an words co u ld say If S e .

“
c o u l d have d o n e a n ythi n g i n the world to make it a ll
c ome right

o f her
“
come ri g ht
h
she wou ld have d on e so An d i n the bottom
eart she still had a co n viction that all w o u ld
“
.
”
O h Bee Bee ! S e cried “
ca nn ot any h
.

, , ,
 T HE S O RC E R E SS 2 31

h
.

h
t i n g be don e ? If o n ly on ly y o u wou ld have listen ed to

w
—

i s m other '
Bee
B e e held u p a warn i n g fi n ger DO y ou thi n k it is m y

h h
.

sel f I a m thi n ki n g o f ? ”
she said an d the n wri n gi n g her

h
,

an ds S e ad d ed I don t kn ow ha t harm we have do n e

,
’

t o b ri n g it o n bu t o
—
I thi n k we are i n the ha n d s of
,

F ate
”

w h
.

W h at did this mean ? Betty tho ught her sister had go ne

o u t of e r mi n d a n d Bee wo u l d make n o expla n atio n
,
.

B u t I thi n k this stra n ge co nversatio n made Betty rather

h
l e s s illi n g t o retu rn home She was the darli n g of the

w
.

o u se i n Port ma n Squ are ; tho u gh they did n o t go m u ch

w
i n to s ociety t hey had all m a n n er o f i n d u lge n ces for Betty

h
w
,

h
an d took her t o the park an d e n cou raged the visits of

w
,

t e ir n ephew Gerald o was a very merry compa n io n

,

f o r the girl . H e as permitted to take her to see vario u s

s i g hts a n d the Ol d people as u s u al did n ot perceive hat

w
,

as begi n n i n g to daw n u n der their very eyes Betty was .

s u ch a little thi n g The con sequ en ce was that thou gh

.
,

B e e tho u ght Portma n Sq u are still d u ller than Ki n gs

arde n her little sister was n ot of that opi n ion Bee ac

h
.
,

c o r d i n g l y we n t back a lon e n ext day Be t t y accompan yi n g

’

e r to the rai l way st a tion Neither at Portman Sq u are

ww h h h
w
.

hn o r at the railway di d Charlie appear a n d it was with a

w
,

e avy heart that Bee we n t home It seemed to e r as she

w
.

tr avell ed al on e for I th in k the first ti m e i n her life (she

w w
,

as n o t y e t qu ite twe n ty ! th at every o n e was follo i n g his ,

o r h er o n way a n d that o n ly S e was

,
ea r in
g the hole
b u rde n Of the family Her father had ret u rn ed to his o n
.

orld his cl u bs his di nn ers o fficial an d otherwise It as

w h
, .
, ,

i n dispe n sabl e that he shou ld do so Bee had u n derstoo d i t ,

h
,

be ing impossible for a m an i n his position to withdraw

from the worl d o n accou n t Of an y private feeli n g of i s
o .n An d Betty had flashe d back agai n i n to her m u sic
an d her white frock an d was seei n g everythi n g as of old
,
.

An d Charlie O what was Charl ie doi n g drifti n g Off i n to

—
, ,

hso m e tragic e n cha n tme n t ? The poor girl s heart was very ’

eavy There seemed o n ly herself t o thi n k o f them all

.

i n their separate paths o n e here a n d a n other there goi n g

h h h
, , ,

fu rth er an d fu rther o ff i n so man y di ff ere n t direction s

f rom t e e v en t which had broke n t e u n ity o f t e f a mily ,
2 32 T HE SOR C E R E SS .

w h
yet su rely shou l d have held them toge t her i n the i r c o m
m on tro u ble That eve n t had gon e i n to the region s o f t e
.

pas t The time o f the mother was o v er like a tale th at is

h
.

told There ere still the childre n i n the nu rse r y an d ,

h
.

Bee their gu ard ian watch in g over them bu t the ot e rs —

h
, ,

all goi n g o fl each at their s eparate an gle I t i s ard

,
.

e n ou gh to realize this eve n when age as gai n ed a c e rt ai n

,

i n se n sibility b u t t o the girl this breaki n g u p o f the fam ily

,

was terrible I eve n I alo n e remai n she was i n cli n ed

w
—
.
,

to say with the prophet ; an d what cou ld she d o t o s top

the closi n g o f t hese toils of Fate ? Her mi n d gradu ally
con ce n trated on that la s t an d m ost alarm i ng theme O f al l
the woma n the lady ithou t a n ame or history o r an y
h
—
, , ,

eviden t li n k with the family who had th u s for t e seco n d

h h
,

tim e appeared i n the path Bee tried t o fall back u p on

h
.

her reason to represe n t t o herself that S e had n o r e al

w
,

cau se f or assu mi n g t at the stran ger o f whom S e k n e w

n othi n g who m ight simply have bee n walki n g throu gh
,

tha t German wood an d have stopped by chan ce to spe ak

,

to the l ittle E n glish girl ith her stu pid Sketch had an y ,

thi n g to do with the disaster which so soo n o v ertook that

poor little E n glish girl i n the midst of her happy l ove

whh
.

She had n o reason n on e for thi n ki n g s o She tri ed to

, ,
.

represe n t to herself how foolish S e ad bee n t o e n tertain

h
w
s u ch a n otion how n atu ral an d withou t mean i n g the i n

h
,

e ide n t ad bee n An d n o agai n for the secon d ti m e

w w
,
.
,

w at reason had she t o believe that a nythi n g fat al or even

da n gerou s to Charlie was i n this lady s appearan ce n o ? ’

She was a dis ti ng u ished looki n g wom an m u ch O lder than

w
-
,

Charlie What as more likely than that s u ch a oman

.
,

probably by her looks a married lady a perso n o f impor ,

t an ce s hou ld have a gr eat deal of i n fl u e n ce over a you th

,

like Charlie i f she took n otice of him at all ? All this as

very re aso n able
i n that fool ish terror a n d alarm which
.

h
There was far more se n se i n it than

h
ad take n possess ion
of her mi n d She ad almost pers u aded herself that these
h
h
w
.

apprehe n sion s were fool ish before she reached ome ; a nd

y e t t e mome n t after she had s u cceeded i n reaso n i

all ou t an d con vi n ci n g hers elf how fool i sh t ey h ad been
,

they had rise n u p i n a cro d an d seized er an xiou s mind

ng it

hh ,

aga m .
 T H E SOR CE R ESS 2 33

h
.

It was some d ays beyon d the week which Charlie ad

bee n allowed i n town whe n he came back H e was i n

w
'

h
.

a g itated spirits with a look of mi n gled excitemen t an d ex

,

au s t i on which gave Bee man y alarms b u t which she was

w w
,

n o t s u ffi cie n t ly skilled or experi e n ced to i n terpret Colo .

n e l Ki n gs ar d had n ot come home i n t he i nterval h avi n g ,

h
g o n e so m ewhere else t o spe n d h is weekly
en he did come there were vario u s colloq u ies bet ee n
holiday

h i m and his s on which were eviden t l y of a di s t u rbi n g ki n d

a n d ,

S o me of these we re a bo u t mon ey as was t o be made o u t ,

by variou s all u sio n s Charl ie had either bee n spe n di n g

.

t o o m u ch or had set u p a claim t o more i n the fu tu re a

w
, ,

w
c l aim which his father was rel u ctan t to allow Bu t it .

s e emed that he had come o u t tri u mpha n t i n the e n d to

h
,

j u d ge by t heir res pective looks when they issu ed from ,

t e library together j u st before Colon el K i n gs a r d left

f or to n .

“
I hope a t least you ll m ake a goo d u s e of it were the’

h
,

f ather s last words an d Y ou may t ru st me S i r said

’
—
, ,

C harlie with all t e elation of vic t ory

h
, .

He was i n grea t S pirits all day teasi n g the children , ,

an d givi n g Bee half c on fid e n ce s as t o the great thi n gs e

m ea n t t o do

h
.

They S han t p u t me Off with an y of their be ast ly gov

’

“
e r n o r s i p s a t t he en d of the world
.
said Charlie I ,
.

s h all play f or high stakes Bee I ca n t a ff ord to be a mere ’

.
,

attach é lon g b u t they S han t shelve me at some horri ble

,
’

A frican statio n I c a n te l l y ou That s n ot a ki n d of pro ’

h
, .

m otio n th at will s u it me

w
.

Bu t y o u will ave t o go where y ou are se n t said Bee ,

.

”
O h shall I ? c r ied Charl ie
,
That is all y ou k now .

abou t it Besides whe n a m an has a partic u larly char m

.
,

i ng i H e stopped an d cou ghed over th e words an d

l au ghed an d grew red .

Do y o u th i n k yo u r mann ers are s o partic u larly charm

w
”
i n g ? said Bee with fami l iar scorn u po n which Charl i e ,

l au ghed lou der tha n ever and walked away .

Next d a y h e left home h u rrie d ly sayi n g h e was goi n g to ,

m ake a r u n for a day o r t o to see am a n and came back ,

i n th e same excited exha u sted state o n S a ,

t u rday morn i n g ,

b e fore his father retu rn ed ; a process which was repeated

2 34 T HE SOR C E R E SS .

wh h
almost every week to the great con ste r n ation a

w
,
n d tro u bl e
of Bee For Charlie n ever me n tion ed t ese abse n ces t o

h
.

his father and Bee felt herself spell bo u n d as if she wer e

,
-

i n capable o f doi n g so H o cou l d S e betray er brother ?

.

An d the letters to Lau ra cease d He had n o time n o t o

h
w
.

wri te these lon g letters Neither did h e receive them as .

u sed to b e t e case H ad the correspon de n ce stopped o r

.

was there an y other expl an ation ? Bu t Charl ie talked b u t

little to h is S ister n o an d n ot at all o n th i s s u bj ect ; an d
,

th u s the web of mystery seemed to be woven m ore an d

more abou t his feet Bee alo n e s u specti n g or feari ng any
—

thi n g Bee alon e e n tirely u n able to make it clear

,
.

CHAPT E R XXXII .

T HE year we n t o n i n its u su al ro utin e the boys cam e

h
,

b ack from school there was the u s u al move to the s e asi d e

h
, ,

al l mechan ically performed u n der t e i mp u lse o f u s e an d ,

when the a nn iversary came rou n d o f the mother s deat ’

it passe d an d the black d resses were grad u al l y laid asid e

, .

An d every thi n g came back a n d every body referred t o Bee

as if there had always bee n a slim elder S ister at the head
o f a ff airs Be t ty came home at the e n d of the season with
.

a se n time n t i n respect to Gerald Lyon an d with the pros ,

pe et Of man y ret u rn s to Portma n S q u are b u t n othi n g fi n al

i n her lit t le case n othi n g that preve n ted e r from bei n g
,

h
w
,

h
o n e Of the ri n gleaders i n all the mischief which i n evitably
occ ur red whe n t e fami l y were gathered together Bee .

h
had becom e so premat u rely seri ou s so overwr o u ght with
the cares of t e fami l y that Betty o was too e n ergetic h h ,

h h
, ,

to be s u ppressed grad u ally came to be l o n g rat er to the

w
,

faction of the boys tha n to sha re t e respon sib ilities o f t e

h
e l d er sister which might ave bee n her n at u ral place
,
h .

Th e secon d C ristm as i n stead of bei n g forlor n like the

h
w wh
,

first as al m ost the gayest that ad bee n k n own i n Ki n gs

w
,

w arde n for m an y years For the boy s were grow i n g an d

h h
.
,

h
de m an d ed i n vitation s for thei r frie n d s an d great skat i n g
i l e the frost l aste d w ich as t e pon d at K i n gs ar den
, ,
,

as the best for a g reat n u mber of mile s ro u n d br o u g t ,

 w
T HE SOR C E R E SS . 2 35

ma n y cheerfu l you thf u l visitors abou t the hou se Colon el

w
.

K i ngs a r d was n othi n g if n o t correct ; he did n o t n eglect

th e i n teres ts of an y of his childre n He perceived at on ce .

th at to h ave Bee alon e at th e head of affairs witho u t an y

s u pport especially whe n his o n time at home was so
,

m u ch broke n by vis i ts wo u ld be bad at on ce f or her pros

,

p e cts an d for the d i scipli n e Of the family H e proc u red

”
.

a h armless n ecessary a u n t accordi n gly a perm a n e n t m em ,

b e r Of the ho u sehold yet on ly a visitor who co u ld be dis

h
w
,

pl aced at an y time to provide for all n ecessary proprieties

, ,

an arran ge m e n t w ich left him very free to g o an d come

as b e pleased An d th u s life r es u med its u s u al light n ess
.

an d yo u th tri u mphed an d thi n gs at K i n gs ar d en we n t o n

,

‘
a s of old with a l
,
ittle more i n stead of less commotio n an d
compa n y an d e n tertai n me n t as the you n g people developed
an d advan ced .

I t was perhaps n at u ral e n ou g t o o i n t e circ u mstan ces h h

h
th at Charlie tho u gh the ol d est s on shou ld be so little at
,

om e H e came for Christmas b u t he did n o t throw

.

h i m self i n to the festivi t ies with the spirit he ou ght to h ave

,
,

S h ow n H e was i n a fitf ul state of mi n d sometimes i n

h
.
,

h igh S pi r its sometimes overclou ded an d impatie n t c on

, ,
'

t e m p t u o u s of the boys a s ha v i n g himself reac ed s o dif

,

f e r e n t a li n e o f de v elopme n t a n d i n di ff ere n t to all the

,

h
fam ily re u n ion s an d pleasu res Sometimes it seemed to

ww
.

Bee who was t e o n ly o n e i n the family who con cer n ed

,

h
h erself abou t Ch arlie s moo d s th at e was an xiou s an d
h
’

h
,

u n h appy a n d that th e a
,
i r of bei n g bored w ich he p u t o n
s o readily a n d the h u rried
,
ay i n hich e r u shed ou t
an d i n impatie n t of the family calls u po n him co n ceale d

w
, ,

a secret tro u ble H e comp l ai n ed to her Of wan t Of mo n ey

h
w
.
,

of his father s n iggardli n ess Of th e u n happy lot o f yo un g

’

h h
,

h
m e n who n e v er ad an y margi n who dared n ot spe n d
”

h h
,

h
an e xtra S ill i n g w i t o u t t i n ki n g wh ere it as t o come

w whw
h h
from Bu t whether t is was i s o nl y tro u ble or o it
.
,

c am e abou t that he ad d i s c overed i m self to be so poor

h
,

B e e poor child who kn ew so little co u ld n o t d i v i n e a How

, ,

m i s erable it as th a t i t as s e o was i n the mother s

’

l ace ! Mamma wo u l d have d ivi n ed she wo u ld have u n

p ,

d e r s t o o d she wo u l d have helped him thro u gh that di ffi c u lt

,

p a s s ag e ; b u t what cou ld Be e do who k n ew n othi n g abo u t ,

2 36 T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
.

life who thou ght it v ery l ikely that S e was m aki n g

w h h
,

mo un tai n s o u t of molehills an d that all you n g m e n were ,

bored an d u n easy at ome ? O if peo ple wou ld on ly be

h
,

al l good all happy with each other all rea d y to do what

, ,

pleased t e hole i n stead o f m erely what pleased th e m

,

selves !
To Bee s o premat u rely i n trodu ced i n to the midst of
,

those j ars an d i n di vid u al strivi n gs of w i ll an d fa n cy it ,

w w
seemed as if everythi n g might be made so easy i n life by
this simple method If on ly everybody wou ld be good ! .

The reader may thi n k it was a n u rs e ry V iew Of h u ma n

l ife ; an d y e t what a sol u tio n it wou ld give to ever y prob
lem ! Colon el K i ngs ar d the n wou ld have bee n m ore at

h
home wou ld have b e e n the real father h
o co m m a n ded

h
,

his c ildre n s con fide n ce i n stea d of papa whose p e c u l

’

ia r i t i e s had to be st u died i n whose prese n ce the c ildre n

,

had t o be h u shed an d every occasion Of dist u rba n ce

h
a voided an d of whom they were all more or le s s afraid

h
,

An d C arlie wo u ld have been more or less a secon d to

.

him t o u ghtfu l o f all chivalrou s t o the girls fon d of

hh
h
w
, , ,

home i n stead o f as e was pa u si n g as i t were on o n e

, , ,

foot w ile he was with i s family a n xiou s on ly to get

w
-

h
,

away An d Bee well Bee perhaps wo u ld have bee n dif

—

h
.
,

f er e n t t oo had t at n e yet o l d golde n r u le come i n to

, ,

fu ll e ffi cacy O if everybody i n cl u di n g always o n e s ’

h hh
.
, ,

o n self wo u ld on ly be good !
,

It makes t e head go ro u n d to t i n k what a won derfu l

w
revol u tion i n the world ge n eral l y t e adoption of that
si mpl est method wo u l d prod u ce But i n poor Bee s ex ’

w
.

p e r i e n c e it was the last ru le l ikely to be adopted i n Ki n gs

w
ard en where more an d m ore to the p u zzled co n scio u s

w
, ,
n ess of the girl n ot a ble to cope with S O ma n y warri n g
i n divid u alities ever y o n e was goi n g his o n way
, .

It was i n the early spri n g that Colo n el K i n g s a r d came

down fr om tow n to K i ngs ar d e n looki n g less like the

adoption of this met od than ever before The childre n h
h h h
.

were i n the hall w en he came b u sy wit some great ,

game i n which vario u s S ki n s w ich were ge n er ally l ai d

o u t there were i n u s e as properties maki n g it m u st b e
‘

h
, ,

al l owed a sce n e of con fu sion i n th at p l ace Th e col on el

, .

was n o t expected H e ad walked from the station an d

.
,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 2 37

tho iled cehais voice

r o r of
e s untopped h with as dde hor
frigh
of

t which i deed was nd

compli
s t e f un u n
S n , ,
n ,
not
m
thace with a voice whic h
childre were allowed
e make s ch a co f si
n
t
e tary to a fa her I stead of greeti gs he asked why
n
the
. n

to u
n
n u on in

h l pe etrated the depths the to of

w
p , n
se a bro gh t Bee a Betty flyi g from the drawi g
ou nd u nd n n
r o o m .

”
Papa ! they both cried i n su rprise m i n gled with

h
,

al arm Colon el K i n gs ar d wa l ked i n to the room they

.

ad le f t orderi n g peremp tori l y the childre n to the n u rs

,

e r y ; b u t fi n di n g certai n frie n ds of Betty s there i n fu ll

'

e n j oyme n t o f talk a n d tea retreated agai n t o his l i brary

h
, ,

B e e followi n g n erv ou sly

h
w h
.

Is you r brother here ? he asked arshly establ i shi n g ,

i m self with i s back t o the fire

w h h
.

”
My brother ? echoed Bee for i n deed there were half a

w h
h
,

d oze n a nd o ,
was s e to k n ow on the spu r o f the mo
m e n t whic e mea nt ?

hh
w
Colon el K i n gs ar d looked i n th e partial ligh t ( for a

h
.

l amp i e smoked had bee n bro u ght i n h u rriedly to ,

m ake thi n gs worse ! as if he wou ld have l iked to seize i s

,

d a u ghter a n d wri n g her sle n der n eck He we n t o n ith .

addition al irritation : I said yo u r brother

“
The others .
,

Ih ave n o do u bt will provide tro u ble e n ou gh i n their

,

t u rn For the mome n t it is o f cou rse Charlie I mean

w
.
, , .

Is b e here ?
Papa ! Why he is at O xford y ou k n ow i n the

h
, , ,

school s
Colon el Ki ngs ar d lau ghed arshly He was goi n g
i n for ho n ors wasn t he ? Wan ted to go u p to read i n t e
’
.

h
h
,

lon g vacation was fu ll of what he was goi n g to do ?

—

Well ! it has all e n ded i n le s s t an n othi n g as I mig ht ,

h ave k n ow n it wo u ld R ead that ! h e cried tossi n g a

”

h
.
,

letter on the tabl e

h .

Bee wit her heart S ick took u p an d ope n ed t e letter

,

an d stru ggled to read 1 n her agitat i o n an exceedi n g ly bad

,

han d by an i ndi ff ere n t light She made ou t e n ou gh to .

see th at Charlie had n o t s u cceeded i n his schools that he ,

“
had n o t eve n sec u red a pass that he had i n c u rred the ,

con ti n u al ce nsu re of his col l ege a u thorities b y S hirki n g

lectu res faili ng i n e n gageme n ts an d doi n g absol u te l y n o
, ,
2 38

work So far as was k n o n th ere was n othi n g agai n st i s

.

mora l character b u t Bee to whom the ce n su re o f

,

the colle g e so u n ded like a se n te n ce Of death p u t do w n

T HE

w S O R C E R E SS

,
.

h
h
,

the dreadf u l letter carefu lly as if it might explode an d , ,

rai sed large eyes wide n ed with a l ar m an d misery t o er

h
w
, ,

father s face ’
.

”
O papa ! was all that she cou ld say
,
.

I telegraphed to him to come home at on c e an d m ee t

me here The fool said Colon el K i n gs ar d paci n g
.
,

abo u t the room is capable of n o t do i n g t h at o f g oi n g —

away Of
h
h
—

Pap a they say there is n othi n g agai n st his c arac t e r

,

O ! y o u co u l dn t thi n k t at e wou ld d o an ythi n g dre ad

f u l ; n o t disa ppear n ot
’

Bee said the rest i n an an

hh — e
.

u
g “ ish O f s u spicio n an d ign ora n ce with her e y es .

God k n ows what an idiot like that may do ! Thi n g s

w
are bad e n ou gh b u t he will Of cou rse thi n k them wor s e

h h
w
,

th an they are There is on e thi n g we m ay be su re o f

e said with a fierce la u g
,

make imself u n comfortable

.

Ch arlie will d o n ot hi n g to
H e k n ows o to take
h ,

h
,

h
.

care of himself Colon el K i ngs ar d walked up an d dow n

w
.

the room gn awi n g t e e n d of his m u stache The lamp .

smoked b u t he took n o n otice of it There is o n e thi n g .

certai n h e said an d that is th at there s a wom a n i n it

, ,
’
.

I remember n o he was always thi n ki n g Of som ethi n g

like an as s I s u p p o s e d i t was his st u dies N O dou bt it was
'

w
.

some Jezebel or other .

Papa said Bee ,

.

Spe ak o u t ! Has he told y ou an ythi n g ? H e stoppe d

i n fro n t of h er a n d stood looki n g ith threaten i n g eye s

w
,

i n to her face I f y o u keep back a n ythi n g from me he

h
.
,
“
s aid you r brother s ru i n will be o n yo ur head ’

h h
.
,

Papa said Bee falteri n g it is n ot m u c I k n ow I

h
, , , .

k n ow t at there was a la d y o lived i n O xford ,

Ah ! The l on g vacation he exclai m ed wit an other

h
w
, ,

a n gry lau gh .

“
H e u se d to write lon g letters to her and e told me

h
,
”
her n ame .

“
T at is somethi n g to the pu rpose What as her .

”
n ame ?
He sai d said Bee i n a horror of b e trayi n g h er broth er
, , ,
 T HE s o R c E R E ss . 2 39

yet imp e lled to speak he said that she was called La

, u ra —
,
”
apa
p “ .

”
What he cried for Bee s voice had s u n k ve ry low ;
?
,
’

an d the n he t u r n ed away agai n with an i mpat ie n t ex

h calli n g her agai n al i tt l e fool

h
“
c l amatio n ,
Lau ra; c on .

f o u n d e r ! Wh at does that m atter ? I thou gh t y o u ad

s o me real i n formatio n to give .

hPapa said Be e timidly the re is a little more thou gh

,

p er aps it isn t i n formation Whe n h e took me to t e

’
, ,

h
ww
.

A cade my i n su m m er I saw him meet a la d y O h n o t a ,

h
,
.

common pe rso n a b e au tifu l gran d looki n g lady Bu t i t

, ,
-
.

co u ld n o t be the same Bee added after a p au se for S e

w
, , ,

as m u ch Older than Charlie n o t a yo u n g la d y at all ,

.

Why di d n t y o u te l l m e this at the time ? cri e d Colo

’ ”

ar d
h
“
n e l K i ngs Can o n e n ever sec u re the tru th eve n
.

from o n e s o n childre n ? I sho u ld ha ve se n t i m o ff at

’

o n ce h ad I k n ow n What d o y ou mean by n ot yo u n g at
.

al l ?
I shou l d thi nk s ai d Be e with d i ffi d en ce an d a great

wh
o

h
an xiety n o t to exaggerate s u ch a d readfu l stateme n t that

h
w
,
”
s e mi gh t perhaps have bee n thirty papa —
,
.

Y o u l itt l e idiot her fat er ki n dly replied

, .

Why as S e a litt l e i diot ? Bu t Bee had n o t time to go

i n to that qu estion The eve n i n g as fu ll of agitation an d

w h
.

an xiety .The poor l ittle girl u n u sed to s u ch se n sation s , ,

sa t thro u g di n n er .in a qu i v er of a n xio u s abs tra c tion

h h
,

l i sten i n g for every so u n d There were s everal tra i n s by

w w
.

hich e mig t stil l come an d at an y mome n t whe n the

w
,

d oor ope n ed Charlie might prese n t himself p a le with ,

d ow n fall a n d dis t ress to mee t his father s a n gry l ook

h
’

, ,

hose eyes were fixed o n the d oor e n ever it ope n ed

h
ww w
ith as m u ch preocc u pation as Bee s wit this di ff eren ce ’

w
—
,

that Bee s eyes were soft with exc u ses an d pity while
h
’

h
,

th ose brillia n t steely eyes which shon e fro m be n eath e r

w w
father s dark brows an d whic
’
ere the origi n als o f her

h
,

o n blazed with a n ger

,
Whe n di n n er as over hich .
,

w
e h u r ried throu gh dist u rbi n g the serva n ts i n their ,

h
l eisu re l y rou ti n e Colo n el K i n g s ar d agai n called Bee to
i m i n to the library
,

She was the o n ly person to ho m

h h
.

h e co u ld tal k of the su bj ect of wh ich his mi n d was f u l l ,

i ch was t e sol e reason for this great disti n ction ; for

2 40 THE S OR C E R E SS .

w
he had v ery litt l e patie n ce with Bee s trembli n g re m arks ’

w h h
.

Don t be a little fool was the an swer he m ade t o an y

’

timid su ggestion u po n which s e ve n tu red ; bu t yet t ere

w
was a n ecessity u pon him to disc u ss it ith some o n e ,

“
h
an d Bee ho ever i n adequ ate h ad this bu rden to bear
,

If t e woman is the ki n d y ou s ay an d if she thi n ks

there s an ythi n g to be made by i t
’
the fool may h ave
,

— h ,
.

y ,
”
married her he cried ,
H eave n s ! thi n k of it ; m arried
.

at t hree an d twe n ty withou t a pen n y ! Bu t he added

- -
, , ,

colori n g a l ittle they are ve r y k n owi n g these wome n

, ,
.

She wou ld fin d o u t that he was n o t worth her whil e an d ,

”
probabl y throw him Off i n t ime .

”
O h papa ! c r i ed Bee horrified by the thou ght th at her
, ,

brother might be deserted i n the mom e n t of his d ow n fall .

“
That is th e best we c an hope He will have Ki n gs

w w
.

warden o f cou rse whe n I die b u t n o t a pe nn y n o t a

, , ,
—

pe nn y i n the mean time to keep u p an y su ch r idic u lo u s

Listen ! is that the trai n ?

hh
w
There as a c u tti n g n ear K i n gs ar d en throu gh wh ich the
th u n deri n g o f the trai n was heard as it passed T is ad .
-

been a great griev an ce at first b u t it was n o t with ou t i ts

h
,

con ve n ie n ces to the acc u stomed ears of the ho u sehold n o .

They both liste n ed wit a n xiety k n owi n g that by this ,

time it m u st have stopped at the station an d deposit e d

an y passe n ger an d for the n ext half hou r watched an d

w
-
,

waited ; Bee with all her bei n g i f! her ears l i ste n i ng

, ,

with an i n te n sity Of atten tion su ch as sh e had n ever

k n ow n be f ore holdi n g her breath ; while Colon el Ki n gs
,

ward himself tho u gh e kep t al ki n g u p an d down the

,

room d id so with a softe n ed step which made n o sou nd

h ’

o n th e thick carpet n o t u tteri n g a word liste n i n g too

h
ww
, , .

To describe all the so u n d s they h eard or tho u ght t ey ,

hear d how Often the gate seemed to swi n g i n the distan ce

, ,

an d the gravel star t u n der a q u ick foot wou ld be e n d l ess

h
, .

It was the l ast trai n ; if he did n ot come n o it wou ld b e

w
cl e ar t at he di d n o t mea n to com e An d it was n o t oo .

late for an y telegram Whe n it was n o lon ger possible t o

.

believe that he cou ld have bee n detai n ed on the way ,

Colo n el K i n g s ar d drew a l on g bre ath Of that dis appoint

h
me n t which i n the yieldi n g of n erv ou s te n sion is almost
,

f or t e mome n t ar el i ef .
,
 S OR C E R E SS

w
T HE . 241

w
If there is n o let ter t o morrow morn i n g I shall g o u p -

h
t o O xford he said ; an d Bee if y ou like y ou c a
,

it me Y o u m ight be of u s e Don t s ay an y t i n g t o
n come , ,

h
w
’

. .

B etty or you r a u n t Say y ou are goi n g ith me t o t own

w
.

by the early trai n an d that y ou may possibl y n ot retu rn

h
,

t ill n ext day Ther e is n o n eed for sayi n g an y more

w hh
. .

Yes papa said Bee su bmissively That as all e

,
”
, .

k n ew ! N O n eed for sayi n g an y more to Betty o had ,

k n o w n every moveme n t her S ister mad e si n ce e v er S e

as bor n ! Bu t at all even ts Bee made u p her mi n d to
e scape e xp l a n ation s s o far as she co u ld t o n ight She
h
w
’

-
.

p a u sed f or a mom en t at th e door of t e drawi n g room as -

sh e p assed No more peacef ul sce n e cou ld have bee n

h
.
,

prese n ted Betty was at the pian o S i n g in g on e son g a

. ft er
an oth er half f or practice half to am u se the a u n t
,
o sa
,
t ,

d o zi n g i n her chai r by the fire The others had gon e t o

wh
.

b ed an d careless you th an d still more careless age k n ow

, , ,

i n g n othi n g O f a

w
n y tro u ble p u rs u ed their u su al occu pation s

h h
,

i n pe r fec t com posu re a n d calm The au n t kn itted me .

c an i c all y an d dozed i n the armth an d qu iet which s e

,

l o ved An d Betty wen t on S i n gi n g e r son gs i n di ff ere n t to

.
,

h er a u dien ce y e t cl ai m i n g atte n tion breaki n g off n o

, ,

an d th e n i n the middl e o f a li n e to ask

-
DO y ou like that , ,

A u n t E llen ? Are y ou payi n g a

”
n y atte n tio n A u n t E llen ? ,
”
Yes my dear I like it very m u ch
,
the Old lady sai d ,

h
, ,

an d dozed ag ai n Bee t u rn ed away with a s u ppressed sob

w h
. .

W here was Ch arlie i n disgrace perhaps eart b roken , ,

-
,

d eserted by his l ove afraid to mee t i s father ? It was ,

foolish t o th i n k that h e was ou t i n the n i ght wan deri n g ,

i t hou t S helter withou t hope for there was n o n eed o f

, ,

an y s u ch tra g ic circ u mstan ces b u t this was th e pic t ure ,

th at presen ted itself to Bee s achin g an d i n experie n ced ’

h eart .

CHAPT E R XXXI I I

w h
.

hw h
C H AR LIE was n o t i n his rooms at colleg e ; he ad n ot b een
th ere f or some day s an d n obody cou ld fu rn ish any i n f or
,

m at ion as to where he was Colon el K i n g s ar d had left .

Be e i n the hote l whi l e e ent on t o make i s i n qu iri es .

1 6
2 42

w THE S OR C E RE SS .

h
w
H e as very g u ard e d i n the qu est ion s he asked f or th o u g ,

he was himself very an g ry with his s on he was still c ar e

h
f u l f or Charl ie s repu t ation explai n i n g even t o the c o ll e g e
’

h
w
por ter ,
o was very well acq u ai n ted with the eccen tri c i
t ie s o f the ge n tl em e n that he h ad n o do u b t his s o n ad

w
,

return ed home tho u gh they had un fort u n ately cro s s e d

h
,

e ach other on t he way The colo nel tr i ed to keep u p th is

h
w
.

fiction eve n with the sympathe t ic B OII o made m a t t e rs ,

s o m u ch worse by his compassio n but o was very f u l l

w
—

h
an d detailed i n his relation Of poor Charlie s backslid i n gs
h
’

t e heavi n es s of whose gate bill a n d the amo un t of o se

wh
si n s an d pen alties were terrible to hear H e had atte n d e d .

n o l ect u res he had , ritte n n o essays ; he had be e n d u m b

an d blan k i n e v ery exami n ation .

“
Ou t of consideratio n t o y ou Colon el K i n g s a rd t e , ,

college has bee n ver y forbeari ng an d sh u t its eyes as l o n g ,

a s possible .

I wish S ir the college had shown more common s e n s e

, ,

an d let me k n ow t he colon el cried i n wrath ; b u t th at

h
,

did n o t throw a n y light u pon the s u bj ect

As it tu rn ed ou t Charlie ad n o t gon e i n f or i s
.

h
h
h
”
schools at all H e had don e no thi n g that he ou g t t o

h
.

have don e What thi n gs he ad don e which he ou gh t n o t

h
.

to have do n e remai n ed to be discovered H is stern fat er .

did n ot dou b t t at a su ffi cie n t n u mber of these a c t u al

o Ee n c e s wou ld soo n be fou n d t o a d d t o the virt u es om it t e d

h
.

He wen t back t o th e hotel where Bee had bee n spe n d i n g

a miserable morn i n g an d t ey sat together i n gloom an d

h
,

silen ce

h
.

“
Y ou ad better go home he said t o her H e m ay
,
.

ha v e g ot home by this time ; an d I don t see w at u s e y o u ’

ca n b e here .

Bee was very s u bmissive yet begged ard to ret u r n as h

w
,

far as Lon don a t le ast with her father to wai t f or an ot h e r

h
,

da y i n c ase some t race o f the pro d igal might be fo u n d

h
.

Man y su ch parties have occu pied the d reary otel roo m s

an d stared i n vai n o ut o f the wi n dows a n d watch ed it

w h
,

sick hearts the passi n g thron g the shoals of u n d e r g r ad u ,

ates to their eyes all d u tifu l and well doi n g whil e t e

,
-

h
,

o n e i n whom they are co n cern ed is abse n t i n wh a t e vi l

ay s they k n ow n ot Poor Bee was t oo y o un g to fee l t e

.
h
f ull
T HE S OR C E R E S S

weight o f su ch alarms ; b u t she as as miserable as if

.

w 2 43

w
e had k n ow n everythi n g that co u ld happe n i n the vagu e

ww
s

h h
n e ss of her co n sciou s n ess o f d espair a n d pai n What

w
h
.

C arlie co u ld ave do n e what wo u ld become of him what

, ,

i s father o u l d do or cou ld do were all h idde n from Bee , .

B u t there was i n it all a v agu e misery hich was almost

o rse th a n c l ear per c eption Colon el K i n g s ar d with
.
,

al l his k n owle d ge of the worl d was scarcely le s s v ag u e , .

H e did n o t k n ow how to fin d o u t t he sec r ets of a n u n der

h
g r ad ua te Charlie . had frie n ds b u t all of
t at they had seen very little of h im o f late He had falle n
them protes
, t ed

h
.

o ff f r om sports a n d exerc i se as m u ch as from st u dy He

w
h
.

ad scarcely bee n o n th e cricket grou n d all th e s u mmer ;

e had gi v e n u p football ; boati n g on the ri v er with

w
l ad ies he had bee n see n b u t n ot recen tly for the fl o o d s
, , ,

e re o u t a n d s u ch am u sem en ts were n o lon ger practicable

h
w h
,
.

A t n i gh t the colon el kn ew almost as li t tle a bo u t his s on as

w w h
e n he had arrived fu ll of certai n ty that t e whole matter
c o u ld be cleared u p i n a few ho u rs

h h
Next day beg an g l oo m i l y i t an other visit to t e Do n
.

h
h
,

om Colon el K i n g s ar d hoped to ave see n the last of o n

t eir former exasperati n g i n terview As he had d i s c o v

h
.

e red n othi n g elsewhere he we n t back agai n to the a u thor

i t y who
,
ad a l so hoped o n his side t o be free from th e

hh
an xio u s b u t imp a tien t father an d they ad an other lon g
t alk w ich e n d ed li ke the first i n n oth i n g T e college
,
h h
h h
.
,

p o te n tate a d n o idea where the yo u th co u l d have go n e .

h
C harlie a

h
d left most of his property sti l l i n i s rooms ; he
ad gon e ou t with o n ly a little bag n obody s u specti n g
h
w
,

i m of a n i n t en t i on t o go dow n
'

After they ad gon e .

o ver the q u e s t i o n a gai n the Do n bei n g by n o mean s as

,

sympathe t ic as the first time an d con tri bu ti n g a good deal

h
,

t o Colo n el K i n g s a r d s acq u ai n ta n ce with his s o n 5 pro

’

c e e di n g s a s u d d e n l ight was for the first time t rown

—

“
u po n the q u estio n by a chan ce remark Y ou k n ow of .
,
"
c o u rse that he had frie n d s i n O xford
’

wh w
,

Like other yo u n g m e n Is u ppose Ihave see n several

h
.
,

o f them a n d they c a n give me n o i n formation

h
.
,

I don t mea n u n d ergr ad u ates ; people livi n g i n t e town

’

la di es said the Don

i th a bl u s
.

.
o was a yo u n g m a
,

An d aft er se n d i n g for C a
n a l most
rl i e s scou t and h ’
,
2 44 THE

maki n g variou s o t her i n qu iries Colon el K i ng s ar d was

S O RC E R E SS .

w
w
h w
w
,

fu r nished with an address H e we n t back t o t e h otel

w
.

h
qu ickly i n some excite m e n t to i n form Bee of the n e cle

hw h
e had obtai n ed b u t had scarcely reach ed the room where
,

she was awaiti n g him he n he was told that a lady ad

h
w
j u st asked for i m do n stairs Bee was se n t o ff im m e .

di a t e l y t o her room ile her father received this u n e x

w
p e c t e d visitor Bee had bee n watch i n g at the wi n dow all
.

the m orn i n g looki n g do n u pon that world of you n g m e n

,

all goi n g abo u t their work or their pleasu re all i n t eir ,

h
h
,

fit place while Charlie as n o on e k n ew where T e

h
wh h
.
,

poor girl had been breaki n g her he art over that th ou g t

ww hhww
,

wistfu lly watchi n g t e othe r s amon g w om he ou gh t to

have bee n feeli n g the pan g o f that comparison som eti m es
, ,

imagi n i n g sh e s a a figu re like his i n the distan ce an d ,

atchi n g as i t approache d o every trace of r e sembl an ce

, ,

died away Where was he Where was he ? Be e s y o u n g

’ ’

h
.

heart as very sore T e v a c an cy as appalli n g t o her

.
,

fil li n g itself with all ki n ds of v i sion ary s apes o f te r ror .

She cou ld n o t believe that perhaps Charl ie was c om f or ta

ble e n ou gh somewhere i n n o gre at d an ger of an y ki n d
, .

She co u ld th i n k o f h im on ly as wan deri n g away i n mis

ery an d desp air feeli n g himself to have failed ash amed

w
,

h
,

an d afraid to look an y o n e i n the face She scarcely u n .

d e r s t oo d her father whe n he h u rried er o u t of the s i tt i n g

w
room b u t obeyed h im w i th a sen se o f trou ble an d i n j ury

w w
,

h
,

thou gh witho u t k n o i n g why .

h
Bee spen t a very forlorn hou r i n her room Sh e eard
the sou n d o f t e v oices n ext d oor ; her father s
kn own ton es an d a low voice hich she felt m u st be a
ell
.

w hh
woman s She wou ld h a
,

ve bee n m u ch tempted t o li s te n
’
.

t o what they said if it had bee n possible b u t there

door betwee n th e rooms an d s e cou ld on ly hear th at a h
as n o ,

w
,

lon g an d close con vers ation as goi n g o n witho u t m ak

h
,

i n g o u t a word of it She was very restless i n e r a n xiety

.
,

wan deri n g from t e wi n d ow to th e door w ich she o pe n e d

whw
,

w
with a d esire to hear better hich defe ated itse l f an d t o ,
—

see bett e r thou gh there was n othi n g to be see n It see m ed

, .

to Bee th at half the d ay was ov er before th e so u n d o f m o ve

me n t i n the si t ti n g room ar n ed her that the con fere n ce
-

as b r eaki n g u p Eve n af ter tha t t ere a

. s al on g p a u s e ,
 w
T HE S O R C E R E SS 2 45

h
.

w
an d t e t al ki ng we n t on thou gh i t moved closer to t he

w
,

d o or Bee had gra du ally grow n i n excite ment as those

w
.

h
.

s o u n ds we n t on She st ol e t o her o n half open door as -

h
.
,

t e on e n ext t o i t a s ope n ed a n d the v isitor came forth

h
,

at te n ded with t e great est co u rtesy by Colon el K i n g s a rd

h
,

o accomp a n i e d her t o the stairs There the l ady t u rn ed

h
.

h
r o u n d an d ga v e i m her han d t urni ng her face towar d ,

ww
t e spot where the u n s u spected wa t cher s t ood gazi n g wit
e y e s o f wo n der a

w
n d t e r ror

h
.

N ot an oth er s t ep
”
she said with a swee t bu t deci d ed
, ,

v o i ce . T e on ly t hi n g I will a s k from y o u Colon el ,

K i ngs a rd i ll b e a li n e a si n gle li n e t o s a
, ,y that all is ,

e ll.

Y ou may r el y u pon that the colon el said bowi n g , ,

o v er the ha n d h e hel d b u t may n ot I see y o u t o you r

h
,

w
ca
”
r riage call yo u r s e rv a n t ?
,

h
h
I am walki n g s e said an d I am alon e ; come n o f u r
,

t er pleas e ; on e li n e t o say that all is well

,

e ld her ha n d a
,

He s till
n d she ga v e it a little sign ifica n t press u re
.

, ,

ad di n g i n a l o t on e : A n d happy an d forgiven ?
— ”

Bee stood as if she had been t u rn ed t o sto n e a little , ,

c l a n desti n e fi g ure with i n the shelter o f the door

,
I t was .

a beau tifu l face that was th u s t u rn ed towar d her f or am i n

h h
u t e u n co n sciou s of her sc r u ti n y a
,

n ot a woman like a
n d the voice was sweet
n y other wo m an !
, .

w
O ,
She said to her
s e lf that s e remem b ered the voice a n d wo u l d have k n ow n
i t an ywhere a n d the look h a lf ki n d y e t with a tou ch of

h
, , ,

r i d ic u le of mockery i n i t
,
This was evi de n tly n ot what
.

ht e colon el felt H e descen ded a f e of the stairs after

.

e r u n til t u rn i n g agai n with a smi l e a

,
n d wi th her ha n ds
e xte n ded as if t o drive him back she for b ade his f u rther ,

atte n da n ce H e retu rn ed to the sitti n g room tho u ght

.
-

f u lly yet with ac u riou s softe n ed expression u pon his f ace

, ,

an d a few mi n utes afterward n ot a t o n ce he came to the , ,

d oor agai n a n d called Bee

,
There was still a smile l i n
.

geri n g abo u t his l ips thou gh his mou th had sti ff e n ed back
,

w
i n to i t s u s u al somewh at stern compo s u re

h
.

“
Come i n he s aid I h ave somethi n g to tell y o u I
, , .

a ve had a v ery stran ge visit avisit from a lady —

.

”
I saw her said Bee u n der her breath b u t her father
, ,

as t oo mu ch preocc u pied to hear .

 SOR C E R E SS

w
2 46 THE .

If this was as I s u ppose t e lady whom y ou an d you r

,

brother met y ou are right Bee i n thi n ki ng her v ery r e

,
h
, , ,

markable She is on e of the han dsomest omen I e ver

.

saw an d with a charm abou t her which B u t of co u rse

h
, , ,

what y ou wan t t o hear is abou t Charlie I am glad t o tell .

y o u that she as very m u ch relieved my mi n d abo u t Ch ar

lie Bee
,
.

Bee stood before her father with her ha n ds fo l ded with

h
,

the m ost c u riou s sen se o f revolt an d opposition i n her

mi n d looki ng a t him a spectator wo u ld have said wit
h
—
, ,

somethi n g of the stern n ess t at was h abitu al to him b u t ,

so very i n appropriate on her soft brow She made n o reply .

t o this Her co un te n an ce did n ot rel ax R elieved abou t

. .

Charlie ? N o ! Bee did n ot believe it Pity an d terror

w
.

f o r Charlie seemed t o ta ke stron ger an d stronger possession

of her heart .

It is a lon g story h e said Sit dow n ; y ou h ave got

,
.

a way o f stan di n g stari n g my d ear I ish y ou had more ,

.

womanly models like the lady I have j u st bee n talki n g to

,

— perfectly clear an d straightforward i n what she said b u t ,

wi t h a femi n i n e grace an d sweetn ess Well ! it appears

w w
that Charlie had the good l u ck to get i n trod u ced to this
lady abo u t a year ago Sit down I tell y ou I won t h ave ’

w
.
, ,

y o u stari n g at m e i n that ru de way .

There as a little pau se an d Bee sat down abru ptly , ,

an d n o t very gracefu lly Colon el K in gs ar d cou l d n ot

.

b u t remark th e d i E er e n ce H e follo ed her m ovemen ts .

for a mome n t with his eyes an d the n he began agai n :

h h
w
,

From all I c an make ou t he has bee n treated with a

h
,

ki n d n ess whic sho u ld ave don e everythi n g for a yo u ng

h
ma n He as bee n i nvited to the hou se o f these l adies
.

e has met all sorts of people o o u g t to be o f u s e to

him W hom it was a disti n ct adva ntage t o meet e has

h h h —
,

bee n kept ou t of the u su al foolish diversion s o f you n g m en .

S o far as I c a n make ou t there is n othi n g ag a i n s t his

,

character except what these Don fellows call i d le n ess a - —

h
,

thi n g that scarcely tells agai n st a yo u n g m an i n after life -

,

u nless he is a parson or a sc ool master or somethi n g of -

h
, ,
”
that ki n d E ve n the missi n g of his de g ree said the
.
,

c ol on el p ull i ng his m u st ac e r e fl e ct i v el y
,
“
is of li t tle ,

importa n ce amon g practical m e n So lon g as he c an ge t .

 THE S O R C E RE SS 247

h
.

w
t o gh
r his mo er la g ages a
u in d
fo h what n n u ,
nd s o rt ,
of
m
i porta ce are the classics
n I m ve y m ch relieved ?
a r u in
m y m i n d abo u t Char lie . She thi n ks he mu st have gon e
s t raight
h
do n to Lon don

h
W o is the l ady papa ? ”
,
i n stead of goi n g home .

h
,

Bee s i n teres t i n C arl ie seemed t o have dropped as

’

w
h
,

t e colon el s had don e f o r th e momen t His ad v ocate

’

w w w
.
,
,

ad made herself th e first person on their horizon

wh h
.

The l ad y P
s o far as I c a
— n ma ke ou t she is livi n g here

h it some frie n ds u p i n the distri ct called t e Parks

e re a grea t ma n y people n o
,

live She says she has

al ays take n an i n terest i n the u n dergrad u ates o are
.

h
,

w
l e ft s o s adly to themselves an d that bei n g o f an age t o ,

m ake it possible she h as wished ver y m u ch to de v ote her

h
,

s e lf t o d o what she co u ld for these b oy s U n fort u n ately ,

ith her u n u su al person al attraction s T e colon el

s t opped short a n d bit his m u stache After all her ki n d .

n es s t o you r brother e n cou ragi n g h im i n h is work a nd

h
,

s e tt i n g his d u ty before him an d n o elder sister n o mother

—

h
,

c o u l d have bee n ki n der from all s e tell s me the foolish

w
—
,

b o y repaid her good o ffi ces b y w at do y ou thi n k ? b u t —

”
y o u will n ever g u ess .

An d I will n ever n ever believe it ,

cr ied Bee if i t , ,

as a n ythi n g an ythi n g that was n ot n ice on Charlie s

—
’

h
”
art ! H er voice was q u ite hoarse i n her emotio n her
p ,

s ecret f u ry a gai n st t is woma n o f whom she k n ew n oth ,

i n g ri si n g more a n d m ore

ww
.
,

Y ou little fool ! her father sai d risi n g a

”
n d s t an d i n g ,

u p agai n st the ma n tel piece H e lau ghed an grily an d

-
.
,
“
l ooked at her with his most con tempt u ou s air On e .

o u ld thi n k that eve n i n their cradles wom en m u st begi n

h
to hate wome n he said
Bee ,
,
.

o hate d n o o n e ( u n less it was t his woman whom

h
she feared b u t did n o t k n ow ! grew an gry red H er bl u e
eyes flas ed an d shon e l ike n orthern l i ghts The cru el
an d con temptu ou s ass u mption whic to u ched her pri de o f
,

h .
.

sex ad d ed veheme n ce t o the other emotion which was al

read y stron g e n o u gh an d ro u sed e r u p i n to a ki n d of
fu ry
,
h
h hh
.

If she s ay s an yth i n g b ad of Charlie I d on t believe it ’

s e cried
“
not a word n o t a word !
,
What ev er e a
,
s
2 48 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

d o n e , she a h
s dri v e n him to i t !
sile n t , p an ti n g, terrifie d or afraid h
The n Bee was s u d de n ly
that e r little o utb u rst
of passio n wou ld clo s e all f u rther revelat ion s .

It seems u nn ecessary t o ad d an oth er word i n fac e o f

su ch fierce prej u dice !
“
O h papa forgive m e
,
Tell me ; I shall say n ot i n g
,
. h
more

h h
.

Y ou h ave said a great deal t oo m u ch already After .

h
”
this ,
e said sarcastically y o u will
,
perhaps thi n k t at
you r broth er of t ree an d twe n ty withou t a pen n y o r a
— - -
,

prospect did M iss La n ce hon or by forci n g a prop o s al

—

u pon her maki n g love t o h er a t t he e n d o f all

,
”
Miss Lan ce ! Bee said with a sharp cry ,
.

The col on el took n o n otice of t he i n terru ption H e .

we n t on with a ki n d of disdai n fu l c ommen t to hi ms el f

r ather tha n to her

h
w
.

After all there are thi n gs which a lady has to p u t u p

,

wi th whic we don t take i n to con sideration A you n g’

.

fool whom she has been ki n d t o k n owi n g he has n ob o dy

n ear to look after him n o mother i s voice eve n g re
,

—
h h
h
,

alittle te n der at this poi n t an d by way o f reward t e

idiot falls i n love wit her asks a wom an like tha t t o ,

share his i n sign ifican t little life ! J ove ! what a piec e o f

imperti n en c e! the colon el sai d with an a n g ry lau gh
h
”
.
,
“ “
Did y ou say said Bee wit fal teri n g lips
,
M is s , ,
”
Lan ce papa ? ,

w
H e t u rn ed u pon her with a look of extreme su rprise .

Why sho u ld n t I have said Miss Lan ce What is th e re

’
?

h
? ”
u n u su al i n the n ame

w
Be e looked at him wi t a d u mb rebellio n an al mo st

w
,

s corn a n d passion far g r eater tha n his o n He h ad f o r

w
.
,

gotte n the n ame b u t Bee had not forgotte n it The f ac t

—
.

that Bee s o n you n g l ife had su ff ered shipwreck had p e r

’

he hh
haps escaped from his memory altogether thou gh it as
ad don e it Bee looked at him with her b l u e
,

h h
hw
o .

eyes blaz i n g rememberi n g e v erythi n g that h e ad forg o t

,

t en. Her brother had gon e ou t of h er m i n d an d al l t e ,

histor y of his Lau ra an d the way i n which he ad bee n

h h
,

e n folde d i n th is fatal web She we n t back to her o n .

wron gs forgetti n g t at she had kee n ly con fi r med e r

h
—

father s decision an d rej ected A u brey on what she thou g t

’
 T HE S OR C E R E SS . 2 49

h
w
oth er and s uffi cie n t gro u n ds She thou ght only of

w
t o be

h
w
.

w
t e mome nt whe n su dde n dark n ess had falle n u pon her i n

h h h
t e first su n shi n e of her life ; a

w
n d she had str uggled agai n st
t e rigid will of her fa ther o wou ld l is t en t o n o e x p l an

h h
,

at i on s— o ou ld n ot u n ders t an d An d all for the sake

h
.

o f this woman ! t e spider o dr a gged fly aft er fly i n to

e r n et the i t ch the en chan tress o f whom all poems an d

h
, ,

s tories spoke ! Her exasp eration was s o i n ten se that she

h
f o rgo t all t e laws o f respect a
v e ry bei n g
n d obe die n ce i n which her
ad bee n bou n d an d looked a t her father as at

h
,

an equ al an e nemy whom she scorn ed as well as feared

, .

"
What is t e mean i n g of these looks ? he said I am .

al together at a loss t o u n derstan d y ou Be e Why this

w
, .

f u ry at a n ame which y ou have n ever hear d before s o far

as I k n ow ?

h
w
h
w
"
Y o u thi n k I have n ever heard it before ?
said Bee i n
e r passio n It shows o little y ou thi nk o f me or

h
.
,

ca re for an ythi n g t hat has happe ned to me Oh I have .

,

e ar d it before ! a n d I shall hear i t agai n I kn o I

wh
.
,

kn o I sh all hear it agai n An d y ou don t mi n d thou gh ’

h
.
,

y o u ar e o u r fa t her ! Y o u don t remember !

’ ”
Bee was still
an d s e had that fat a

w
v e ry you n g l woman s weak n ess ’

hich sp oils eve ry crisis with i n e vi table tears Her ex .

as peration was t oo great f or words Y ou don t remem

.
’

b er ! S e cried fli ng in g the words at him like a storm ;

”
,

an d then b roke do n i n a p as si on o f chokin g sobs u n able ,

t o say mor e .

T o do w hhw
C HAPT E R XXXIV

Colon el K in gs ar d j u stice e as t ake n e n tirely

b y s u rprise b y Bee s o u tb u rst
’
He had n o remembran ce
.

h
.

h
o f the n ame The n am e had bee n w olly u n import an t to

w
.

i m even at the tim e whe n it had come u n der i s n otice .

The previou s claiman t o f Au brey Leigh s a ff ection s had ’

“
b e en the wom an n o m ore t o his con sciou sn ess H e
, .

d i d n o t rememb er a n ythi n g abou t the b u si n ess n o excep t

th at there was a st ory abo u t a woma n and that he wou l d ,

n o t permi t his yo u n g da u ghter to marry a m a n con cern

2 so T H E s o nc m r s s

h
.

ing whom su ch a story existed E ve n after Bee ad l ef t .

h
him whe n he really made an e ff or t to pu rs u e i n to the re
cesses o f his mi n d an ythi n g t a
,

t was con n ected with th at

na m e he cou ld n ot make it o u t Was it perhaps a tyra n
,
.

ni ca l gover n ess b u t that wou ld n o t exp l ai n th e girl

? ’

w
:

veheme n t o u tcry He had n ot thou ght for a lon g ti m e 0 1

.

Bee s i n terru pted love an d broke n o ff en gagemen t O f

’
-
.

what con seq u e n ce is s u ch an episode to so yo u n g a girl ?

An d there were other matters i n his m i n d of hat seemed

w w whw
a great deal more impor t an ce Whatever was the sou rce .

o f Bee s prev i o u s k n owle d ge o f Miss La n ce she hated

’

that si n g u larly attractive wom an as it is u su al for the sex

( C o lo n el K i n g s ar d tho u ght
! to hate i n sti n ctively every

other woma n who is e n dowed ith u n u su al attraction s .

What a magn ifice n t creat u re that woman as ! o

h
fi n ely she had talked of the u n developed boy to whom she
ad hoped to be of s e rvice an d with what gen u i n e fe e li n g

h
, ,

ha l f a b ashed distressed yet n ot withou t a gleam of amu se

w
-r

h
, ,

me n t she had told him o f the won d erfu l scen e at t e en d

, ,

whe n Charlie ad asked her to marry him .

“ ”
Me a woman that might be his mother ! she h ad
,

said ith beau tifu l c an dor ; thou gh it was n o t can dor i t

h
,

was more like j est seei n g that she was still you n g you ng
, ,

e n ou gh to t u r n an y man s head An d s e had added has ’

.

t il y ,
It m u st have bee n my fau lt Somehow I m u st h ave .

led him astray thou gh I was so far from i n te n di n g i t A

, .

boy like you r s o n wo u ld n ot h ave don e s u ch a wild thi n g

h
w
had he n ot s u pposed Sh e had p u t u p her han ds to
“
her face to hide a bl u sh That is t e worst o f u s poor
.

women she h ad said

,
We ca n n ot show an i n terest
.

even i n a boy b u t he s upposes oh Colon el K i n gs ar d —

, ,

can t y ou imagi n e what I fel t wishi n g solely t o be of u s e

’

w
,

to yo u r s on who is s u ch a good i n genu o u s mce boy an d

hh
'

—
, ,

h
,

fi n di n g i n a mome n t w i tho u t the least war n i ng t at e

, ,

ad mistake n me like t/zat ?

w
Col on el K i ngs ar d was of opi n ion an d so was every ,

b ody who k n ew him tha t he was by n o mean s a

,
n impres
s i on a bl e m a n ; b u t it wou ld be impossible t o say how
to u ched he had bee n by that ex plan ation An d she as
so sor ry for Cha rlie She avowe d t at after wh at had
h .

ap pen e d she wou ld have co n sidered herself i n excu sable

h .
if
m
h shad
ight be
e n ot
t o herself to show him how l ittle o
T H E SO R C E R E S S

co me to his f at e r . o ev er u npleasa n t it
very lit
hh h
.

ww 25 1

h
, ,

tle Charli e was t o blame

,
.

Y ou m u st n o t m u st n ot be an g ry wit him she had

w
, ,

sa id j oi n i n g her h an ds i n appeal
,
O h forgi v e him ! it .
,

i s s o m u ch my fau l t If I cou ld bu t be ar the pe n alty ! b u t

h h
w
.

I cann ot e n du re t o t hin k that the poor boy shou ld be p u n

i s e d whe n all th e t ime I o am so m u ch older than he ,

is a ,
m the on e to bl ame I ou ght t o have k n own better
. .

I am at you r mercy Colon el K i n gs ar d Y o u can not say, .

an y t hi n g worse t o me tha n I have don e to myself ; b u t he

h
,

oor b is really t t o b l ame

ww
p oy n o
The colon el a
.
,

d n o wish to say a n ythi ng to her that was

w
u n complime n tary He e n tere d i nto her position w i th the
.

m ost u n u su al sympathy Perhaps he had n ever had s o

h
.

ar m a feeli n g of u n ders t a n di n g an d a ff ection for an y on e

b efore The compassion an d t e appeal as somethi n g
.

q u i t e n e a n d origi n al t o him He was n o t a m an to be .

s y mp a thetic with the t rou bles of a middle aged spi n ster -

h
,

an elderly flirt as he wo u ld probably have called her had

h
w
, ,

e heard the story at seco n d h an d ; i n s u ch a case he wo u ld

w
ave den ou n ced the mat u re sire n i n the terms u s u al t o
m e n of experien ce Bu t the prese n ce o f this lady made
.

al l the di ff eren ce Sh e as n o t like any on e else The

wh
. .

u s u al phr a ses bro ught for ard o n s u ch occasion s were

m e an i n gless or worse i n respect to her He was softe n ed .

t o Charlie t oo b y the story thou gh he co u ld have ra v ed

, , ,

at his son s folly The p uppy ! to thi nk a om an like that

’
.

h
cou ld care for him ! an d yet as she sai d there was n o

w
, ,

arm i n the boy ; on ly absu rdi t y pres u mption t e last , ,

d epths o f fat u ity Poor yo u n g fool ! Bu t it was a d i fl e r

.

e n t thi n g from rac i n g toward the bottomless pit for the

m ere i n du lge n ce of his o n appetites as so man y yo u n g
m e n did an d if this was the only reason o f Charlie s dow n
’

fall i t i n volve d n o loss o f character and n eed make no ,

bre ach i n his career ; which was the chief thi n g H e co u ld

h h
.

m ake u p his lost groun d an d the F 0 wo u l d care very , . .

l it t le f or what t e D on s said T e idle n ess of a boy i n .

lo ve ( the pu ppy ! i nexc u sable i n his presu mptio n b u t yet

with ple nty of j u stificatio n at least! cou ld do him n o more
t h a n temporary harm i n a n y case .
252

h
T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
These tho u gh ts pas s e d t r o u gh th e colo nel s m i n d ith
a great sen se o f relief It d i d n ot occ u r t o him that Ch ar
l i e whe n e saw his folly co u ld
.
‘

ave m u ch di ffi c u l t y i n h
.

’
w
h
, ,

getti n g over su ch a misplaced sen timent It m u st be .

do n e an d th e boy m u s t feel that s u ch a Op e was as m u ch

,

ab ove him as was the moon i n the skies He m u s t m ake .

u p his mi n d t o apply himself t o get throu gh his exam i n a ,

t io n to begi n his real life which his fa ther wo u l d cer

—

h h
,

ta i n l y impress u po n him was n o t mere am u semen t o r hap

p i n e ss if e liked to call it so b u t work an d a s arp ,

s t ru ggle t o secu re his stan di n g As f or his degre e t hat .

,

was a matter of complete i n di ff eren ce t o Colon e l Ki n gs

ward The boy had his experien ce of O xford life t o talk
.

of a n d fall back u pon ; he was a U n iversity m a n all the

w
same ; thou gh he had n ot been crow n ed by an y lau rel s he
had ma d e some frien ds an d he had gai n ed the n ecess ary

w h
,

familiarity with t hat phase o f ayo un g man s existe n ce ’

.

What did the detai l s matter an d o wou ld ever a

,
s k abo u t
his de gree An attach é does n o t p u t B A or M A ( which
?
. . .

as which or if t here was an y di ff ere n ce or on wh at o c

, ,

casion su ch v an ities shou ld be displayed the col on el was

qu ite u n aware ! to his n ame like a school master Noth i n g

w
-
.

cou ld be of l ess import an ce than this H e dism i s sed .

Charlie from his mi n d accordi n gly with m u ch relief It .

was n ot at al l u nn atu ral that th e b oy shou ld have gon e t o

town i nstead of goin g to K i n g s ar d en N o dou bt by th i s .

time he had made his way home ; an d this remi n ded the
colon el th at i t wou ld be as well t o s en d his sister o fl at o n ce ’

t o meet Charlie there H e called Bee agai n accord i n gly

w
.

from her room where she had taken refu ge and i n str u cted
,

h
,

her i n what he des ired .

There is a tra i n i n an ou r he said Y ou had b e t ter

, .

get ready I wish y ou to go home at on c e Charli e ill

.

h
.

be there by this time I have n o dou bt an d I shou ld l ike

, ,

y o u to let him k n ow that if e is reaso n able an d drives al l

h
fol l y from his mi n d an d addresses h i mself at on ce t o his
,

preparation for t e exam he sha l l hear n o more from me

.

abou t the Oxford bu si n ess It depe nds u pon hi ms elf .

whether it is ever all u ded to agai n .

”
Papa said Bee falteri n g a little am I to g o alo n e
, ,
? ”
,
’
Why shou ldn t y o u alon e Are y ou afraid o f get
?
 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

ti n g i n t o a c ab at Paddi n gto n an d dri v in g t o V i c t oria the

w
,
m ost ordi n ary e v ery day bu si n ess ?
Why I t hou gh t the

w
-
,

girls o f yo u r pe riod revolted agai n st bei n g protected an d ,

”
were able to take care of themselves wherever they wen t ?

Now Colon el K i n g s ar d had always i n sist ed on s ur

ro u n di n g his da u ght ers ith q u ite u n n ecessary cares b e

w
,

i n g as he prided hi mself o n all q u estion s i n respect t o

, ,

wome n of the o l d school

,
.

Oh n o , said Bee very trem u lo u s looki ng at him

, , ,

ith eyes fu ll of mean i n g I am n o t afraid ”

w
, .

“
The why
n d u make a f ss abo t it ? ”
he said

h w
o y o n y u u .

I shall stay b ehi n d for a few hou rs perhaps for a n other ,

n i ght I m u st see whether he has lef t any debts an d

w
.
,

s q u are acco u n ts it the college an d set tle everythin g ,

—
.

B e e was still looki n g at him ith that trou bled air of

m ean i n g a n d h e looke d at her with a stern look p u tti n g
, ,

h er do n ; b u t there was i n his eyes a certa i n u n derstan d

w
i n g of her mean i n g a n d shri n ki n g from her scr u ti n y all
,
“
the same Y ou have j u st time to get ready he said

w
h
.

h
, ,

p ull i n g o u t his watch an d holdi n g it u p to her An d Bee .

h ad n ot i n g t o do b u t to obey I t as n ot t e d rive from

’

Paddi n gton to Victoria the chan ge fro m on e railway to

w
,

an other hich frighten ed her thou gh f or a girl who had

, ,

n eve r do n e an ythi n g a lon e that was n ot a pleasan t tho u ght ;

b u t the girl was deep l y d istu rbed t o leave her father there
ithi n the power o f the woma n whom more than ever she
l ooked u pon with terror a s if she had bee n a n embodied

w
F ate . How l u dicrou s was the i d ea tha t a girl of twe n ty
s ho u ld be dist u rbed a n d a n xio u s at the tho u g h t o f leavi n g

w
h er father u n protected by her poor littl e gu ardian ship an d

w
,

s u ch a father as Colo n el K i n g s ar d ! Bee saw at on ce the

folly an d the fu tility of s u ch a n otion bu t she cou ld n o t

h
,

rid herself of the alarm H er terror of this woman n o .

,

fu l ly evide n t as t e same who had wrecked her o n l ife

h
,

w as more than ever a su perst i tiou s pan ic .

Bee s mi n d was wholly possessed with t is i dea She

’

w
whw
.

hh
th o u ght of the beau t i fu l dreadfu l l ady i n Christabel ,

h
.

S e thou ght o f that other sh u dderi n g image i n the poem ,

t e an gel bea u tifu l a

“ ”
of n d bright
,
who looked the ero ,

i n the face ;
a b l e kn i gh t Au bre y ad n o t k n o n s e h
An d how he k n ew it as a fie n d that m i s er
as a fi en d
,

,
2 54

n or
d o t o papa ?
w
T HE

Charlie ; an d n o papa ! Wh at cou ld s uch awo m a n

H e was ol d ( Bee t hou ght ! beyon d t e reach
o f t he i n fl u e n ces which had moved th e others
S OR C E R E S S

W at cou l d
.

.
h
h
Fate do t o him ?
She as ked herself this qu est ion i n h er
great alarm t ry i n g t o beat down the t error i n h er bos o m
, ,

an d pers u ade herse l f t hat it was f ool i sh n ess

w
Bu t the .

more she thou ght the more her heart beat wi t h fright an d

w
apprehe n sion It seemed to her somehow as if the form er
.

d an gers had bee n n othi n g i n comparison with th is a l ,

t hou gh she did no t k n ow what it a s that she feared .

Colonel K i ngs ar d walked with his da u ghter t o th e

statio n an d he was very aff able an d ki n d t o her t aki n g
, ,

u n u s u al pai n s t o make her feel tha t t here was n oth i n g to

fear He selected carefu lly a carriage wh i ch was reser v e d
.

for ladies an d p u t her i n to the charge of t e gu ard wh o m

,

he desired to find a cab for her at Paddi n gton an d l o ok

‘
h ,

after her i n every way Nothi n g co u ld be more fatherly .

,

more thou ghtfu l tha n he was ; bu t all these preca u tion s ,

i n stead o f reassu ri ng Bee i n creased her se n sation o f dan ,

ger F or the colo nel thou gh he had always i n sisted u pon

.
,

eve r y precau tion had n o t bee n i n the habit o f person ally

,

seei n g to the comfort of his chi l dre n Sh e followed him .

w i th her eyes as he occu pied h imself with all these little

cares an d explai n ed to the g u ard what was to be d on e
h
w
, .

And th e n he wen t to the bookstal l and bou ght e r ill u s

t ra t e d papers a
h
n d a book to a mu se her o n the j ou r n ey Bee ,

w
watchi n g all t e time with g rowi n g wo n der She gave a .

h u rried glan ce no an d the n ar o un d her sweepi n g th e ,

station fro m o ne end to a n other with a te r ror o f seei n g ,

h
,

somewhere appear the woma n who h ad brou ght s u ch pai n

h
an d trou ble i nto her life tho u g this t oo as folly as
—
, ,

An d whe n at last the carriage door was

w
s e was aware .

closed an d the trai n almost i n motion Bee gave h er father

hh
,

a last look i n wh i ch there were u n u tterable thi n gs H e

w
.

had n o t met her eyes hitherto w et er by chan ce o r pre ,

cau tio n Bu t n o he was o ff his g u ard an d did s o Their

.
.

l ooks e ncou n tered with a cl ash as if they had been m eet ,

i n g s ords the same eyes brillian t with th at bl u e b laze

, , ,

flashi n g like light n i ng B u t it was the father s fiery eye s ’

h h
.

which ga v e way The girl s look pe n e trated i n to h is ver y

.
’

b ei n ;
g i s d ro pp e d almost ab ash ed H OW d,i d t i s stran
g
e .
 w
T HE S OR C E R E SS 25
5

h was a yt h
.

c a ge n of
positio come abo t n i g u ?
It n n bu t re

h life alth
a s ri g
s u Bee It seemed
n toher as if already a to ne

h
.

ap er misery a dismay had ope ed

of nd o gh in

w
c t n ,
u

fears had take

er shape a she co l d te l what
n no nd u n ot l

h
c
t
alamity was possible
e
The very vag e ess made it all

a h
e in
mor appall g to her i experie ced heart
.

n n
u n

wh
.

As Colo el f or K i ng s
saw his little da ghter
n rd, e u

g o away with a ich he felt r el i e f

be ridic lo s That to u u .

B ee s looks sho ld af ect his moveme ts

’
f way or a n on e n

ww
u

o ther was beyon d meas u re absu rd ; an d yet he was re l ieved

that she was go n e an d felt himself more at ease H e had
,
.

agreat man y thi n gs to d o to settle his so n s acco u n ts ; to ’

w
—

t ake his n am e OR the college books ; t o i nd u p that early

h
w w
u n su ccessf u l chapter o f C arlie s life Bu t h e n o felt ’

w
h
.

v ery little real a n ger agai n st Charli e t his shipwreck o f

w
—

i s had s u dd e nly i n trod u ced his father to hat seemed a

ne view an d n e obj ects which i n deed h e did n o t i n an y

h
,

ay defi n e t o himself b u t of which he felt the stim u l u s

,

ith v ag ue exhilarati o n t o the bottom of i s heart .

w wh
W H E N Charlie K i n gs a
CHAPT E R XXXV

r d fled from Ox f or d , al f m ad
ith disappoi n tmen t an d misery , he had n o idea o r i nt e n
t io n abo u t th e fu t ure left i n i s mi n d He had come to .
.

,
h
o n e o f those s t r a n ge passes i n life beyo n d which the i m
ag i n at i on does not go He had been rej ected with that
.

d eepest con tu mely which takes the aspect of the sweetest

k i n dn ess , whe n a woman a ff ects the most i n n oce n t s u s p i
c
h
io n at the climax t o which con scio usly o r u n con sciou sly
s e has bee n worki n g u p
h
, ,

h
.

O h my poor boy was that w a t y ou were thi n ki n g o f

, ,

T h ere is n o way i n which a blow c a

s u ch sharp a n d kee n e ff ect
n be admi n istered wit
It made t e yo un g man s
n ordi n ary brai n a
. h ’

b rai n which was o n ly a n d for some

h
, ,

t im e had exercised b u t small restrai n i n g power u po n him

i n the h u r r y an d sweep of his feeli n g s reel Whe n e ,
.

p u lled the door u po n him of those gar d e n s of Armida that ,

f ool s paradise i n which he had bee n wasti ng his yo u th

’

,
2 56 THE S O R C E RE SS .

an d wh i ch were represe n ted i n his c a

s e by ave r y o rdin ary
su b u rba n garden i n that part of O xford called the P ark s ,

h is rej ected an d disappoin ted passion had every p o s s ible

a u xiliary emotion to mak e it u n bearable Kee n m or t i fi .

cat ion h u miliation the sharp sen se of bei ng mock ed an d

h
, ,

deceived ; the s u dde n con viction of havin g give n wha t

s eemed t o the ha l f madde n ed b o y i s whole life f o r n oth
-

i n g whipped him l ike the lashe s o f the Fu ries

,

h
o f the crises o f life the t o u ght what to do n ext occ u rs with
almost the rapidity of l ightn i n g after a g reat catastrophe
In most .

w
,

b u t Charlie felt a s if there was n oth i n g beyo n d Th e .

whole world had c r u mbled abo u t him There was n o n ex t .

step his v ery fooli n g had failed him H e ru shed back t o

h
.
,

his rooms by i n sti n ct as a o u n ded creatu re wou ld ru s h

w
to i fis la i r b u t on i s way was met by eager grou ps r e
—

t u r n i n g from the schools i n which he ou gh t t o hav e

h
been disc u ssi n g amo n g each other the sti ff n ess o f t e h
h
,

h
papers an d o they had bee n don e This wou ld scarcely
,
.

add to i s pai n b u t it added t o that sicke n i n g e ff ort of a

h
,

sol ute fail u re o f the demolition of every thi n g aro u n d an d

,

before him whic was what he felt the most They mad e .

the impossible more impossible still an d c u t o ff ever y

hh
,

retreat Whe n he stood i n his room amid all the u seles s

.
,

books whic he ad n o t ope n e d for days or weeks an d

heard the others mou n ti n g the staircase ou tside i s locked
.

h ,

d oor it see med to the u n happy yo u n g m a

,

floor u nder his feet was the last spot on w ich stan di n g
n as th o u gh the
h
w
g ro u n d was possible a n d that beyo n d an d aro u n d th em was
n othi n g b u t ch aos For what re ason an d on what i m p u lse

h
.

he ru shed to Lo ndon it wou ld be d i ffi c u lt to tell

litt l e m on ey few fri e n d s or rat er n o n e
, ,
H e had
o were n o t

also the frie n ds of his family n o i d ea or i n te ntion o f d o i n g

h .

a nythi n g .

Perhaps the world will en d t o n ight —

.

He di d n o t eve n thi n k so m u ch as that thou gh p e rh aps ,

it was i n some sort the feeli n g i n his mi n d Yet n o s u g .

gestion of s u icide or of an ythi n g that con stit u tes a m oral

h
,

h
s u icide occ ur red to him These wo u ld h ave bee n so m e .

thi n g defi n ite t ey wou ld ave provided for a fu t u re b u t

,

Char lie was s t u p e fie d an d ad n on e H e had n o t so m u ch h ,

se n s e o f a n r eso u r ce a s co n sis t ed i n a is t ol a l
y p o r
p u n
ge
 THE S OR C E R E SS . 257

i n t o the river He fl u n g himself i n to the trai n an d we n t

.

h
t o Lon do n beca u se after a time the so u n d s of his com
h
w w
,

r ad es or of t ose who o u g t to have bee n his comrades

, ,

b ecame i n tolerable to him

up a h They kept paci n g ru shi n g
n d down t e staircase calli n g t o each other On e or
,
.

.
,

t ,
o i n deed talked at his o ,
n closed door drivi n g him ,

i n t o a sile n t fre n zy As soo n as they were gon e he seized

.

a travel l i n g bag thru st somethi n g he did n o t k n ow what

-
, , ,

i n to it a n d fl ed
,
to the desert to Lon do n where he wo u l d
— —
,

h
.

b e lost a n d n o o n e wo u ld drive h im fra n tic by calli n g t o

,

i m by maki n g be l ieve that there was somethi n g left i n

,

l ife

h
.

It occu r red to him s omehow by force of th at secon dary ,

c o n scio u s n ess whic works for u s whe n o ur mi n ds are past

h
al l exertio n to fli ng himself i n to the cor n e r o f a third c 1 55 3 -

h
,

c arriage as t e place where he was lea s t likely to meet

an y on e e k n ew thou gh i n deed the preca u tion was scarcely
,

n e c essary si n ce he co u ld n o t have recogn ized a

,
n y o n e as ,

h e sat h u ddled u p i n his corn er stari n g blan kly at the ,

h
l a n dscape that flew past the wi n dow an d seei n g n othi ng
W e n he arrived i n the midst of the di n an d bu stle of the
.

w w
gre at railway station he fled o nce more thro u gh the crowd

h
,

h
i n to the greater crowd ou tside cl u tchi n g i n sti n ctively at

h h
,

t e bag whic lay beside him b u t seei n g n o on e n or , ,

ither e we n t nor where he as goi n g He walked fast .

,

an d i n a fierce u n con sciou s n es s p u shi n g his way thro u gh

e v e r ythi n g a n d tho u gh he had i n reality n o aim took i n
, ,

h
s t i n c t i v el y the way to his father s hou se his h ome ’
—

t o u gh it was at that time n o home for him bei n g o c cu ,

pied by s tra n gers Whe n he got i n to the park a va gu e

.

recollectio n of this pen e trated throug h the m aze i n which

h e was e n veloped an d for a m ome n t he pau sed b u t the n
,

h
,

we n t on walki n g at the same pace maki n g the circ u it of

h
,

t e park wh ich lay before him i n the mists of the after

w
n oo n the frosty s u n setti ng t e hay t aki n g a rosy ti n t
, ,
.

h hhw
H e we n t all rou n d the sile n ce s of the half deserted walks

w
-
,

begi nni n g to feel vagu ely the stra n ge desolate sen time n t -

h
,

of n o t k n o i n g where to go thou gh o n ly i n the secon dary ,

h
phase of h is co n sciou sn ess U n til all at on ce i s stre n gth

h
.

see med to fail i m his l imbs gre feeble his ste p s slow ;
, ,

a nd e stopped short mec a n i all as e ad al ke d n t

, c y, , o
I7
 w
2 58 T HE S O R C E RE SS .

kn owi n g why an d flu ng himself u p o n a ben ch wh e re he

sat l on g motio n less as if that
,
,

d no becom e the only

thi n g solid i n the world an d there was n o s tep re m ai n i ng
'

h
a
,

to him beyon d

w
.

A y o u n g m an t hou gh he may hav e n u mberle ss frien ds

, ,

may yet make a despairi n g tran sit like this fro m on e place

seen by an y on e h
t o a n other throu gh the midst of a crowd wi t h o u t bei n g
o k n ows h im ; i f the e n co u n ters of life
are won derfu l the fai l u res to en cou n ter the m a n n er i n

w
, ,

which we walk alon e with frie nds on al l han ds an d i n ou r ,

desperate momen ts when help is most n ecessary d o n ot , ,

meet or come withi n sigh t o f any is eq ually won derfu l

h
,
.

The Ki n gs ar d s h ad a large circle of acqu ai n t an ce an d ,

Charlie himself ad the n u mberl ess i n timates of a p u blic

w
school b oy a you n g u n iversity man acqu ai n ted with hal f

hw
, ,

w
the you th of his pe riod yet n obody saw h im excep t one —

to whom he wou ld scarcely have accorded a sal u tation i n

ordi n ary circu mstan ces A u brey Leigh o h ad bee n so
.
,

strangely an d cl osel y conn ect ed for a mom e n t ith the

K i ngs a r d fami l y a n d the n so swiftly a ,
n d perem ptoril y
cu t o ff arrived i n Lo ndon from a short visi t t o as u bu rban

w
,

hou se by th e same trai n which brou ght Charl ie an d ca u ght

h h
,

sight of him as he j u mped o u t of his com part m e n t with

i s bag i n his an d A very cool self possesse d an d tri m
h
w wh
-
.

h
, ,

you n g m an you n g K i ng s ar d had always appeared t o t e

,

other with whose brightest an d at t e s am e t im e most

h
‘

h
,

pai n fu l recollection s i s figu re was so con n ec t ed T o s ee .

im no su dde n ly with that air of desperation hi c h had

h
,

tri u mphed over all his n atu ral habits a n d l aws th a t a ,

s tr a c t e d look cl u tch i n g his b a

, g alf leapi n g h a l f s t u m , ,

h
bli n g ou t of th e car riage goi n g off at a swift u n con sci ou s

w
, ,

h
pace p u shi n g throu gh every crowd filled A u brey wi t

h hh
, ,

su rprise which soon t u rn ed i n t o anxiety C arl ie K i n gs

, .

ward with abag i n his han d ru s i ng t hrou g t e L o n

h
, ,

d o n streets con veyed a n e n tirely n e idea to th e m i n ds of

t e specta t ors What su ch ar ri v al wou ld hav e m e an t i n
.

ordi n ary circ u mstan ces wo u ld have bee n the ra tt l i n g u p of

a han som t he carel ess cal l i n g ou t of an addres s th e n oisy
,

h h
h
,
pro gress over the st on es of t e d river expectan t o f som e

h h
,

thi ng m ore t a n his fare an d kee nl y c ogn iza n t of t e ,

abi ts of t e youn g gentl emen f rom Oxf ord .

w
h
T HE

h w
w
S O R C E R ESS

A u brey q u icke n ed i s o n pace to fo l low the other

o s e arrival this time as i n s u ch di ff ere n t gu ise A
s u d d e n te r ror seized his mi n d n atu rally q u ite u n j u stified
.

.
2 59

w
,

b y the o u tward circ u mstan ces Was an y o n e ill which

.
? —

m ea n t was Bee ill Had an ythi n g dreadfu l happe n ed A

h
? ?
,

h
m om e n t s reflection wou ld have s own that i n s u ch a case
’

t e ha n som ou ld be more n eeded th an u s u al as con vey

h
w
,

i n g h er brother the mos t q u ickly to his ome Bu t Au bre y .

h
d i d n o t pau se on probabilities A m ome n t more wou ld
ave m ade him s u re o n the u n likelihood that Charlie
. .

w w
o u l d be se nt for i n case of Be e s ill n ess u n less i n deed ’

wh h
,

th e q u estion had bee n o n e of life an d death .

B u t he had n o t eve n heard of is love for many mon ths .

H i s heart as h u n gr y for n e s of her ; an d i n that case he

o u l d h ave do n e his best to i n tercept Charlie to extract

h
,

from i m if possi ble some n ews of his sister H e followed .

,

accordi n gly with somethi n g of the s ame ead l on g haste

,

h h h
with which Charl ie was p u shi n g thro u g h the streets an d
for a lon g time u p to t e gates o f the park i n deed kept
,

w
, ,

i m i n sig t At the p ace at which the you ng m an was

.

h
go i n g it was imposs i ble to d o more
h
wwh w
.

T e n A u brey su dde n l y l ost sig t o f the fig u re h e was

p u rs u i n g . There as a g r o u p of peopl e c ol l ected for
som e v u lgar u n s u pportab l e obj ect or other at that poi n t
, ,

an d i t as there that C arlie de fl ected from the straight

w
road for home hich h e had h itherto take n an d which ,

h
,

h is p u rs u er to o k it for gran ted he o u ld follow for the

rest o f the way Whe n A u brey ad p u shed his way thro u gh
.

th e little cro d Ch arl ie was n o lon ger visible H e looked

w
.

to left an d to ri ght i n vai n scr u ti n ized the short c ut over

,

th e park an d the broad road fu ll of passi n g carri ages an d

,

wayf arers b u t saw n o trace of the figu re he so u ght

wh h hh
.
,

Au brey the n alked qu i ckly to th e poi n t where Charlie

h
,

as b e su ppose d m u st be goi n g an d soo n came to the g ate

, ,

o n the othe r side a n d the s t reet itself i n whic the ho u s e

of th e K i n g s ar d s was Bu t he saw n o sign of Charlie
.
,

w
n o r of a n y o n e looki n g for im H e himself ad n o ac
.

h
q u ai n t an ce with that o u se to which he ad n ever bee n
,

a d mitted b u t he ad p as sed it man y times i n the vai n

h h
,

hope of see i n g Bee at a wi n dow n ot k n owi n g that it was ,

oc c u p i e d b y s tr an gers Whil e e w al ked do n t e s treet

‘

.
,
h w THE S O R C E R ESS .

w
o ever a xio s y gazi g see if h re were a si
,
n u l n to t e ny g n s o f
ill ess aski g himself whether h e dared to i q ire a the
n ,
n n u t
door he saw a ge n tlema n come u p an d e nter with a latch
,

key who certai n ly did n o t belon g t o the K i n g s ar d fam

ily This changed the whole c u rre n t of A u brey s tho ug hts ’

w
. .

It was n ot here the n that Charlie was comi n g H is r apid .

an d wild walk cou ld n o t mean an y disaster t o the f amily

an y tro u ble t o Bee The disco very was a t on ce ad i s ap

w
— .

poi n tme n t an d a relief ; a relief fro m the a n xiety h ich

had g rad u ally bee n gai n i n g u pon h im ; a d isappoi n t m e n t

h
of the hope o f heari n g somethi n g of h er For if Ch arlie

wh h
.

was n ot goi ng home o co u ld t race o u t where s u ch a

yo u n g m an might be goi n g To th e dogs Au brey th o u g t
?
,

i n sti n ctively ; t o the devil t o j u dge by his looks Yet

w
, .

Charlie K i ng s ar d the most correct o f modern y o u n g ,

m e n had s urely i n i m n o n at u ral procl ivity toward that

,

facile desce n t What co u ld it be that had drive n i m

alo n g like a leaf before the wi n d ?
. h
h
h
A u brey as himself gr eatly di s tu r b ed an d stirred u p by
t is e n co unter H e had schooled himself to q u iet an d
.

t e pangs of his o v erthrow tho u gh n o t q u e n ched had b e e n

,

kept u n der with a s t ro n g han d The l i fe which he de s i re d

w
.

for himself which h e h ad so fu ll y p l ann ed so w ar m ly

, ,

hoped f or had bee n b roke n to pieces and made an e n d o f

, ,

leavi n g the way he had chosen b l a nk to him as he th o u ght

for evermore H e had b ee n very u nfortu n ate i n that ay
.
,

h is earl y ve ntu re e n di n g i n bitter disappoi n tmen t ; his

other more wise more sweet c u t 0 E before it had e ver
, , ,
'

bee n B ut he was a reaso n able bei n g and k new tha t l i fe

w
.
,

had to be p u t t o other u ses eve n whe n that sole f air p ath

w h
w w
,

wh ich the heart desired was closed H e had give n i t u p .

h
defi n itel y n either t i n ki n g n o r hopi ng agai n f or the h o u se
,

old life the patri archal existe n ce amo ng his o n fi e l ds

, ,

his o n people u n der his o n roof an d was n o d o i n g

,
—

his best to co n form his l ife to a more gray and m o n o to

n o u s stan dard .

Bu t the si gh t o f Charlie o r rather the sight o f B e e s ,

’

brother evide n t ly u n der the i n fl u e n ce of some stron g f e e l

,

i ng a ,
n d u tterly carried away by it s o as t o ign ore all th at
regard f o r appearan ces an d decoru m which ad bee n h is
leadi n g pri n ciples came s u dde nl y l ike a touc u p o n a
hh
,
w
p ast.

o f her a
A u brey
nd a
fe l t that
T HE

h
he co u l d n o t e n d
S

u re
l l her ways w ich had fal le n over him l ike a
O R C E R E SS

ou n d revi vi n g all t e q u e s tio n s an d impatie n ce s o f the

,

h the ig n ora n ce
. 2 61

p all,
c u tti n g o ff her bei n g from h im as if they were n o t
s till livi n g i n the same world still withi n reach of each ,

o ther H e m ight en d u re he said t o himse l f to be part ed

w
, ,
.

w
f rom her t o give u p hope of her si n ce she willed it so ;

h
,

a
'

y t t leas t he m u st k n ow somethi n g of her fi n d o u t if

w
e ,

s e were i l l or well wha t she was doi n g where she was

h
, ,

e ve n ; for that mere o u tside detai l he did n ot k n ow Ho .

as it possible he shou ld bear t is n ot eve n to k n ow —

h here she was This thou ght took hold o f h im an d drove

?
,

i m i n to a fever of s u dde n feeli n g O h y es ! he had r e .

,

sign ed himself to live witho u t her to e n d u re his so l it ary

w
,

existe n ce far from her si n ce she willed it so ; b u t n ot eve n

,

t o k n ow where sh e was how she was what she was doi n g !

, ,

S u dden ly i n a momen t the fie r y sti n gi n g came back the

w w
,

s ord pl u n ged i n to the wou n d H e had n ot f or a mome n t

h w w
.

del u d ed himself with the idea that he was cu red of it b u t ,

h
yet i t had bee n su b d u ed by n ecessity by the ver y sile n c e
ich n o he felt t o be i n tolerable H e wen t back i n to
t e park here the lon g l i n es of the misty paths were n o
.

h h
,

al m ost desert ed gleams of the lamps ou tside shi n i n g

,

th rou gh the dark tracery o f t e bran c es an d al l qu iet ,

except i n the broad road still sou n di n g with a dimi n ished

,

h
stream of carriages H e dived i n to the i n tersect i on s o f
.

t e deserted paths somethi n g as Ch arlie had don e seeki n g ,

h
i n sti n ctively a silen t place where he cou ld be alon e with

w
t e n ewly aro u sed torme n t of his tho u ghts .

Whe n he came su dden ly u pon the ben ch u pon which

w
Ch arl ie had fl u n g himself his first movemen t was t o tu rn

w w
,

back He had been walki n g over the grass and his steps

hw
.
,

ere con sequ en t l y n oi seless ; an d h e was i n th e mood to

h
hich an y hu man prese n ce the possibl e en cou n ter of any—

one
passion s
o n the bag
o might speak to
as i n tolerable
—
im a n d dist u rb his o n h u rryi n g
Bu t as he tu r n ed i s eye fell
.

the du sty hal f empty thi n g still cl u tched by

— -
h
,

ah an d which seemed more or less u n con sciou s This i n .

s i g n ifican t detail arrested A u brey H e moved a little way

h
.
,

ke e pi n g on the g rass to get a fu ller view of the half r e

h
-
,

c l i n i ng fi gur e An d then he made ou t i n t e partial lig t

.
2 62

w T HE

wh
S O R C E R E SS

that it as the same fi g u r e hich e had p u r su ed s o long

.

h
w
h
.

What was Charlie doi n g here i n this secl u de d spot e —

.

the most u n like any s u c retirem e n t th e well eq u ippe d -

h
, ,

con fide n t prospero u s yo u n g m an of the world su bj e ct t o

, ,

so few del u sion s k n o i n g his way so well both i n t e

w
,

ou ter and the i n n er wor l d ?

A u brey was more startled than ton gu e cou ld tell He .

th ou ght n o lon ger of family disaster of ill n ess or trou bl e

w
.
,

Whatever was a m i s s it was ev ide n tly Charlie wh o as

h
,

hh
the s u ff erer H e pa u sed for a m i n u te or more reflecti n g

w
.
,

what he sho uld do T en he stepped forward u pon t e

.

grave l an d sitti n g do n p u t i s han d s u dden ly u p on th at

, , ,

which held the half fil l e d b ag -

.

K in gs a
”
rd ! he said .

CH APT E R XXXVI

w
M E AN W H ILE Colon el Ki n gs ar d had remai n d i n O x f o rd
It was n ecessary that he shou l d re g u late all Ch ar l ie s
aff airs fin d ou t an d pay what bills he h ad l e ft an d f o r
-
.

’
.

w
, ,

mally sever his con n ection with the U n iversity It i s a

'

thi n g which man y fathers have had to do with pai n an d —

sorrow an d a sen se of premat u re fail u re which is on e o f

h
w h
, ,

the bitterest th i n gs i n life ; b u t Colon el K i n gs ar d ad

w h
n o t this pai n f u l feeli n g to aggravate the a n n oyan ce a nd
vexation which he act u ally felt Th e fact t at his s o n

w
.

had been idle i n the way of books an d as leavi ng Oxf o rd

hw
ithou t taki n g his degree did n ot a ff ect h is m i n d m u c .

Man y you n g fellows do that especially i n the portion o f ,

the world to which Charlie belon ged The colon el as

h
.

irritated by havi n g to i n terfere by the trou ble e as ,

havi n g an d the d eviation from sal u tary rou ti n e b u t e

, ,

felt n o h u miliation either for himself or his s on A n d

h
.

Charl i e s liabilities were n o t large so far as he cou ld d i s

’

cover The fellow at least h ad n o vices h e said to i m

h
w
. .

h h
,

self . E ve n the u n sy m pathetic Do n had n ot i n g t o s ay

ag ai n st him b u t th at charge o f i dle n ess which t e col o n e l ,

h
rather liked than oth er wise H ad he bee n able t o say t at.

it was his son s socia l or eve n athletic s u cce s s es

’
h ic
w h
T HE S OR C E R E SS

ere the cau ses of t e idlen ess h e wou l d ha v e l i ked i t al

t ogether H e paid Charlie s bills with a co mp e n sati n g
.

c o n sc i ou s n ess tha t these were the la s t th a

’

t wou l d h ave t o
. 2 63

b e paid at O xford a nd h e was n o t e ve n sorry that he cou ld

h
,

n o t g et back to t ow n by the last trai n I n deed I thi n k he

h
.
,

c o u ld have m a n aged that v ery well ad h e tried H e re .

m ai n ed f o r t e secon d n ight with won derfu l eq u an imity ,

fi n di n g as a mat t er of cou rse a m an he k n ew i n the h o tel

, , ,

an d di n i n g not u npl easa n tly that day Before he we n t .

back to tow n he tho u ght it on ly civil to go o u t to the

,

Parks to retu rn as pol ite n ess deman ded the v i sit of the

h
, ,

l ady who had so ki n dly a n d co u rageo u sly go n e t o see him

h
,

an d fro m w om he had receiv e d th e o n ly expl a n ation of

hC arlie s stra n ge behavior He we n t forth as soon as he

h
’
.

ad eate n an earl y l u n c eo n i n order t o be su re t o fin d

M iss Lan ce before she we n t o u t a n d stopped on ly to t row
a rapid glan ce i n passi n g at th e b a n d of yo u n g r u ffi an s
,

,
‘
h
,

m u d u p to their eyes a n d q u ite i n disti ng u ishable f or th e

,

el ega n t u n dergrad u ates which som e of them were who ,

were playi n g football i n the Parks The colon e l had l ike .

,

m ost m e n a warm i n terest i n athletic sports b u t his

h
, ,

soldierly i n sti n cts disliked the m u d M i ss Lan ce s hou se ’

w
.

w as beyon d t at m u ch broke n u p and dow n trampled - -

g ree n. It was a ho u se i n a garde n o f the order bro u ght

i n to fashion by the late R a n dolph Caldecott r e d with

w
,

hite fixi ngs an d poi n t ed roof and it bore tri u mphan tly
”

w
,

u po n its li ttle gate pos t the n ame o f We n sleydale O xford

-
,

D on s an d the i n habitan t s o f that distric t ge n erally bei n g

fo n d of su ch exte n sive titles Colon el K i n g s ar d u n

w
.

h
w
con scio u sly dre himself together settled his head i n to ,

i s collar a n d tw i sted his m u stache as he k n ocked at

h
, ,

the door an d ye t i t was n ot an imposi ng door

,
It was .

ope n ed n o t by a solem n b u tler b u t by a n eat m ai d

, o , ,

w
showed Colon el K i ngs ar d i n to a tri m drawin g room very -
,

fe m i n i n e an d fu ll of flowers an d k n ick kn acks H ere he -

h
.

waited fu ll fiv e mi n u tes before an y one appeared looki n g

h
,

abou t him wi t m u ch c u riosity exami n i n g the l ittle sta n ds

hw
,

o f books the work tables the

,
riti n g t ables t e cor n ers
-
,
-
,

f o r co n versat io n It was n o t a large room an d yet space

.

had been fou n d for two little ce n tres of social i n terco u rse .

T e re ere therefore the col on el divi n e d two l adies who

, , ,
2 64

shared this abode .

T HE SOR C E R E SS

Colon el K i n gs ar d ad n ev e r b e e n
what is called a ladies m an The femi n i n e elem e n t i n
’

life had been su pplied t o him i n th at s u bd u ed way n a tu

.
.

wh
rally exhibi ted by a yieldi n g an d gen tle wife i n ah o u se
where the h u sban d is su preme He was qu ite u n acqu ai n ted

w
.

with it i n its u n a l loyed state an d the spectacl e am u sed

w w
,

an d pleasan tly aff ected him with a sen se at on ce of s u peri

or i t y a n d of n ovel t y It was pleasan t t o see how these
.

little k n ow n creat u re s arran g ed themselves i n their o n

whw
-

h
private domi n ion
,
,
here they had everyth i n g their o n
way an d the tou c of the artificial which appeared i n all
these dai n ty partic u lars seemed appropriate an d c o m

w w
,

me n ded itself agreeably to the m an o as ac c u stomed

to a broader and larger style of hou sehold econ omy A

h
.

ma n likes to see the di ff ere n ce well marked at l east a m a n ,

o holds Colon el K i n g s a r d s ideas of life H e had

’
.

g o n e s o far as t o n ote the La u ra ”

with a large a n d flow
”
i ng L on the n ote paper which L was r epeated on
-
,

vari ou s pretty art i cles abou t When the d oor ope n ed an d

h
ww
.

M iss Lan ce appeared she came u p to h im hol di n g o u t

,

b ot her h an d s as to a n old frie n d .

Will y ou forgive me f or keepi n g y o u wait in g Colon el ,

K i ng s a rd
?
The fact is we had j u st com e i n and y o u

h
, ,

k n ow that a woma n has always a toilette to make ; n o t like

y o u l u cky people o p u t o n or p u t o fi a hat a n d al l is
d on e f
’

“
I d id n ot thi n k y ou were like l y t o be ou t so e arly the

h
,

colon e l said .

My frien d as a s on at O riel rep lied Miss Lan ce ,

.

H e is a great football player as it happen s an d We are ,

bou n d to be presen t when he is playi n g ; besides their ,

”
parks are so n ear .

I did n ot thi n k it was a game that wou ld i n teres t y ou .

It does n o t except i n so far th at I am i n terested i n

,

ever ythi n g that i n terests my su rrou n din gs My fri e n d

goes i n to i t with en th u siasm ; she even believes that s e
.

h
w
”
u n derstan ds what it is all abo u t

h
.

It seems chiefly m u d that it is abou t said th e col on el , ,

with a slight ton e of disapproval for it displeased i m to ,

thi n k that a om a n like this shou ld g o to a foot b all m atch ,

an d also it displeased him after his priv ate am u s e m e n t

,
 S OR C E R E SS

w
T HE 26
5

hh
.

an d re fl ec t i ons on the femi n i n e ch aracter of t e ou s e t o

w
,

fi n d after a l l a ma n co n n ected wi t h it eve n if tha t m a n ,

ere on ly a b oy .

Come said Miss Lan ce i n dicatin g a ce rtai n c h air

h
, , ,

s i t down her e by me Colon el Ki n s a d a d le t

'

g r n u s n o t

h h
, ,

t alk common pl aces any lon ger Y ou av e been obli ge d .

t o stay longer than y o u i n te n ded ? I ad b e en t i nki n g

o f y ou a s i n Lon do n t o day -
.

It was v ery ki n d t o th i n k of me at all .

O h do t say
,
n s o —
’
that is on e o f the common pl ac es t oo .

O f c ou r se I have bee n th i n ki n g o f y ou with agre a

,
t d ea l ,

o f i n teres t a n d with s ome rather rebelliou s u n du tifu l s ort

hh
, ,

o f thou ghts .

W at thou ghts c ried the col onel i n su rp rise

? ”

h
.

Well s e said it is a gre at blessi n g no dou bt t o

,
“
, , ,

ave childre n — t o wome n perhaps a n u n alloyed blessi n g ;

h
an d yet y o u k n ow an u n attached perso n like mys elf c a
'

n
n ot elp agru dge occasion ally Here are y ou for i n stan ce

w
.

i n the prime of life ; yo u r thou ghts abou t everyth i n g

h
m atu red ; y o u r reason m ore importan t t o th e w orl d than -

an y o f t e escapades o f yo u th and yet y ou ar e d ep l ei e d ,

fr o m you r o n grave path i n life ; you r m i n d occ u pi ed

h
,

you r thou ghts distracted ; re ally you r u s e to you r cou n try

"
i n terru pted b y b y what are called t e cares of a family
—

hh
,

she con cl u ded with a short l au gh

h
.

She spoke with m u ch u s e of er a n ds i n gracefu l

m o veme n t t at co u l d scarcely be called gesticu latio n

h h
cl aspi n g them together spreadi n g them ou t m aki n g them

h
e m p asize everyt i n g
,

An d they were very whit e a

pretty han ds wit a diamon d o n on e which sparkl ed at
. nd
,

, ,

appropriate mome nts an d ad d ed its s peci al emphasis t oo

h
,
.

The colon el was flat tered with this description of him

s elf a nd i s capacities

h
.

There is g reat tru th h e said i n what y ou s ay I , , .

ave felt it bu t f or a father at the head of a family to p u t

,

forth su ch se n time n ts wou ld shock man y good peopl e

h h
.

Fort un ately there are n o good people here and if ,

h
t ere were Im i g t still express them free l y It is a thi n g

h
t at s tri kes me every day In feeble specimen s it destroys
t e i n divi d u ality ; i n stron g c aracters like you rself
.

h
.

Y o u do me t o o m u ch hon or M iss Lan ce M y po s itio n ,

.
,
2 66 T HE SOR C E R E SS .

y o u are aware is do u bly u n fortu n ate for I h av e all u pon

, ,

my shou l d ers Still o n e m ust d o on e s d u ty at wh atever

.
,
’

cost .

That wou ld be yo u r feeli n g of cou rse sai d Mi ss , ,

Lan ce with a sort of admiri n g an d regret f u l expression

h
.
,

For my part I am the mo s t dreadfu l re bel I kick agai nst

w hw hhh
.
,

du ty I th i n k a m an has a d u ty to imself To sti n t a

. .

n o bl e h u ma n bei n g for the sake of n o u rishi n g som e half

doze n secon dary o n es is to me oh do n t let u s tal k of it ! ,
—
,
’

Tell me d ear Colon el K i n gs ar d h ave y ou g ot e v e r y t i ng

, ,

satisfactorily settle d an d heard of th e arrival ,

O ,

she cried claspi n g those white han ds

,
o ca n I sit ere ,

calmly an d ask seei n g that I have a share i n ca u si n g all

,

this tro u ble tho ugh H e aven k n ows how u n i n te n t i on ally

—

o n my part

Don t say so s aid the colon el p u tti n g his ha n d for a

’

, ,
“
seco n d on those clasped white ha n ds I am s u re that .

y o u c an have do n e n othi n g b u t good to my fool ish b o y .

To be ad m itted here at al l was too m u ch ho n or ”

.

“
I shall n e v er be able to take an i nterest i n an y on e
agai n she said droopi n g her head
,
I t 1 5 so stran ge so
,
.
,

stran ge to have on e s mo t ives misu n derstood b u t y ou ’

w
,

d o n t do so I am so tha n kfu l th at I had the co u rage to

’
.

g o to y o u My frie n d diss u aded me stro n gly from taki n g

w
.

s u ch a s t ep She said that ap ar e n t wou ld n at u rally bl ame

.

an y o n e rather tha n his o n s on

My dear Miss Lan ce who cou l d blame y ou ?
I d on t ,
’

kn o said the colo n el

,
that I blame poor Ch arl ie so ,

m u ch eith er To be m u ch i n your compan y might wel l

w
.

be dan gero u s for an y m an .

Y ou m u st n o t S peak s o i n deed i n dee d y o u m u s t n o t ! —

, ,

I feel more an d more ashamed ! Whe n awoma n c omes

to a certai n age an d has n o childre n of her o n S u rely ,

su rely
”
Come ! he cried Y o u said a pare n t s cares destroyed
’

w
.

on e s i n divid u ality
h
’

N o t wit a woma n Wh at i divid a ity has a wo m an

l

w
n u .
?

—
the on l y u s e of her is to si n k that p r ide i n a be tter the —

pride of bei n g of some u s e What I regretted as f or .

a d s ch as i f there are e o gh of s ch m ake

h
’

y o u —
n u y o u n u u t o—

a cl ass Yes y e s s e added looki n g u p

.
, ,
I ac kn o l , ,
 T HE SO RC E R ESS 2 67

h
.

w h
e dge co siste cy
t e in
I have se e e o gh
n n n ot ns n u to

eep belief is t h
.

s ee pi y
t e it t
all cases of in
my real pri ciple — bu t n ,
my
d at to draw a a like away from yo r m

w
n y o u u

is a th
i g th
o car er to tro ble a distres
n e ,
abo others who
u nd s y o u ut ,

a r e not of
half yo r val at o ght to be
u u e— n u

preve ted by act

n Parl i ame t she ried breaki gof n ,
”
c ,
n o ff

ith ala u gh “
Bu t y ou have n o t told me ye t how every

w
.

”
t h i n g has fi n ished she added i n a con fidential low ton e
, , ,

aft er a pau s e .

The n he told her i n some detail wha t he had don e It .

as delightfu l to tell her a woman s o sympathizi n g s o

h
, ,

u ick t o u n ders t an d with that approvi n g co n soli n g r e

q , , ,

m o n s tr a t i n g actio n of her white b a n d s w ich seemed at

w
th e same momen t t o applau d an d deprec a te with a c on

w
,

s ta n t i n fere n ce that he was t o o good t ha t really he ou ght

w
,

n o t t o be s o good She lau ghed at his description of the

w
.

Don addi n g a graphic tou ch or t o t o make the pictu re

h
,

h
m ore per fect til l Colon el K i n g s a r d was s u rp r ised at
—

imself t o thi n k o cleverly he had do n e i t an d de ,

l ighted with his o n s u ccess This gave a slightl y comic .

c haracter t o his other sketches of poor Charlie s tradesme n

’

h
an d sco u t an d an u n u tt erable cad of a yo u n g fellow who
,

ad met the colo n el leavi n g the college an d ad told him

o f asm all s u m which Charlie owed him .
h
The little be ast the colon el said , .

Worse cried Miss Lan ce ; I wou ld n ot slan der a

w
,

tl ma ly dog by calli g him f the same species

w
g e n e n n o .

Altogether her i nterest an d sympathy chan ged th is n ot

p a rtic u larly lively occasio n i n to o n e of the br i ghtest mo

m e n ts of Col on el K i ng s ar d s life
h h
w
H e had n ot bee n u s e d ’
.

t o awoman so clever im u p at ha l f a word a

w
o took ,
nd

e n han ced the i n terest of every t h i n g Had he bee n asked .

i n deed he wo u ld have said that he did n ot like clever

ome n Bu t the n Miss La n ce had other qu a l ities She
. .

as very han dsome a n d she had a n evide n t a n d u n dis g u ised

w
,

adm iration for h im She was s o very fran k and s u re of her

h
.

p o s it i on as a wom a n o f a certai n age a q u alificatio n —

w ich she appropriated to herself con sta n tly tho u gh most ,

o me n thou gh t i t a n i n s u lt that she did n ot fin d it n eed

h h
,

f u l t o con cea l that admiratio n Whe n he than ked her for .

e r ki n d n es s f or the pat i e n t heari n g of a l l i s story a nd ,

268 T H E SOR C E R E SS .

the i nterest she had show n to which he had s o li t tle c l aim

, ,

Miss Lan ce smiled an d held o u t those white han d s

h h
.

I assu re y o u
”
she said the ben efit is all on m y s ide
, , .

Livi n g here amon g v ery you n g m en y ou m u st t i n k w at

w h
,

it is t o talk to t o be treated con fide n tially by a m an l ike

h
w ww
,

you rself It is like a gla n ce i n to an ot er life She

h
. .

sig ed an d adde d “
The y ou n g are d elightfu l I am .

very fon d of you n g people Still t o meet n o an d t e n

w
.
,

with some on e o f on e s o n age of on e s o n speci es if I

w
’ ’

may say so
Y o u d o me t o o m u ch hon or said Colon el K i n g s ar d

h h h
, ,

feeli n g with a cu riou s elation how su perior he as She

h hh
.

wen t wit him t o t e garde n gate n ot af raid of t e i n try

h
,

air showi n g n o sense o f the c ill an d thou gh s e ad

, ,

gi v e n him her han d before o ff ered it agai n with t e

h
,

sweetest frien dli n ess .

An d y ou promised she said looki n g i n his face w i le

h h
, ,
“
he h eld it that y o u wou ld sen d me on e li n e whe n y o u

w
,

got ome to tell me how y ou fin d i m an d that al l is

,
—

well an d forgive n
—
.

I shall be too happy t o be permitted t o write Col on el

h
w
,

K in gs a r d said .

“
Forgive n she said an d forgotten ! old i n g u p a

w
, ,

fi n ger of the other ha n d the han d with the dia m on d

w
, ,
.

She stood f or a momen t watchi n g while he clos e d th e l o

gate an d then wavi n g her han d to him tu rn ed away
, , , .

Colon el K i n g s ar d had n ever bee n a fi n er fellow i n his

o n estimation tha n whe n he walked slowly off from that
cl osed door .

w
w h
C HAPT E R XXXVI I
h
.

I W ILL n ot repeat t e often described sce n e of an xiety -

wh i ch existed i n K i n g s ar d e n for some time after Col o .

n el K i ng s ar d ret u rn ed as Bee ad don e to fin d that n oth

i n g had bee n see n or heard of Charlie wh o m b o th had ,

expected to fin d defian t an d wretched at home It is .

aston ishi n g how q u ickly i n su ch circu mstan ces the t ables

are t u rn ed an d the you n g c u l prit whom paren ts an d
,

f r 1 e n d s have b e e n ready to cr u s t e momen t e a p p e ars hh ,

h
whw
T HE s o R C E xE ss .

h
2 69

hw
'

it deserv ed reb u ke becomes when e doe s n o t

el l -
,

ap p ear the o bj ect of the most eager appeals forgiv en ess —

an d advan tages of every ki n d all ready t o greet him if on ly

e ill come back The girls were frighten ed beyon d
.

d e s c ription b y their brother s disappearan ce a n d conj u red

’

u p every dreadf u l image o f disaster a n d misery They

h
.

th o u ght of Charlie i n h is despair goi ng o ff to the e n ds of

h
t e earth a n d n e ver bei n g see n more They thou ght of

w
.

i m as i n some wre t ched con dition on shipboard sick a nd

h
,

m i s erab l e red u ced t o dreadf u l work a

,
n d still more dread
f u l priva tio n s he who had lai n i n t e li l i es a
,
n d fed o n the
r o s es o f life They thou ght of him Colo n el K i ng s ar d s '

h
.
,

en listed as a private sol d ier i n a crowded bar rack

w
s on

h h
,

ro o m They thou ght o f him wan deri ng a b ou t t e street

w w
.
,

c o l d per aps h un gry witho u t a s elter The most

h
,
.
,

dre adfu l i m ages came before t heir i n experie n ced eyes

h
.

T h e ol d a u n t o was their compa n io n told them dreadf ul

st ories o f family prodig als o disap peared a nd ere
n ever heard o f agai n ; a n d te r ror took hold o f the gir l s
’

m i n ds .

Th eir con sta n t walk was to the sta t io n w i th the idea ,

th at he m ight perhaps come as far as the village an d ,

th at there his heart might fail him E xcept for that

w h
.

m el an choly i n d u l gen ce the y wo u ld n ot be ou t o f the

h
,

h o u se at any time together lest at that mome n t C arlie ,

as
,

h
m ig t arrive an d n o o n e be there to welcome him There
always o e who r an to the d oor at every so u n d
.

sca n dalizi n g the servan t who co u ld n ever get there so f ast

,

b u t o n e o f the yo u n g ladies was before him They had .

e n d l ess con versation s an d co n s u ltation s on the s u bject ,

form i n g a h undred plan s as to how th ey sho u ld go forth

i nt o the world to seek for him all re ndered aborti v e by ,

th e reflection that they k n ew n ot where to go Bee an d

w
.

Be t ty were very u n happy d uri n g these li n geri n g chill ,

days of early S pri n g The tran q u illity of the family life

w
.

seemed t o be destroyed i n am ome nt Where was Charlie ?

w wh h
.

Was there an y n ews o f Charlie ? This as the q uestion

that filled t eir mi n ds d ay an d n ight .

Colo n el K ing s ar d was n o t les s a ff ection ate b u t he ,

as more practical and experie n ced .

H e kn ew tha t no a nd t en i t do es happ en tha t a y o u n g

2 7 0 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

man disapp e ars si n ks der the st r eam an d go es as p eo

,
un ,
‘

ple s a t the dogs a d is heard of more at lea t

w
y o ,
n ,
n o o r s —

o n l y i n a shipwreck e d con dition the shame an d trou ble of

w h
,

his frie n ds It did n ot seem t o him at first that there

.

co u l d be an y su ch dan ger for i s s on He an ticipat e d .

n othi n g more than a f e

h
days s u l l e nn ess perhaps i n some
’

frie n d s hou s e o wo u ld m a ke cau t i ou s overtu res an d

’

h
wh
,

i ntercede f or the rebelliou s b u t shame stricke n b oy -

.

W e n however the time passed on an d a lo n ger i n t e rv al

, , ,

than any j u diciou s frien d wo u ld p ermit had elapsed a ,

deep an xiety arose also i n Colon el K i n gs ar d s mi n d ’

.

The “cl am! ” of an O xford fail u re did n o t trou bl e i m

w
m u ch b u t i n view o f Charl ie s fu t u re career he cou ld n ot’

w
,

employ detect ive s or advertise i n the papers or take an y

w
,

h
,

steps which might lead to a paragraph as t o the an xiety of

a disti n gu ished family o n acco u n t of a s on o had d i s a p
p e a r e d Colo n el
. K i n g s a r d
h
might n o t be a
paren t b u t he as fu lly alive t o the advan tage of his c il
,

dre n an d wou ld allow n o stigma to be attached to the m

very te n der

h
,

which he cou ld preve n t He we n t a great de al abou t

.

Lon do n i n t ese days goi n g i n to man y a spot wh er e a

,

m an o f his dign ity was ou t of pl ace with an an xio u s an d

h
,

trou bled eye u pon the crowds of yo u n g m e n the fa m iliars ,

of these con f u sed region s amon g whom owever n o trace

, , ,

was to be fo u n d of h is s on

h
.

Nobody ever k n ew how m u ch the colon el u n dertook in

hh
,

how ma n y stran ge scen es e fo u n d himself o r h al f of

h
w
,

what h e really d i d to recover Charl i e an d save i m from

the con seq u e n ces of his folly T e most devoted fat e r

w
.

cou ld scarcely have d on e more an d his mi n d was almost

as f ul l of the pro d igal as were those of the girls
tho u ght of so man y gr ievou s da n gers yet did n o t thi n k o f
,

o h
,

those that filled their father s mi n d Colon el K in gs ar d '

h
.

we n t abou t ever ywhere gropi n g sayi n g n ot a word to b e ,

tray his ign oran ce of C arlie s whereabou ts To th ose

’
.

who had an y right to k n ow his family aff airs he explai n ed

that he had decided n o t to press Charlie to u n dergo an y
exami n ation be y on d what was n e cessary tha t he had g i ve n ,

u p the tho u ght of taki n g his degree a n d was st u dyi n

g

h h
,

modern lan gu ages an d i n tern atio n al law which were so ,

muc more l ikel y to b e us ef ul to im “

H e i s as t e a dy .
 ww
T HE S O RC E R E S S 2 7 1

h h a I th
.

let h have his head

f e l low — a vic s he sai e s i k it
no wise e ,
d, nd n is
to im Colo el a a by K i ng s rd

w w
n s

h am iable th
.

n at re a despotic a a his frie ds were very lad to

u m n, nd n g

aid to each other that his wife s death h

ar hat he was
e t respect Charlie ,
y in to ,
so —
e
s a softe ed ’
d n

h
K i n gs
avi g
a a what a good thi g it a that he was
rd,

j dicio sly abo t his

n so u
nd
u u s on
n s be

which h
.

A
pa se like thisu the life a family a period of in of —

d ark ess n l ife in of its members is t e of on e sus

with t h
p ded i terr pted as
en ,
were
n mid career
u it in -
,
cu t o ff , y e t
not at to ch death which stills all a xieties is of n

w
u —

al wa s a y a miserable Some a the

d i fli c u l t nd on e nd

e arth
.
,

nu mber a of thesem cre co tr led perso s cry

s es un n ol n ,
ou t to
a heave a make the lapse p bl c a set all
nd n, nd u i nd
th e world talki g of their affairs Colo el
n a Bu t n K i ng s 1 d

ca ot keep a watch over yo rselves before h

.

r ly dow eve the tears of his o g da ghters

w
s te n p u t n n y un u

had better l eave the ho se he said a h

.

If t

w
y o u nn u e
s va ts
m
er
ore ster
n
h , y o u
that he was soft to Charlie
n to t. e m
u , ,
l l t
; b ut in
e

th
d eed was it m ch that he a soft
s
Betty s ppose a go back o th e Lyo s
I
n ot

u
n
Charlie as
so

at h e a co cer ed a a xio s abo t Charlie s c areer

Port a
n
u

c n
nd n u
t
s
u
to

n
’
in
’

m n
.

, ,

th
Sq are a Bee nd

w w
u ;

thchildre a poor Charlie

If i k I a
y o u visiti g papa a
!
n
nd
with c n g o n ,
nd n o on e

w
e n
I thi n k an d i n deed I kn ow that y ou c an an d w il l
“ —
, , ,

do hat I thi nk best for y ou said Colon e l K i n g s ar d ,

.

Bee looked u p at him q u ickly an d met her father s eyes ’

w
.

The t o looked at e ach oth er s u spiciou sly almost fiercely ,

.

Bee saw i n her father s look possibi l ities an d da n gers as ’

yet u n deve l oped m ysteri es which she divi n ed an d feare d

,

yet n either cou ld n o r wou ld have p u t i n t o ords ; while

he looked at her divi n i ng her divi n ation s defyi n g u n c on
s c i o u s l y the su spicio n w ich he co u l d n ot

an y more than she

ave expr essed
.
h ,

h
Let it be u n derstood on ce for all he said th at the , ,

childre n have their n u rses an d govern ess an d that you r ,

prese n ce is by n o mean s i n dispe n sable to them Y ou are

hh
.

th eir elder sister y ou are n o t the mist ress o f the hou se

,
.

N o thi n g wi l l happe n to t e c il dren I n cons i d eri n g wha t .

i s b es t f or you
 w
2 7 2 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

Papa ! cried Bee almo s t fiercely ; b u t she d id n ot

"

h
w
,

po ur o u t u pon him that bittern ess h ich had be e n collect

i ng i n er heart She pau sed i n time ; bu t the n added :
.

I have n o t asked y ou to con sider what was best f o r me ”

.

That is en ou gh t o sho that i t is t ime f or me t o c o n

w
sider it he said
,
.

An d the n o n ce more their looks m e t an d clashe d l ik e

w w
the e n cou n ter o f two armies Wha t did she s u spect ? .

What did he i n te n d ? They both breath e d short as if i t h ,

the imp ulse o f ba t tle b u t n either eve n to themselves

, , ,

cou ld have a n s ered that q u estion Col o n el K i n g s ar d .

h
crie d Take care Bee ! as he wen t away a by n o m ean s
”
, , ,

happy m an to i s library while she threw he rself dow n

, ,

u po n a sofa a nd ,
i n evitable resu lt i n a girl of any s u ch
—

risi n g of passion bu rst i n to tears —

.

“
Bee said the s en sible Betty y ou ou ght not t o s peak
, ,

like that t o papa .

I ou ght to be thankfu l that he has con sidered w at was

best f or me an d spoiled my life
h

w
,
cried Bee throu gh her
tears . O h i t is ve r y easy for y ou t o speak
,
Y o u are to .

t he Lyo s where wish to be free f all

’

g o t o n y o u t o g o o —

the an xiety ; for what is Charlie to y ou b ut on ly yo u r

brother an d y o u k n o that y ou ca n t d o him an y good b y
,
’

maki n g yo u rself miserable abou t him ! An d y o u will see

Ger ald Lyo n who is doi n g well at Cambridge and l iste n
,

to all the talk abou t him an d sm i le an d n o t hate i m f or

bei n g s o sm u g an d prospero u s while poor Ch arlie
, ,
,

h
h
,
“
How u n j u st y ou are ! cried Betty growi n g red an d
”
,

the n pal e .It is n ot Gerald Lyon s fau lt t at Charlie has ’

n o t do n e well eve n if I cared an ythi n g for Geral d Lyon

—
.

It is y ou who ou ght to take care said Bee if p apa “

h
, ,

thi nks i t n ecessary to con si d er what is best for y ou .

There is n othi ng to co n sider said Betty wit a l ittle , ,

movemen t of her ha n ds
h
h w
w
.

Bu t i t c an n ever be so bad for y o u said Bee wit a , ,

“
ton e of regret Ne ver ! To thi n k that my life sh ou ld '

h
.

be ru i n ed an d all e n ded for the sake of a woman — awom an

—
o has n o ru i n ed Charlie an d whom papa o pap a ,
—
,

she cried with a ton e i n describable o f exasperation an d

scorn an d con tempt
“
.

What i s i t ab ou t papa ? Y ou l ook at e ac ot er y o u hh ,

 h h w T H E SO R C E R E SS .

h
2 73

w
and lik tig rs
e, ave e t o e . Y ou g o t sam e dr adf l
t e e u
ey s Yes they are dr adf l eyes they give I

w
e .
, e u ; ou t fire .

won de r o fte n that they don t make a n o ise like an e x p l o ’

sion An d Bee ! y o u said you rself tha t there as s ome

.

th i n g else Y ou n ev e r wou ld have given i n to p apa,

.

b u t there was somethi n g of you r o n that parted y o u

fro m Au brey forever Y o u said s o Be e whe n his

w
— —

h
.
,

m o ther
I s t ere a ny n eed of bri n gi n g i n a
h
n y ge n tlema n s
’

n ame ?
”
c ried Bee wit the di gn i t y o f a dowager And
, .

th e n ign ori n g her o n ru le she bu rst forth : What I have

g o t agai n st him is n othi n g t o an y o n e b u t t hat A u brey —

L e igh shou ld be i n su lted an d rej e cted and t u r n ed away

from ou r door and that my heart sho u ld b e broke n be

hh
,

ca u s e o f a woman whom papa an d Char lie whom papa

w
—

H e writes t o her a
h
n d she writes t o im e tel l s her —
,

eve rythi n g e con su l t s her a b o u t u s my mother s ’

—
us , ,

ch i ldre n ! An d yet i t was on her acco u n t that A u brey

Le igh as t u rn ed from the door oh if y o u thi n k I c an bear —
,

th at y ou m u st thi n k me more tha n flesh an d blood ! Bee

,
”

cried the tears addi n g t o the fire an d sparkle of her bl az

,

i n g «eyes

h
.

It is n t v ery n ice said lit tle Betty sagely b u t I am

’

, ,

n o t s o s u r e tha t it was er fa u lt ; for i f y o u had st u ck t o

Au brey as y ou me an t to do at first yo u r heart wo u ld n ot ,

h ave been broken ; an d if Charlie had n o t bee n very silly

h
,

a perso n o f that age cou ld n o t have don e him an y harm ;

h
an d t e n papa What c an she d o t o papa ? I su ppose

h
w
h e t i n ks as she is ol d he m ay write to her as a frie n d an d
as k er ad vice There is n ot an y har m that I c an see i n

h
.

that .

Bee as too m u ch agitate d to make any reply t o t is

h
.

She resu med agai n aft er a pa u se as if Bet t y had n o t ,

spok e n H e writes to e r an d sh e writ es t o him j u st as

.
, ,

sh e d i d t o Charlie for I hav e see n them both lon g letters

,
—

with that ridicu lou s Lau ra an d a big L as if she were ‘

,

w
a g irl Y o u c an see them if y o u like at breakfast whe n
.
,

h e read s them i n stead of his papers an d smiles t o himself

h
,

whe n he i s r eadi n g them an d l ooks ri d icu lou s cried ”

—

h h
,
“
Be e in,
e r i n dig n atio n R idic u lo u s ! as i f he were .

o u n g t oo ; a ma n o IS f a t e r of al l of u s ; a n d n o t mu c h
y
1 8
2 74 T HE S O RC E R E SS

h
.

more t a n a y ea r ag o O h if I w e re n o t t o s p e a
thi n k t he ver y tre e s w ou ld an d t e b u shes i n th e s h r ub
be r y ! It is more th an any on e can bear
,
,
k I
h

w
.

Y ou a
”
r e maki n g u p a story said Betty won de r i n gly

h h h
.
,
”
I don t kn ow what y ou mean
’
Then she cr ied carrying

h w
.
,

t e war i n to t e e n emy s co u n try

’
O h Bee if y o u ad

w h
, , ,

n o t gi ve n him u p if y ou had b e e n faithfu l to him

,
no —

we s hou ld h a ve had somebody to con su lt with somebody ,

tha t cou ld h ave gon e an d looked f or poor C arlie ; f o r e

w h
are on ly t o girl s an d w at c an we do ? "

w
,

Bee did n ot make an y reply b u t looked at e r s ister

w
,

w i th start led eyes .

Mamma as n e ver again st A u brey Leigh s ai d B e tty

hw h
h
, ,

pu rsu i n g her advantage She n e ver wou ld h ave ished

.

y o u t o give i m u p An.d it is all yo u r o n doi n g n o t p apa s ,

’

doi n g or any on e s If I had ever cared f or him I n e ver

,
’
.
,

n ever s hou ld have given him u p ; a

w
n d t en e shou l d ave

h
had as good as an other brother that cou ld h ave go n e i n t o
t e worl d a n d h u n ted everyw ere a n d bro u ght C arlie h
,

h
h
”
home .

The arg umen t was t ake n u p at h azard ac an c e ar ro ,

lyi n g i n the yo u ng combatan t 3 way withou t i nt e n ti o n ’

b u t i t we n t straigh t t o its mark .

C HAPT E R XXXVIII .

w
w
T HE hou se t ha t had bee n s o pe acefu l as th u s fu l l of
agitation a nd distu rban ce the hou sehold an xiou s an d

h
, ,

al arm ed tu rn i n g their weapon s u pon e ach o ther t o re l ieve

w
,

al ittle the gn awi n g of t at su spe ns e which they e re s o

u n acc u sto m ed t o bear It was tru e what Bee s kee n an d
h
’
.

sharpl y arou sed observation had con vi n ced e r tha t C olo

h
,

n e l K i n gs ar d was i n cor respon de n ce wi th Miss L an ce ,

h
.

an d t hat her letters were very welcome to i m an d rea d

whw
h
,

h
with g reat i nterest He thre w down the paper aft e r e

hh h
w
.

ad made a ru sh t rou gh its con ten ts a n d read e a g erly ,

t e lon g s eets of paper u pon which the great L sta m ped ,

at t e head of e v ery p age cou ld b e read on the ot h er s ide

,

o f the table H o d i d tha t woman kno t he d a

.
y s e as
 T HE S O R C E R E SS . 2 75

w
to b e at home that her let t ers shou ld always come o n those

w
,

morn i n gs an d n ever at an y othe r time ? Bee almost forgot

w
her trou bles those of the family i n respect to Charlie an d
, ,

those which were her very o n i n her pass i o n ate hatred

w
,

an d distr u st of the n e co rrespon de n t to whom Colon e l

w
Ki n g s a r d like his s o n had ope n ed his heart
, , .

H e was n o t n at u rally a m an give n to correspo n den ce :

His le t te rs to his wife i n those days wh i ch n o seemed so
distan t had bee n models of con cise riti ng His opi n ion s .
,

or rather verdic t s u po n thi n gs great a

,
n d small had bee n
con veyed i n terse se n ten ces very m uch t o the p u rpose ,

deliveran ces n ot of his way of th inki ng b u t of the u n alter

able dogmas that were t o ru le the family life ; an d her r e

h
plie s tho u gh di ff u se were always more or less regu lated
, ,

by e r con sciou sn ess of the little time there wo u ld be give n

to th e m, an d the n ecessity of maki n g eve r y explan ation as
brief as possible n ot t o worry papa who ad so m u ch to
—
h
h
,

do .

Why i t was that he fou n d the lon g letters w ich he read ,

with a certai n defia n t pride i n the presen ce o f his da u ghters

at the breakfast table so agreeable i t wo u ld be di ffic u lt
h
-

h
, ,

to t el l . They were very carefu l ly adapted to please i m ,

i t is t r u e ; a n d they were w at a r e called clever letters

su ch letters as clever wome n write with a f aux ai r of bril

, ,

lia n c y which deceives both the writer a n d the recipie n t ,

mak i n g the on e feel herself a S evig ne an d the other a

w
hero worthy the exercise of su ch powers An d there was .

som ethi n g very n ove l i n this su dde n i n road of se n time n tal

ro m a n ce i n to an existe n ce n ever e i ther se n time n tal or

w
rom an tic hich had falle n i n to the fami l iar calm of family
,

life s o l on g ago with a wife who tho u gh sweet an d fair

w
,

e n o u gh to d e light an y m an had become i n reality on l y the

ww h
,

chief of his vassals follo i n g every i n dicatio n of his will

, ,

whe n n ot eagerly watchi n g an opport u n ity of a n ticipati n g

his wishes His n e frie n d treated the colon el i n a very
.

di ff ere n t ay Sh e expou n ded er views of life with all

.

the adroitn ess of a mi n d experie n ced i n the treatme n t o f

th os e philosophies hich to u c h the q u estio n s of sex the
d if e ren ces betwee n a ma n s an d a woma n s view t e ’ ’
,

h
h
,

se n time n t which c an be carried i n to the most simple s u b

T r i s n o t hi n that can g i ve more e n t ertai n i n
j e ct s
. e e g g
2 76 T H E SOR C E RESS

h
.

w ww h
play of argu men t or piqu an c y of in te rc ours e th an t i s
mode o f corresponde n ce w e n cleverly car ried o u t an d ,

Miss Lau ra Lan ce was a mistress of al l its methods It

h
.

was all e n tirely n e t o Colon el K i ng s ar d H e as as .

m u ch e n chan ted by it as his s on had be e n an d thou ght t e

h
,

wri ter as brillian t as origi n al as poor Charlie had d o n e

w
, ,

who had n o way o f k n owi n g be tter The colon el s e ad ’

h
.
,

which ge n erally had been occu pied by profession al or

pu blic matters b y the i n trig ues of the ser ice or t e i n
— v

compete n cies of t he Departme nt n o fo un d amu ch m ore —

i nterest i n g private su bj ect o f thou ght H e was a m an

hh
.

fu ll of an xiety an d ann oyan ce at this part icu lar cri si s o f

his career an d his correspon de n t was by way o f s ar i n g
,

his an xiety t o the u t most an d even blami n g herself a s t e

cau se of it ; yet she con trived t o am u se him t o brin g a
smile t o tou ch a li g hter key t o relieve the t ension of i s
, ,
,

h
h
mi n d from time t o time withou t e ver all owi n g him t o f e e l
,

h
th at the c ief su bj ec t o f their correspon denc e was ou t o f

w
He got n o relief of thi s desc r iption at

w
e r tho u ghts .

home where the girls an xiou s qu estion s abou t Cha r l ie

,
’

their eager n ess t o k n ow what had been don e seeme d to ,

u pbraid him with i n differe n ce as if he ere n ot d o i ng

,

everyt hi n g that a s possible Miss Lan ce kn ew be t t er

.

the dan gers that were bei n g r un the real d i ffi cu lti e s of

w
,

the case than these i n experie n ced chits o f childre n ; b u t

,

she k n ew also that a man s mi n d requ ires relief an d t hat

’

i n poi n t of fact the colo n el s health , stre n gth a n d com fort

’

h
,

were of more importan ce than ma ny Charlies Th is as .

a thi n g that ad t o be u n derstood n ot said an d the c ol o , ,

n e l i n deed was as a n xiou s a n d co n cern ed a bou t Ch arl i e as

w
it was almost possible to be H e did n o t form drea d fu l

w
.

pict u res as Bee an d Betty did of what the b oy migh t b e

The boy deserved t o su ff er an d this con si d e ra

w
s n Ee r i n g

h
,

h
.

tion had he dwelt u pon it ou l d have a ff ord ed ac er t ai n

h h
, ,

satisfaction Bu t what did make i m wre t ched as t e

w
.

fear of any expos u re t e me n tion i n p u blic of an yt i n g

w
,

h w
that might i n j u re his son s career An opport un ity as
’

w h
.

already dawn i n g of getti n g him an appoi n tme n t u p on

hich the colon el had lon g kept is e y e and which w o u l d ,

be of dou bl e importan ce at prese n t as se n di n g him ou t of

‘

e co u n tr
y an d i n to ne s c en e s B u t of a t u se er
. e
 T H E S OR C E RE SS 277

h
.

wh
al l a f at er s c aref u l arran gemen ts i f they were th u s
’

w h
b al ked by the perversi t y of the boy ?
T hi n gs were still i n this pai n fu l su spen se when Miss
L an ce ann ou n ced t o Colon el K i n g s a rd e r arriva l i n
to She describe d t o i m how it was tha t she was

ww h
n .

c o m ing .

My fr ien d is ab se n t with her s on till after E aster an d ,

I am u n ders t ood to b e fon d o f tow n an d am comi n g to ,

s p e nd a eek or t o t o see t e firs t of the season the

w
,

p i c t u r es etc as ,
well as
. a,
few frie n ds whom I still keep
u p the relics of brighter an d yo un ger d ays this is th e —

h
,

rea s o n I give b u t y o u will easily u n derstan d dear Colo

, ,
,

n e l K i n gs ar d that there i s an ot er reason far more n ear

w
,

t o m y heart You r poor boy ! O r may I for on ce say ou r

w hh
.

p o or boy ? For y o u ar e aware that I have n ever ceased to

h
u p braid myself f or what has hap pe n ed a
al ay s e ar a mother s heart t o Charlie d ear fellow ; to
’
n d th at I shall ,

w
,

h om i n wishi n g i m n othi n g b u t good I have bee n so

h h
,

u n fort u n ate as t o do s u ch dreadfu l wron g E ve r y word

h
.

say abo t opes for i m a d t reat cha ce

hw h
y o u u y o u
; n e g n

h
,

ich he is s o likely to miss cu ts me t o the heart An d

w
.
,

i t as occu rred to me that there are some places i n which

h hh
w
e may have bee n eard of to w ich I co u ld myself go

w h
, ,

or here even I might t ake y ou if y ou wish ed w ic y ou

h
,

ou ld n ot you rself be l i kely t o k n ow I wish I had .

t o u ght of them be f ore I com e u p n o fu ll of hope that

.

e may hear so m et i n g a n d fin d a reliable clew I shall .

b e i n George Street H a n over Sq u are a pl ace which is

, ,

l u ckily i n the way for every thi n g Please come an d see .

me I hope y ou wil l n o t thi n k I am pres u m i n g i n e n

v or i ng to solve a di ff i c u lty f or which I am alas al a
.

dea s! , ,

p ar tially to blame To ass u re m e of this at least if n o

.
,

m ore com e d o com e to see me to morrow T u esd ay after

h
-
, , ,

h
n o on I shall d o n othi n g t i ll I ave you r approval
.

This letter had an exciti n g e ff ect u pon t e colon el more hh .

h
,

t an any thi n g he had kn own for years H e el d it before .

i m yi eldi n g himself u p t o this pleas u rable se n sation for

,

s ome mi n u tes after he had read it The E aster recess had .

left Lon don empty an d he h ad been deprived of some of

,

the ordi n ary social solaces which thou gh they i n creased , ,

the di ffi cu lty of keepi n g his son s disappearan ce asecret ’

,
2 7 8 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

h
still b roke the b lank of his s u spe n se an d made existe n ce p o s
h
w
s i ble H ard to e ar was the poi nt bla n k shock which h e ad -

sometimes received as whe n an i n discreet b u t i n fl u e n t ial

,

frie n d s u dde n ly b u rst u pon him : I don t see yo u r so n s ’ ’

n ame i n the O xford lists K i n g s ar d No the colon el

,
.
,

had replied with a co u n ten an ce from which all expre ssi o n

,

had bee n dismissed we tho u gh t it better that he sho u ld ,

keep t o his special st u dies Q u ite right q u ite right

h
, ,
.

an swered that g reat o fficial f or what is a mere degree to

h
,

F O P E ve n t o h ave s u ch thi n gs as this said o f i m with

. .

the cha n ce of p u tti n g i n a respo n se was better t a n the ,

s tag n atio n i n which a m an is So apt to feel tha t all k i n ds

of whispers are circ ulati n g i n respect to the o n e m atter

w
which it is his i n terest to con ceal .

An d his heart thou gh it was a middle aged an d no ,

-

lon ger n imble orga n n o t g ive n to leapi n g j u mped u p i n

his breast whe n h e read i s letter There was the possible
clew hich it was good to hear o f an d there was the list
h .
,

w
—

e n er to whom he co u ld tell everythi n g who took s u ch an ,

e n tire an d flatteri n g share i n his an xi eties w i th whom ,

there was n o n eed to i n ve n t exc u s e s or to con ceal an y

thi n g Perh aps there ere other reason s too which h e did
.

n o t p u t i n to words .
The image which ad dazzled im
at Oxford ro se agai n before his eyes
.

I t was a n image .
h h
which had already ofte n visited him On e of th e han d .

s o m e s t wome n he had ever see n ! a n d so flatteri n g so con

h
,

fid e n t i a l so deeply impressed by himself s o can did a

,
nd ,

an xiou s to blame erself to place herself i n his han ds , .

He we n t back to tow n with agreeable i n stead o f pai n fu l

an ticipation s To share on e s cares is always an allevi a
h
’
.

tion to be able open ly to take a frie n d s a dvice T e

h
’
—
.

girls to whom a
,
lon e he cou ld be perfectly open on t i s
matter were s u ch litt l e fools that he had ceased t o d isc uss
,

it with them if i n deed he had ever disc u ssed it An d to

w
, .

n obody else co uld he speak o n the s u bj ect at a ll The op .

p or t u n i t y of po u ri n g forth all his spec u latio n s a n d alarm s

h
,

of heari n g the su ggestio n s of an other m in d (an d su ch a

w
w h
mi n d as hers! of fin di n g a n e cl ew was balm to is
, ,

an gry a nn oyed an d excited spirit

, ,
There were ot er
do u ce u rs i n volved which were n o t absen t from is
thou g hts The pleasu re of the woman s society
. o a s
.

’
hh
 T HE S O RC E R ESS . 279

h
so fl att er i n gl y pleased with h is , her mat u re beau ty which
ad s o m uch attraction i n it , the look of her eyes w ich h
w
s ai d m ore th a n word s— the tou ch laid u po n his f o r a m o

w
m e n t with so m u ch e l oqu en t expressio n , appeal , sympathy ,

h
con s o l ation provocation of her beau tifu l han ds All this
,

as i n the colon el s m i n d
’
,

He ad scarcely kn ow n what
.

w
.

as the tou ch of a woman s hand at least i n th is way ’

w
, ,

d u r i n g the cou rse o f his lon g calm domestic life ,

He had .

b e e n very fo n d o f his wife o f co u rse a n d very te n der as

h h
, , ,

e l l as he k n ew how d u ri n g her i l l n ess thou gh e n tirely

h
, ,

u n c o n scio u s o f o m u ch e dema n ded from her eve n i n

t e co u rse of that i l l n ess Bu t this was all u tterly di ff er
.

hh
ent ,

ip
apart from everythi n g he had ever k n own Frien d
that frie n dship betwee n man an d woman which has
.

w
s —

b e e n t e s u b j ect o f so m u ch se n time n tal con troversy

s o m ebody whom Miss La n ce had q u oted t o i m some h
h
,

g r e at m an i n O xford ,
had said it was the o n ly real frie n d
i p ; man y others amon g whom Colon el K i n gs ar d him

w w
s

h h
,

s e l f had figu red whe n a t a n y mome n t s o ridic u lo u s a n

ar g u me n t had crossed i s p at den ou n ced it as a mere
’

h
,

u n fo u n d ed fiction to con ceal o t her se n time n ts Dolts ! It

h
.

as the O xford great m an o was i n the right of it Th e

w
.

o n l y frie n d ship —
wit sweet n ess i n i t wh i ch n o m a n c o u ld
i ve a more e t i re co fide ce a more complete sy m pathy

w
g n n n ,

h
.
,

H e k n ew that he cou ld say thi n gs t o Lau ra Miss Lan ce —

ich he cou ld say to n o man an d that a look from her ,

e yes wo u ld d o more t o stre n gthe n him than ocean s of ki n d

ords from l i ps which wou ld address him as ol d fellow

hh h
.

H e had her image before him all the time as he wen t u p

h
i n the trai n ; it we n t with i m i n to t e decoro u s d u ln ess
of i s o ffi ce a n d whe n h e left i s work a n ho u r earl i er

h
,

th a n u su al his steps were as light as a you n g man s He ’

w h
.

ad no t felt s o m u ch exhilaration of spirit si n ce b u t he —

co u ld scarcely go back to a date on which i s bosom s lord ’

h ad sat so lightly on his thron e Tru th t o tell Colon el

h
.
,

K i ngs a r d had lately falle n on evil days E ven the co u rse

h
.

o f his ordi n ary existe n ce whe n he had gon e t ro u gh life

h
with his pretty wife by i s side d i n i n g o u t co n stan t l y g o
i ng eve r yw ere thou gh e n j oyable i n its way a
,

the satisfaction i n it of keepi n g u p to the right mark had

,

n d wit ,
,

h
,

n o t bee n exciti n g . She n o do u bt told f o r a great deal i n

 w
2 80 T HE SOR C E R E SS
.

w w
his happi n es s b u t there were n o risks n o exci t e me n t s an d
, , ,

n o t as m u ch as the smart o f a n occasio n al qu arrel bet een

them H e had k n ow n wh at t o expect of her i n e v e r y

w
.

emerge n cy ; there as n othi n g n ovel to be looked f or n o ,

u n acc u stomed fl a vor i n an ythi n g she as likely to d o o r

sa y . H e did n o t make this compariso n co n scio u sly f o r ,

i n d eed there as n o comparison at all b etwee n his l at e

wife (he called her s o already i n his m i n d! an d Miss L an c e
— n ot the slightest co m pariso n ! The latter was a far m o r e
piqu an t thi n g afrie n d an d the most delightfu l fri e n d
— —

s u rely that ever m an had !

He fo u n d her i n a li ttle drawi n g room o n t e first fl o o r
h h
w
-

of what looked ve r y m u c like an ord i n ary Lo n don l o d g

w
i n g ho u se ; b u t withi n it had ch a
-
n ged its char acter co m
l
ht l a d had become tho gh i a di ff ere t more b
h
w
p e e y n ,
u n n s
,
u ,

tle ay t an that of the drawi n g room i n O xford t e -

,

bo er o f Lau ra a special h abitatio n marked wi t h her v e r y

h
,

n ame l ike the n ote paper on her table He co u ld n ot f o r

hw
-
.

the first mome n t avoid a bewil deri n g i d ea that it as t e

sa
h
me room i n which he had see n her i n O xford tran spor t e d

w
thit er There seemed the s a me pictu res on t e wal l s

w h
.
,

the same riti n g table or at least on e arran ged i n p r e

-
,

c i s e l y the same way the same chairs placed two toget,

e r
for con versation What a won derfu l creat u re she as

w
.

h h
th u s to p u t the stamp of her o n bei n g u pon every thi n g
s e t ou c e d ! O n ce more he had to wait for ami n u te o r

w
‘

two before she came b ut she made n o apol ogy for her d e ,

lay She ca m e i n wit h her ha n d ex t e n de d

. ith an air o f ,

sympathy y e t satisfaction i n the sight of him which we n t

w
to Colon el K i n gs ar d s heart If she h ad bee n sorr y on l y ’
.

it wo u l d have displeased him as showi n g a mi n d occ u pi e d ,

wholly with Charlie ; b u t the delicate mi n g l i n g of ple asu r e

with co n ce r n was exactly hat the colon el felt t o be m o s t

h
w
fit .

I am so gl ad to see y ou s e said H ow ki n d o f y o u

w
.
,

t o come s o soon to pay s u ch prompt att en tion t o my wish

h
.
,

Con si d eri n g that it was my o n wish he said an d

”

w
,

h
,

w at I d esired m ost I shou ld say how good of y ou t o ,

c ome b u t I can t ve n t u re to ope that it as en tirely f o r

,
’

”
me .

“
It was v ery mu ch for y ou C o lon e l K i n g s ar d Y o u ,
.
 T HE SO R C E R E SS 2 8 1

h I thi k tperhaps y may

.

elf for all that has h

w
kn o w w at bl am e I ake t o m s a p
pe n ed . An d n , ,
I
ha e it power
v in m y
to m ake some i n qu iries th at wou ld n ot s uggest themselves .

Bu t e m u st t a l k of t his after In the mea n time I c an t ’

.

b u t thi n k first of y ou What an ordeal for y ou what wear y

.
,

work ! Bu t what a p u l l over u s y ou m en have ! Y ou keep

y o u r great spiri t an d comma n d over yo u rself thro u gh every
thi n g while whatever little trou ble we may have i t s hows
, , ,

i mmed iately O h said Miss Lan ce claspi n g her ha n ds

.
, , ,

a calm stron g m an is a sigh t which it elevates on e on ly

w w
t o see .

Y ou give me far too m u ch credi t On e is obliged to

h
.

ke e p a good face t o the world I d on t approve o f people

w
.

o wash their dirty li n e n i n p u blic .

Don t try to make you rself l it t le ith all this common

’

pl ace reason i n g Y ou n eed n o t explai n you rself t o m e

.
,

de ar Colo n el K i n g s ar d I flat t er m yself that I have the .

gift of u n derstan di n g if n othi n g else

w
, .

A great man y thi n gs else he said ; an d i n deed my ,

k eepi n g u p i n this emerge n cy has been g reatly helped by

o r great frie dship a d moral s pport I do t k ow ’

h w
y u n n u n n .

”
h at y ou have don e to this room he added chan gi n g

h
, ,
“
th e theme qu ickl y Did y ou bri n g it with y o u ? It is
.

n o t a mere roo m i n Lon do n i t is you r room I s ou ld

—
.

ave kn o n it a m on g a thou san d .

“
What a delightfu l co mplimen t ! she said ”
I am so .

g l ad y o u th i n k so ; for it is o n e of the t hi n gs I pri d e m y

s el f o n I thi n k I c an always make eve n a lo d gi n g hou se
.
-

l ook a little bit like home .

It looks like y o u b e repeated I don t n oti ce su ch ’

wh
.
,

m atters m u ch ; b u t n o on e cou ld help seei n g

y o u are to be here f or some ti m e a
An d I hope
n d t at if I c a n be of ,
h .

an y use

h O h , C ol on el K i n g s ar d do n t
old ou t su ch fl at teri n g ’

opes Y ou of u s e ! O f co u rse to alon e woman i n town

h
.
,

y o u wo u ld be far m ore th a n of u se y o u wo u ld simply be —

at o wer of s t ren gt Bu t I d i d n ot come here to make

.

u s e of y ou I came.

Y ou cou l d n ot give me greater pleasu re th a n by mak

h
i n g u s e of me
o u s e is n ot ope n
I am n o t goi n g m u ch i n to society my
.

m y girls are too you n g t o take the re

—
,
 2

w
28 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

spon s ibility of a season u pon the m selves ; b u t an y t i n g

h
that a si n gle i n divid u al c an d o t o be of service
You r dear girls— o I shou ld like to see them t o b e
able to take them a bo u t alit t le to make u p to t hese p o o r
,

h
children as far as a s tran ger cou ld ! Bu t I c an scarc e l y
ope that y ou wo u ld t ru s t the m to me after the trou b l e I
have helped t o bri n g on y o u all De ar Colon el Kin g s .

ward yo u r ch i valro us off er will make all the di ff eren c e i n

,

my life If y ou will g ive me you r arm sometimes o n a

.
,

rare occasion
As ofte n as y ou please an d the more ofte n the m o r e
—

it will please me he cried i n ton es fu ll of wa r m th an d

,

eagern ess Miss Lan ce raised her gratefu l eyes to i m

.

fu ll of u n speakable thi n gs She m ade n o fu rther re p l y

.
h
except by o n e of those ligh t tou ches u pon his arm l e s s

w
,

than mome n tary if that were possible like the bru sh o f a

h
,

wi n g or an ethereal con tact of ideas

h
w
.

An d the n she said gravel y : Now ab o u t t at poor d e ar

boy ; e m u st fin d him o we mu st fin d him ! I h av e
, ,

thou ght of several places where he m ay have been se e n .

Do y o u k n ow th at I met him on ce by chan ce i n to n l as t

year It was at the Academy where I was with some ar t i s t
h
w
?
,

frien ds I i n trod u ced him to t hem an

. d y ou k n ow t e r e ,

is great freedom amon g th em an d they have a gr e at ,

charm for youn g m en I thi n k some of th e m may h av e

h
.

seen him I hav e p u t myself i n comm un icati on i th

.

t em .

“
I wou ld n o t for a mome n t said the colon el som e , ,

h
what s t i fii y
t is ki n d ”
.
con se n t to b u rde n y ou with i n qu irie s o f

Y o u d o n o t thi n k
,

she said sweetly that I wou l d d o

, ,

a n ythi n g or say a n yt hi n g to compromise h im or y o u

The colon el looked at her wi t h the stran gest su d d e n
i rritation I was n o t thi n ki n g e ither of him or myse l f
. .

Why shou ld y o u receive m en who m ust be e n tirely o u t

h h
,
? ”
of yo u r way for o u r sakes ,
“
O ,
she said with a soft lau gh y o u are afraid t at ,

I m ay compro m ise myself She rose with an u n spoke n

.

i mpu l se which made him rise also i n spit e of hims e lf

, ,

with a feeli n g o f u n u tterable d own fall an d the se n se o f

b e i n g dismissed “
Don t be afraid f or me Colon el Ki n g s
.
’

,
w
h
s
ard , I beg .
T HE

I shall n o t compromise any on e

e t u r n ed with a s u dde n ill u mi n ation of a s m ile
S O R C E R ESS

The n
Come
.

.
2 83

h
.

b ack a n d see me t o mo r row an d y o u shall hear what I

-
,

ave fo u n d ou t ”

h
.

An d he we n t away h u mbly relieved yet mortified n o t , ,

o l d i n g his head as high a s whe n he came b u t alre ady ,

l o n g i n g f or to morrow whe n he might come back

-
, .

C HAPT E R XXXIX

h
.

C O L ON E L K IN G S W AR D had b een flattered he ad bee n

w w
,

p l eased . He had felt himself for a mome n t o n e of t he

excep t ion al m en i n whom women fin d an irresistible at

w
traction an d the n he h ad bee n p u t dow n an d dismissed

h
,

ith the c almest decision with a pere m pt ori n ess hich ,

n obody i n his life had e v er u sed t o im All these sweet .

n esses a n d the n to be as i t ere h u ddled ou t o f doors the

w
,

m ome n t he said a word which was n ot satisfactory to that

i m perial person ! H e cou ld n ot g e t it ou t o f his m i n d
d u r i n g the eve n i n g n o r a l l the n ight throu g
h ich it occ u rred t o him when ever he woke as a prevail
d u ri n g h ,

w
,

i n g thou ght does An d he had bee n right t oo

. T o se n d ,
.

f or m e n a n y ki n d of m e n artists whom she herself de

w
, ,

h h
s cribed as havi n g so m u ch freedom i n their ways a
i n te rviews with them was a thi n g to hich e had a good
,
n d have ,

h
r ight t o obj ect

to i t—

h her frie n d
al l that she was doi n g
That is her frie n d ad a righ t to obj ect
.
,

o took the deepest i n terest i n her a

That i t was for C arlie s ad v an
nd ,

w
.

t age made really n o d i ff ere n c e This gave a beau tifu l an d .

ad m irabl e motive ; b u t the n al l her mot ives were bea u tifu l

w h
an d admirabl e an d it m u st be n ecessary i n so m e c ases to
,

d efe n d her agai n st t e move m e n ts of her o n good heart

w
h
.

E vide n t ly she did n o t s u ffi cie n tly thi n k o f what the w o rl d

h o u l d say n or i n deed of w at was esse n tially ri ght ; f or

h
,

w
t at a woman of her attraction s still yo u n g li vi n g i n de , ,

e n de n tly i n rooms of her o n s o u l d receive artists i n

p ,

h
d i s crimi n ately n a se d for them admit them to sit per
y n , ,

aps f or an ho u r with her with n o chaperon or compan ion , ,

as a thi n g that cou ld not be born e Thi s ann oyan ce al .

2 84

w
T HE

m o s t drove Charli e o u t o f Colo n e l K i n gs ard s e a d

felt t hat he n he we n t to her n ext d ay he m u st wit al l
the preca u ti on s possible speak his mi n d u pon this su bj e c t
He
S O R C E RE SS .

wh h ’

,
.

h
.
,

A woman of su ch attraction s really a yo un g woman al o n e ; , ,

n obo dy c ou ld ave more n eed o f gu ardi n g agai n st e v i l

to ngu es An d artists were prove rbially an u nregu l at e d

w
.
,

f ree an d e asy r ace wi t h l on g h air an d defective l i n en n o t

h
, ,

m e n t o b e p r ivileged with access u n der a n y circu msta n c e s

w
to s u ch a wom an U n qu estion ably he m u s t deliver is

w
w
.

s ou l o n that s u bj ec t for her o n sake .

H e tho u ght abou t it all the morn i n g how to do it b e s t

wh
, .

It relieved his mi n d abou t Ch a rlie Charlie ! Ch ar l i e

h
.

as o n ly ayou n g fellow after all takin g his o n ay as , ,

they all did n ever thi n ki n g of the an xiety he gav e i s

,

fam i ly An d n o dou bt he wou ld t u r n u p of his o n ac c o r d

.

whe n he was tired of it Tha t she shou l d depart from t e

h
.

traditio ns which n atu rally are the safegu ards of ladie s f o r

the sake of a silly b o y who took so lit tle trou ble about t e
h
w
peace o f mi n d of his fa mily was mon strou s It was a t i n g

h
.

which he co u ld n o t perm it to be .

When he we n t i n to i s priva te roo m at his o ffice C o l o

h
,

n e l K i n gs ar d fo un d a card u po n his ta ble which i n ,

creased the u n easi n ess i n his mi n d t ou gh h e cou ld n o t

h
,

have told why He took it u p with great s ur prise an d

.

an ger . Mr Au brey Leigh . He su pposed it m u st av e

bee n a card left lon g ago w e n Au brey Leigh was B e e s
s u itor and had com e repeatedly e n deavori n g to s ake e r
,
h
.

hh
’

h h
, ,

father s determi n ation

’
He looked at it con tempt u ou s l y
.
,

an d t e n pitched i t i nto t e fire

h
.

What a stran ge pervers i ty there is i n these i n an i m at e

w h
w
w
thi n gs ! It see med as if some mal iciou s imp m u st av e

hreplaced that card there o n t at very m orn i n g to dist u r b

im
remember h it a h
the ame h
.

Colo el n a didK i n gs rdat n ot o s t

with that of A brey LeighHe had bee m ch

n sacred ame of Miss L a ce was associ a
, t e
'

n ,
n ted
u . n u sur
prised as well as a y a the a er which Been gr t m nn in re

tive j e alo sy (these wor s came i sti ctively to h

, ,

p ea th at ame whe she heard it first with a vi i

te d n ,
n ,
nd o
u mi ! d n n is nd

allow that she h

which was comprehe siblen otHe had r f sed n . e u in
a
d i gn n tl y t o a ever he ad he a d r t n me be
 T H E SO R C E R E SS

w
. 2 85

f or e .Nevertheless her cry awaken ed a vag u e a s s o ci ation

i n his mi n d Somethi n g or other h e cou ld n ot rec ollec t

h
.
,

hat o f con n ection of su ggestion was i n the sou n d H e

w
, , , .

t rew A u brey s card i n to the fire a n d e n de a vored to dis

’

w
h h
,

m iss all thou ght on the su bj ect Bu t it was a d i fi cu l t .

h
t i n g to d o It is t o be feared that d u ri n g t ose mor n i n g
.

o u rs the work which Co l on e l K i n gs ar d u s uall y execu ted

ith so much exac t itu de n ever permitti n g as he imself
,

h
, ,

s tated private matters

,
ev e n s u ch as the de ath of his wife
—

o r the disappeara n ce o f his s o n t o i n terfere with it was —

,

c a r ried thro u gh with ma n y i n terr u ptio n s a n d pau ses for

t h o u ght a n d at the ear liest possible mome n t was laid
,

aside for t hat other e n gageme n t which ad n oth i n g t o d o h

w
e ither with the o fli c e or the service tho u gh it was he , ,

fl attered himself a d u ty an d o n e of the most lofty k i n d

, , .

To save a n oble cre atu re if possi ble from the over , ,

ge n erosity of her o n heart ; to con vi n ce her that su ch

proceedi n gs were i n appropriate i n con siste n t with her ,

dign ity as well as apt to give occasio n for the adversary

t o blaspheme this was the mission which i n spired him
—
.

w
I f he thou ght of a n at u ral t ur n i ng toward himself the ,

fr i e n d o f frie n ds i n respect to whom the preca u tio n s h e

,

e n forced were u nn ecessary i n co n sequ e n ce o f these r e

h
m on stran ces he kept it carefu lly i n the bac kgro u n d of his

w h
,

t o u ghts It as a d u ty This bea u tifu l no ble wom an

. .
, ,

al l fran k n ess an d can dor had t aken t e part of an an gel -

h
.
,

i n e n deavori n g to help him i n his trou ble Cou ld he per .

m i t her to s u lly eve n t e tip o f a i n g i n that gen erou s

h
e ff ort ? Certai n ly n o t ! On the con trary it became dou bly
i s d uty to protect her i n every way
This time Miss La n ce was i n her drawi n g room seated
.

w ww
-

i n on e of the pair o f chairs which were arra n ged f o r i n

w
h hh
t imate con ver sation She did n ot rise b u t held o u t her
.

a n d t o him with a soft imp u lse toward t e ot er i n —

hich Colon el K i n gs ar d accordi n g ly seated himself ,

ith a solem n i ty u pon his brow hich she had n o diffi c u lty

w w
i n i n terpreti n g q u ick witted as she was ,
She did n o t
-
.

l ose a shad e u pon that forehea d a n ote of addition al gravity ,

hh
i n his voice

onl
e
u ick i t
She k n ew as well as he di d the d u ty which
ad come to per f orm
ted a nd f
.

ul l of
An d she was a wom an n o t
a d e fin i t e aim b u t on e
.

o
—

h
yq
-
,
2 86

n 91 : wit h
THE

took real pleasu re i n her o n dexterity an d played e r

gen u i n e e nj oymen t She allowed him to Op e n
the con vers ation with m u ch di gn ified earn es tn ess an d
S

w
O RC E R E SS

.
.

,
h
hh
“
e ve n to begi n My dear Miss La n ce his coun ten an c e
, ,

c arged with war n i n g before she c u t the gro u n d fro m u n

,

d e r i s feet i n the lightest yet most complete way .

I kn ow yo u are goi n g to say somethi n g very s eri o u s

whe n y ou adop t that ton e ; so p l e as e let me disch arge m y

,
h
mi n d first Mrs R evel ki n dly came to me after y ou l e ft
. .

yes t er day an d s e has made every i n qu iry i n deed as s e

compelled me to go back with her to di n n er I saw f or
— h
,

myself
Mrs R evel ? said the colon el
. .

Did n t y ou kn ow he was mar ried ? oh yes t o a gre at

’
—
, ,

frie n d o f mi n e a de ar little wom an It is i n their h ou s e

h
ww
.
,

I meet my artists whom I told y o u o f Tu esday is her .

n ight a n d t ey were all there I was able to m ake my i n .

v es t i g at i o n s withou t a ny betrayal Bu t I am very ver y

w
.
,

sor ry to say dear Colon el K i n g s ar d equ all y without ,

an y e ff e c t .

Withou t an y e ff ect Col on el K i ngs ar d repeated

, ,

con fu sed He was n ot so qu ick itted as she was an d it

.
-
,

took him some t ime to make his way throu gh these mazes .

R evel the pai n ter was a n ame i n deed th a t he had heard

vagu ely b u t his wife so su dde n l y i n trodu ced an d her
, ,
“
n ight
”
an d th e people d escribed as my artists wou n d

h
, ,

him i n webs of bewildermen t throu gh which it was very

di ffi c u lt t o gu ide his st eps It became appare n t t o i m .
,

however after a mome n t that whatever those thi n gs might

,

m ea n the gro u n d h ad been c u t from u n der his feet

,
.

“ ”
Does Mrs R evel kn ow ? he added after a mome n t i n

w h
.

his bewildermen t

h
.

K n ow— ou r poor dear b oy ? Oh yes I took him t ere , ,

i n my foolish desire to do the best I co u ld for i m a nd

w
—
,

thi n ki n g that to see other circles ou tside of his o n was

good for a you n g m an I cou ld n t take him the rou n d of
h
’

ww
.

the st u dios y ou kn ow cou ld I ? Bu t I took i m t o the

w h
, ,

R evels . She is a charmi n g little wom an a woma n hom ,

I am very fon d o f a
h
n d m ore extraordi n a ry still don t ’
—

h
, ,

y o u thi n k Colo n el K
,
i n g s ar d o is fo n d of me ?
”
,

T e col onel a s no t u p t o t e ma rk i n thi s em ergen cy .

 did n ot gi ve the littl e co mplime n t
h
T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w
h
2 87

w
H e ich is expe c te d
after su ch a speec H e sat d u m b a d ull middle aged
.

.
,
-

b l u sh risi n g over his face He had n o lon ger an ythi n g to

h
.

sa i stead of the serio s eve impassio n ed remo stra e

w
y ; n u n n n c ,

i c h he was abou t t o address to her he cou ld on ly mu r ,

m u r a fai n t asse nt a qu estion withou t mean i n g ,

An d i n .

l ace f th e ge ero s impr de t cre at re followi g her

w
p o n u u n u n ,

o n hasty impu lses disregardi n g th e opi n ion of the worl d

, ,

whom he had expected to fin d here was female dign ity

h
,

i n person regu l ated by all the n icest laws of propriety

,

H e as stru ck d u m b t e g rou n d was c u t from be n eat

h is feet
—
h
.

w w
.

“
This is on l y an i n terru ption on m y par t Y ou were .

goi n g to say somethin g to me ? An d somethi n g seriou s ?

h
w
I prize so m u ch ever ythi n g y ou say t at I m u st n o t lose

h
w w
,

it Pray say it n o
. dear Colon el K i ngs ar d H ave I , .

don e somet i n g y ou don t like ? I am ready to accept ’

h
eve n bla m e thou gh y ou kn o what wome n ar e i n that
—

ay always stan di n g ou t that they are rig t from —

h
,
"
y o u .

Colon el K i n g s ar d looked at her helpless still wit ou t

h
, ,

a word to s ay There was su rely a lau ghi n g demon i n

.

er eyes which saw thro u gh a n d thro ugh him a n d k n ew

the trou ble i n h is mi n d ; b ut her face was seriou s appeal
i n g a little raised t oward im waiti n g for his word s as h ,
.

w
, ,

if her fate h u n g u pon them The color rose over his .

m iddle aged co u n te n an ce to the very hair which was b e

-

ww
gi n n i n g to show traces of white over h is high forehead .

Blame ! he stammere d scarcely k n o i n g what he ,

”
s aid I hope y o u don t thi n k me q u ite a fool ’
. .

What she cried picki n g h im u p as it were on the e n d

, ,

of h er la n ce hol di n g him o u t to the scorn i f n o t of the

,
—

orl d yet of himself ,

Do y ou thi n k so little of a wom an .
,

Colon el K i n g s ar d that y o u wou l d n o t take the trou ble

h h
,

t o fin d fau lt with her ? Ah ! don t be so hard ! y o u wou ld ’

n o t be a fool if y o u did th at y o u s o u ld fin d t at I wo u ld —

w
take it with gratit u de accept it be g u ided by it Believe , ,
.

me Iam wor thy if y ou thi n k me i n the wron g t o be told

,
\
, ,
”
so — Iam i n deed I am !

h
,

Were these te ars i n her fin e eyes ? She m ade them l ook

as i f t h ey ere an d fil l ed i m with a co mpu nction a
,
nd a
2 88

s
i n to word s
I t hi n k y ou wr ong ! he sa
—
”
h .
w
h ame of i s o n s u per ficial j u dg ment i mposs ibl e t o p u t

id stammeri n g an d falter
T H E SO R C E R E SS .

i ng . I wou ld as soon thi n k that h e ave n was wron g I —

.

blame y ou ! Dear Miss Lau ra how how c an y o u i m

w
—
, ,

ag i n e su ch a thi ng ? I shou ld be a miserable idiot i n deed

if

w
Come she said I begi n to thi n k y ou didn t m ean
, ,
’

no tha t y ou h ave called me by my n ame ”

.

hI beg y ou athou san d pardon s I I

.

It was a slip .
—

of t e to n gu e It as from the signat u re t o you r l e tters

h
.

which is somehow s o like y ou

“
Y e s ? s e said It pleases me very m u ch tha t y o u .

shou ld thi n k s o— more like me tha n Lan ce

What a n ame ! M y mot er made a m é sallia n ce I don t
L an ce !
h .

.
’

give u p my father poor dear thou gh he has saddl ed me , ,

with s ch a family b u t La u ra is me whereas Lan c e is

u —
,

on ly an accide n t
—
.

“
An accide nt that may be removed he said i n v o l u n ,

f arily It was a thi ng that might be said to an y u n married

h
.

woman a con ve n tion al sort of half complime n t wh ich c u s

,

tom wou l d have permitted i m to p u t i n even s tron ger te r ms

b u t to her ! Whe n he had said i t horror seized his so u l

w
—
.

No sh e said gen tly sh aki n g her head No At

w w h
.
, .
,

my age o n e does n ot recover from an acciden t l i ke th at ;

h
o n e m u st bear t e scar a l l on e s days An d y o u really
’
.

ad n othi n g to fi n d fa u lt ith me abou t ?

w
"
Ho mo n strou s ! h e cr ie d t o e n tertai n s u ch a ,

tho u ght The n for he was really u n easy i n his se n se of

.
,

gu ilt he pl u n ged i n to a n e s n are

,
My little da u ghter .

Betty he said is co m i n g to to n to day t o vis i t som e

, ,
-

frie n ds i n Portma n Sq u are I won der i f I might bri n g .

her to see y ou .

”
Yo u r da u ghter ! cried Miss Lan ce claspi n g her h a n ds

wh
, ,

a th i n g I did not ven tu re to ask the very first de —

sire of my heart You r da u ghter ! I wo uld g o a n ywh e re

.

to see her If y ou will be s o n ice so sweet so ki n d as t o

.
,

br i n g her Colon el K i n g s ar d !
,
”

h
,

I shall i ndeed to morrow It will d o her good t o s e e

, ,
-
.

y o u. At her s u sceptible ag e t e ver

y si gh t of s u c a
wo man as you
 T HE SOR C E R E SS . 2 89

w
No complime n ts she crie d ; if I am no t to b e b l amed

h
,

I m u st n o t be praised either an d I deserve it m u ch l es s—

.

Is s e the eldest ? There was a gle am u n der her half

d r o o ped eye l ids h ich the colon el was vagu ely aw ar e of
b u t did n o t u n ders ta n d .

“
The secon d he said My eldest girl is Be e i n

w w
, .
,

m an y respects a stro n g er char acter than her si s t e r b u t ,

o n th e other ha n d
I k n ow said Miss Lan ce a little w i lfu l fon d of her

h
w
, , ,

n way a n d her o n opi n io n O h that is a good fa u lt

w hw
o .
,

h
i n a girl ! W e n they are a little chasten ed they t u r n ou t
t e fi n est wome n Bu t I u n dersta n d what a m a
. n m u st
f e el for this little s eet thi n g who has n ot begu n t o have
a will o f her o n .

It was n o t perhaps a very perfect charact e r ization of

:

sa
h
B etty b u t still it flattered him t o see o

id
.
,

i s tho u ghts
she e n tered i n to
I thi nk y o u u n derstan d eve r y thi n g he
.
,

C HAPT E R XL .

IT was
h
n ot
sel f from t e dilemma i n w i ch he fou n d imself the i n
c on ceivable error he had made im agi n i n g th at it was
h
w i th an y i n te n tion b u t sol e ly t o d el i ver him
h —

w
,

n ecessary to ce n s u re however ge n tly a nd w a rn agai n st ,

t o o m u ch freedom of actio n a woma n so absol u tely above

'

reproach an d so fu ll o f ladylike di gn ity as Miss Lan ce

h
t h at Colo n el K i n g s a r d had n amed the n ame o f Betty his

w
h
,

l i t tl e dau gh ter j u s t arrived i n t at imm acu late strong hold

o f t e correct a n d respectable Portman Sq u are ,
H e was .

a littl e u n easy abo u t it whe n he thou ght of it after w ard

h
w
.

as n o t s u re that he desired eve n Betty to be aw are of

w h h
He

p reseh
i s i n timacy with Miss Lan ce

h h n ce wo u ld c an ge i n some d
H e felt tha t her yo u thf u l
egree the
.

char a cter o f his

w
r elatio n s with t e e n cha n tress o was s t eali n g his wit s
a ay . The ki n d of con versation tha t ad ar ise n s o n at
u ra l l y betwee n them t e se n time n t th e con fid en c es the

h h h
, , ,

s i n g u lar strai n of m u t u a
'

l u n dersta n di n g which he felt

it mi ngled pri de a nd b a s f ul n ess ( bas f ul n ess sat
1 9
2 90 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

stra n gel y u pon the m u ch experie nced col on el yet s u c -

h
,

was his feeli n g! to exist betwee n La u ra an d hi mself m u s t

h
,

i nevitably s u stai n cert a i n m odificatio n s un der the s ar p

eyes o f the child S e wou ld n ot u n derstan d that su b t l e
.

b u t stro n g li n k o f frie n dship H e wou l d requ ire t o b e .

more distan t to treat his exqu isi te frien d more like an o r

w
,

dina r y acq u ai n tan ce while u n der the i n spection o f B e t ty ,

eve n tho u gh he was perfectly assu red th at Betty k n e w

n othi n g abo u t s u ch matters An d what th en w ou ld L au ra

h
.

say ? Con fide n t as sh e was i n her o n pe r fec t hon or an d

w h
can dor wou ld sh e u n derstan d the su bdu ed m ann er t e

h
, ,

more formal address which wou l d be n ecessary i n t e

prese n ce of the child ? It was t ru e t at she u n ders t o o d
every thi ng witho u t a word said b u t the n her o n en t i re —

i nn oce nce of an y motive b u t those of hea v en ly ki n d n e s s

an d fri en dship might i n d u ce her to lau gh at his pr e c au

wwh
ti o n s Was it perhaps becau se he felt his motives t o be

h
.

n o t u n mi n gled that t he colo n el felt this ? An yhow t e i n

h
t r o d u c t i o n of Betty whom e had s n atched a
, t i n his h as te
to s ave i m from the conseq u e n ces of his o n folly wo u ld
be a trou ble to th e i nt ercou rse which as it was as s o
,

h
, ,

c on solatory a n d so sweet

w
.

It m u st be added th at Miss Lan ce before he left her ad

bee n very con solatory t o him on the su bj ec t of Char l i e
which thou gh al ways lyi n g a t the b o ttom of his thou g ts h ,

h hh
,

had begu n i n the midst of these n e de v elopmen t s to

weig u pon him less perhaps than i t was n atu ral it sh o u l d

hh
ha ve do n e S e ad s u gges t ed that Charl ie had fri e n ds
i n Scotlan d that he a
.

,
d mos t probably gon e there t o av o id
for a time his fat er s wra th t hat i n all probability e
’
h
,

was e n j oyi n g himself an d very well cared for pu tti n g o ff

w
, ,

from day to day the n ecessity of writi n g .

He n e v er was I s u ppose m u ch of a correspon de n t

w h
, , ,

she said .

“
No Colon el Ki ngs ar d ad replied doub tfu lly ; f or

w
,

i ndeed t here n ever had bee n anythi n g a t all to call c o r

respon de n ce bet ee n him an d his s on Charlie had wri t

h w
.

t e n to his mother occasio n ally to his sisters b u t t o h is

h hh
, ,

father save he n he wa n ted mon ey scarcely at all

h
, , .

as
”
The n t is is wh at has appe ned sai d Lau ra e , ,

o n e o ff to b e a s fa ou t of t e a as oss i bl H i
g r y p e e s .
 THE S O RC E R E SS 29 1

h
.

fis i g Loch Tay
n in —
or he is playi n g golf somewhere
y ouk ow his hab ts
n i .

An d so it seems do y ou said the c o lon el a l ifile j al

ww
e

h
, ,

ou s of
his s o n .

O y o u k n,
ow how a b o y chatters o f everythi n g he ,

do e s a n d likes .

C olon el K i n g s a r d n odded his head gloomily He d i d

h h
.

n o t k n ow h ow boys chattered n o boy had ever chattered

h
,

to i m ; b u t he accepted ith moderate satisfaction the

w
f ac t that s e La u ra from whom he felt that e himself
, ,

c o u l d ha v e n o secret had taken an d did take the trou ble , , ,

o f t u rn i n g the heart eve n of a boy o u t side i n

h
.

Depen d u pon it said Miss Lan ce that is here he , ,

as gon e ; an d he has n o t mean t to make y o u a n xio u s

h
.

P e rh a ps he thi n ks y o u have n ever discovered that he had

w
lef t O xford an d he as mea n t t o write day by day Do n t
,
.
’

y o u k n ow how o n e does that ? It is a li t t le di ffi c u lt t o b e

g i n a
,
n d o n e says to morrow a n d the n to morrow ;
-
an d th e -

ti m e flies on Dear Colon el K i n g s ar d y o u will fin d th at

.
,

al l this tim e he is qu ite happy o n Loch Tay She hel d .

ou t her han d to emphasize these words a n d the colon el , ,

th o u gh all u n acc u stomed to su ch si gn s of e n th u siasm kissed

w ww
,

th at han d which held o u t co ni f or t to h im It was a .

h
b e a u tifu l h an d s o soft like velvet so yieldi n g an d flexible
in is a n d yet so firm i n its delicate press u re
,
,

a ay with his head slightly t u rn ed an d t e blood cou rsi n g

,

H e we n t
,

h .

h
,

th ro u gh his vei n s Bu t whe n he tho u ght o f little Betty .

e dropped do n d o n i n to a bl an k o f decor u m a,
n d com

m o n p l ac e Before Betty he certai nly co u ld n o t kiss an y

.

l ady s han d He wou l d have t o shake ha n ds with Lau ra

’
.

as he did with old Mrs Lyo n i n Portman Squ are who

i n deed was a m u ch older frien d This thou g t gave h im
,

a l ittle fee l i n g of con trariety an d u n easi n ess i n t e c on

.

. hh , ,

w
te m pl a t i on o f his promise to take his little girl to George

w w
Street H an over Squ are
,
.

An d n ex t morn i n g when he we n t i n to his o ffice Colon el

K i n gs a r d s a n n oya n ce a n d i n dign a tion co u ld n o t be ex
’

pressed he n he fo u n d on ce more u pon his riti n g table -

,

placed i n a con spic u o u s positio n so that he cou ld n ot o ver

look it the card o f Mr A u brey Leigh Who had fished
, . .

it ou t of the waste paper baske t an d pl aced it there ? H e -

292 T HE

ra n g his bell ha s tily to overwhelm i s a tt en d an t

an g ry reproof H e co u l d n o t ave told himself
s o xC E e

y
i th
i t h h
s .

w
w
h
h
.

made I m so a n gry to see that card It looked li ke s o m e

w
.

v u lgar i n terferen ce with i s most private a ff airs .

“
Where d i d y o u fin d this card he said an grily an d , ,

why is i t replaced here ? I threw it i n t o the fir e or

w
—

some her e yesterday an d here it is again as if th e m an

—
,

had call ed to day -

.

The gen tleman did call s i r yesterday

w
, ,
.

What ? cried Colon el K i ng s ar d i n a voi c e lik e a

”

w
h
,

tru mpet ; b u t the m an stood his grou n d .

The gen tlema n di d call sir yesterday H e as cal l ed , , .

t o or three times o n ce whe n y ou were i n th e c ou n t ry

, .

H e seemed very anxi o u s t o see y ou I said t o o c l o ck .

’

for a ge n eral thi n g b u t y ou had been leavi n g the offi ce

,

earlier f or a day or two .

Y o u are very impert i n e n t to say an y t hi n g o f t he ki n d ,

o r to give a n y on e i n fo r mation of my pri vate mo v e m e n ts ;

see that it n ever occu rs agai n An d as for this ge n tle

w h
.

ma he held u p the card for a mome n t looked at i t co n

”
n , ,

t e m p tu o u s l y an d the n pitched it on ce more i n to t e fire

“
place be so good as to u n derstan d that I will no t s ee
,

him whether he comes at t o or at any other hou r ”

w
, .

Am I to tell him so sir ? said the m an ann oy e d

”
, ,

h
.

O f c o u rse y ou are to tell him so ; a n d mi n d y ou d on t

’

bri n g me an y message or explan a t ion I will n ot s e e i m

h
w
tha t is e n ou g h ; n o y ou c an g o

w w
.

“
S all I say you re to o bu sy colon el or j u st g oing
— —
’

, ,

o u t o r e ngaged
,

N o ! shou ted Col on el K i n gs ar d with a force of ,

breath hich bl ew the at te n dan t away like a s tron g i nd .

Th e col on el ret u rn ed t o his work an d his correspon den ce

with an i rritation an d ann oyan ce which eve n t o h i m self
seem e d beyon d the occas i on Bee s ol d lover b e s u ppo s ed
h
’

h
.

h ad t aken co u rage to make a n oth er atte mpt ; b u t n ot i n g

wou ld i n d u ce him to chan ge i s former decision He

w
.

w w
wo u ld n o t hear a word n o t a word ! A ki n d of pan i c

h
,

mi n gled i n his hasty impu lse of rage H e wou ld n o t s o .

m u ch as see t e fellow give him an y opportu n ity of t e ,

n ewi n g —
as it h is s u it to Bee ? was it somethi n g el se
i n d efi n ite behi n d Colon e l K i n gs a
?
r d d i d n o t v er
y ell
h w h
kn o w , b u t a de ermi ed

h t habo t Bet y tha was a oy g

t prese c
e
ad t o s ay
his i r
thi g
n e of
to allow
e
he ar a word that he
s
t
t
TH E S

n
nt u d er , n ot t o
O R C E R E SS

o n on e
.

n —
no t
2 93

h
.

An d

w
en he u t — t nn in t oo ; b u t

a hi g hco l d
a prom d it a to b e a his word

w
d i se t o do
La ra was ,
nd r k to u
t n do La r a Miss La r if she
e u not u ; u a

La ce h righ she was the ame

.
,

w
pl asee ho gh tha is d, t
a s al mode address
u t n ot u u of — bu t

s it hat all a yet how j s a s eet all the

t of

w
n ot n — La ce did
o ! n n
not u er ; nd u t nd
am e

w
s Her mother had made a m sallia ce
! here é n ,
bu t t

h a

w
petti ess abo t her She held by her father tho gh

w
s no n u u

has she shook her head ge tly a smiled at his

.

s a aware of his i feriority

e s the he tho ght n . An d n u

of er n ,
nd
a kwar d s tu mbli n g su ggestion that the accide n t of the

h
“
name as n o t irremedi able At my age ”
— what as .

er age ? The most deli ghtfu l the most fasci n ati n g o f ,

ag e s whatever i t was N o t the silly girlhood of Bee a

hwh
nd

h h
.
,

B etty b u t somethi n g f a
,
r more e n tran ci n g far more charm ,

ing These t o u ght s i nt erfered great l y with his corre

h
.

s p on den c e a n d ma d e t e mass of foreig n n e u S p a p e r s an d r

h
,

t e m ilit ary i n tellige n ce fro m all t e

' '

or l d w ich i t was ,

i s b u si n ess t o look o v er appear very d u ll u ni n teresti n g

h
, , ,

an d c on fu se d H e rose hastily after a while an d took his

.

at an d sallied forth t o Portman Squ are where he was ,

ww
e x p e c t ed t o l u n cheon He was relie v ed on the whole to .

b e t h u s l e gitimatel y ou t of the way i n case t hat fellow

s h o u l d have the au d aci t y t o call agai n .

w
I wan t y ou t o come ou t with me Bett y h e said after , , ,

th at m eal hich as v ery solem n serio u s and prolon ged

, , , ,

b u t ve r y du ll a n d n ot appet i zi n g I wan t t o t ake y ou t o .

s e e afrie n d .

O h pap a!

w
e were goi g
,
n t o — Mrs Lyon was goi n g .

t o t ake me t o s e e Mr R evel s pict u r e before he se n ds it

’
.

1 n

w
.

mor r ow wil l d o my dear eq u ally well i f you r

w
To

w
-
, , ,

w
p pa a a n ts y ou t o g o an ywhere ”
.

M r R evel s pic tu re ? He is precisel y a frien d of the

’

h
.

f r i en d I a m goi n g to t ake y ou to s e e F or a mome n t .

C o l on e l K i n g s a rd av ered thi nki n g o m u ch more

h h
,

agr ee abl e i t ould b e to ha ve his i nterv iew with Lau ra

u n d i s tu r b ed b y t e pre s e n c e o f thi s li t tl e c i t w it h her
 ww
S OR C E R E SS
’
2 94 T HE

h h
.

shar p eyes But e was asoldier an d fai thfu l t o i s con

.

s ig nee “
. If it will do as well to mo rro an d w i ll n o t -
,

d era n ge Mrs L y o n s plan s I sho u ld like y ou to com e n o

’
.
, .

R un a n d get re ady Betty cried the o l d lady to , , ,

whom obedi en ce was a great qu ality an d there will still ,

b e time t o g o t here if y o u are n o t very l on g whe n y o u , ,

h
come back .

T e colo nel felt as i f his foot was u pon m ore solid

h
— h
grou nd ; n o t that any dou bt of La u rahad ever bee n i n i s
m i n d b u t y et e had n o t s u spec ted the existe n ce of

an y li n k betwee n her an d Portma n Squ are

—

wh w
.

Mr R evel is a ver y good pai n ter I s u ppose ? h e sai d

.
, .

A great pai n ter we all thi nk ; and begi n n i n g t o be ,

”
really ack n owledged i n the art worl d said the o l d lad y

h
, ,

who liked it t o be k n o n that s e k n e a great deal abou t

h
pictu res an d was herself co nsidered t o ave some au
,

t o r i t y i n that i n teresti n g sphere

An d hasn t he a wife ? I thi n k I heard som e one
—
’
.

talki n g of his wife .

“
Yes ; a dear little woman ! cried Mrs Lyo n H er . .

T u esdays are the most pleasan t parties We al w ays go .

w
whe n we are a bl e Ah ! here is Betty like a littl e rose

h
wh
.
, .

Now ackn owledge y ou are pro u d to have a little thi n g like

that colon el to w al k w i th y o u throu g the park o n a fine
, ,

day like this ?

Colon el K i ngs ar d looked at Betty She as a pretty .

little bloomi n g creat u re H e did n o t regard her with any .

e n th u siasm and yet she was a creditable creat u re e n ou g

,

to belon g to on e He gave a l ittle n od of appro vi n g i h

.

di ff ere n ce Bet ty was very m u ch admired at P or tman

w
.

Squ are from Gerald who kept up an artillery o f gl a n ces

—
,

across the b i g table to the old b u tler who called her at , ,

te n tion specially to an y dish that was n icer tha n u s u al ,

an d carrie d meri n gu es to her t ice she was the obj ect of —

everybody s regards Her father did n ot n at u ral ly look

’
.
, ,

at her from the same po i n t of v iew b u t he was su ffi cie n tly

h
,

pleased with her appearan ce He was please d t o o ex .

, ,

il ara t e d he co u l d sc a
,
r cely tell why by the fact th at Mrs , .

Lyon k n ew the pai n ter s wife an d spoke of her as a de ar ’

little woman the very words Lau ra had u s ed ,

Did he .

requ ire an y g u aran tee that La u ra herself was of the sam e

 T HE S ORC E R E SS 5

w
. 29

w
d er , k n ew the same
o r sort of people as his other frie n d s ?

h
H ad s u ch a q u estio n
a v e k n ocked t e m an dow n
h h
bee n p u t t o him the colon el wo u ld
o m ade it as i n day s whe n
,

h
w
,

d u elli n g was possible he orfld have call ed i m ou t Bu t

h
.

y e t
—
at all eve n ts i t gave him m u ch satisfac t io n that the
B ritish matro n i n t e shape o f Mrs Lyo n spoke n o other .

ise than t he lady whom for on e t errible m om e n t o f del u

s i o n h e had i n te n ded to war n agai n st i n terco u rse t o o little ,

g u arde d with,
s u ch eq u ivoc al m e n as a rtists H e sh u d .

d e red whe n he tho u ght of that e xtra ordi n ary aberration .

“
Who is it papa we are goi n g to see ? said Betty s
, ,
’

h
l i t t l e voice by his side .

I t is a l ady who has take n a great i n terest i n you r

b rother .

h
“
O h papa that I s ou l d n o t have asked that the first
, ,

t i n g ! H ave y ou an y n ew s ? ”

h Nothi n g that I c an call n ews ; b u t I thi n k I m ay s ay I

ave reason to be l ieve that Charli e h as go n e u p to the .

h
n orth to the M a c ki n n on s That does n o t exc u se h im for
’
.

avi n g left u s i n this an xiety ; b u t the idea which did n ot

h
,

o cc u r to me till yes t erd a y has relieved m y mi n d , .

To the M ac ki n n on s ’
said Bet t y dou btfu l ly b u t t e n ,

I heard She stopped herself s u d de n l y an d a d ded ,

after a mom en t H ow stra n ge pap a i f he is there that

, , , ,
”
n o n e of them sho u ld have writt en

h
.

It is stran ge ; b u t perhaps whe n y ou thi n k of all th i n gs ,

n o t s o very str a n ge H e probabl y as n o t explai n ed the

.

c irc u msta n ces to them ; a n d they wi l l thi n k that he has

h
t o let u s k n ow o f hh h h
writte n ; they wo u ld n o t feel it n ecess ary why sho u l d they ?
i s arrival T at as a ma tter of cou rs e
t ey wou ld expect i m to ave don e I don t thi n k o n
.
,

.
,

th e whole it is at all stran ge on his part i nexcu sabl e

,
—
,
”
b u t n o t to be expected from them

w
.

”
B u t papa ! c r ied Be t ty

h
.
,
”
What is it ? h e said almost crossly I don t mi n d .
’

sa yi n g h e added that eve n for i m there m ay be ex

”
, ,

c u ses i f s u ch folly c an ever be excu se d H e n ever rites

—

h
.

t o m e i n a gen er a l way an d it wou l d n ot be a pleasan t

,

letter to write ; an d n o do ubt he as p u t it o ff f rom day to

day i n te n di n g alw ay s to do it to morrow an d every d ay
,
- — /

wou l d n atu rally make it m ore di ffi c ult Th u s he we n t .

2 96 T HE SOR C E R ESS .

on repe at i ng u n consciou sly all the su ggestion s th at h ad

b ee n ma de t o him
“
R e m ember Betty he said as
.
, , ,

s oon a s y ou s ee that y o u hav e don e an yt hi n g wro n g a l

h
,

ways m ake a clea n bre ast of! i t at on ce ; the lo n ger y ou

p u t

t on e
i t 0 E
Y e s pa
t e more dif

h
fi c u lt y o u will fin d it t o d o
pa said li ttle Be tty wit great dou bt i n her
, ,

S e did n o t k n ow wha t t o thi n k f or she had i n her

,
h .

.
,

blotti ng b ook at Port m an Sq u are a letter lately re ceived

ww
-

fro m on e of these same M acki nn on s i n which n o t a word

h
was s aid of Charl ie Why shou l d n ot He l e n have men

w
.

t i on e d i m had he bee n there ?

so a
An d y e t if papa th ou gh t
hat as Betty h
hw
,
n d if i t relieved his mi n d to t i n k s o ,

t o se t u p a di Ee r e n t opi n ion ? Her mi n d was still fu ll of

this th ou gh t he n she fou n d he rself followi n g her f ather

w
u p t he n ar row stairs i n to the little drawi n g room There -
.

as me t by a lady who rose a n d came forward t o her

w
s e ,

holdi n g ou t two beau tifu l han ds S u ch h an ds ! Bet ty

h
.

s aid afterward Her o n were pl u mp reddish articles

.
, ,

small e n ou g an d n ot b adly shaped b ut sca r cely free from ,

the scars a

w
n d smirches of garden i n g wild fl o er collect ,
-

i ng pon y saddli n g all t he u n n ecessary pieces o f work

, ,

that a coun t ry girl s han ds li ke a cou n try boy s are em ’ ’

h
, ,

ployed f or She had at the mome n t a hopeless passion f or

.

hite hand s An d t hese drew her close wh ile t e beau ti

.
,

f ul face stooped over her a n d gave her a soft li n geri n g

k i ss Was i t a beau tif u l face ? At least it was very very

wh w
,
.

ha n dso me fin e featu res fin e eyes an imposi n g ben ign ity

, , ,

like a gran d d u chess at the very least .

“ ”
S o this is little Betty the l ady said t o whom she

w
, ,

as prese n ted by that title j u st ou t of last cen tu ry with ,

her gra n dmot er s n ame an d the n ewest version o f her

w
’

H o pret t y ! O h it is you r ha t y ou
’
gra ndmother s hat

h
,
.
,
”
k n o n ot y ou that I am admiri n g Like a little rose !
, ,

h
.

Betty ad n o prej u dices arou sed i n her m i n d by this

lady s n ame f or Col on el K i n gs ar d did n ot t i n k it n ec es
’

h
,
”
sa r y to pron o u n ce it He said My little Be t ty i .
,

wh
t r o d u c i n g t he girl b u t he did n o t thi n k it n eedfu l t o make

h
,

an y expl a n ation s t o her An d she th u s fel l al l u np r o .

,

t e c t e d u n der the c arm

, Lau ra talked t o her for fu ll five .

mi n u tes withou t t aki n g an y n o tice of the colo n el and ,

dre from er al l she wan ted t o s e e an d t he pl ace s t o ,

h w
w w
T H E SORC E RE SS . 297

ich she as goi n g m aki n g acomplete con q u est of the

h
w
,

l i t tle girl It was on ly w en Colon el K i n gs ar d 3 p a

w
’
.

t i e n c e was q u ite exhau sted a n d he was abo u t to j ump u p

h
w
,

an d propose somewh at s u lle n ly t o leave h is dau ghter wi th

e r ne frien d that Miss Lan ce tu rn ed to him su ddenl y
,

ith an exclamation of pleasu re .

Di d y o u hear Colon e l K i n g s ar d ? She was goi n g t o

w
,

s e e Arth u r R evel 5 pict u re this aftern oon An d s o was I !

’
.

W i l l y ou come t o o ? H e is a great frie n d of mi n e as I

w
, ,

t o l d y ou an d he k n ew dear Charlie ; an d of cou rse he

,

o u ld be pro u d a n d deligh ted to see y o u Shall we take

h h
.

B e t t y back to Portman Sq u are to pick u p her carriage a nd

e r o l d la d y a n d will y o u go h u mbly on f o ot it me ? '

W e sh al l m eet them an d Mrs R evel will give u s tea

,
. .

”
O h papa do ! Betty cried
, ,
.

h I t was n ot perhaps what he wou ld h ave liked best b u t

e y ielded with a very good grace He had n ot perhaps
,

h
h
.

b e e n s o prou d o f little Betty by his side as the Lyo n s ad

h
e x p ec t ed b u t La u ra by i s side was a d i ff ere n t matter
,

H e cou ld n ot elp remarki n g how people looked at her as

th e y we n t alon g an d his mi n d was fu ll of pride i n the
.

h an dsome co mm an di n g figu re almost as tall as hi m self

w w
, , ,

an d walk i n g l ike a q u ee n Yet it made his head t u rn .

r o u n d a little whe n he saw Miss Lan ce seate d by Mrs

h h
.

Ly on s side i n the stu dio t alki n g i n ti m ately to her of the

’

h
w ol e Ki ng s ar d family w ile Betty cl u n g to her n e
hh
w
,

frie n d as if she ad k n own er all her life O ld Mrs . .

L y on was st i ll more startl e d an d e r head we n t rou n d t o o ,

.

What a han dsom e woman she said i n Colon el Ki n gs

w
ard s ear What a delightfu l woman ! Who is she ?
’

”
Miss Lan ce he said rather stu pidly feeli n g how l i ttle
, ,

i n form ation these words con veye d Miss Lan ce ? Who .

as Miss Lan ce ? If he had said La u ra it wou ld have been

adi ff eren t m atter .

w WH IL E all these th i n gs were goi n g

K i n gs a r d e n alon e
C HAPT E R XLI
Bee as left at
Th at is t o say s e was so far from
.

b e i n g a l on e th at her solit u de was absol u te S e ad al l

.

h
on ,

.
w
hh
w w
2 98 T H E S OR C E R E SS

h h
.

th chi re a was ve y b sy amo g hem

e ld n nd a r u n t . S e d
th e
hboys ho e the aster holidays th e h o se a
m f or E

w
t o ; u s

th
f llu of
ordi ary oise
t eirth a co f sio
n at ran ,
m ,
nd n u n n u l to
a larg yo g family der
e ore sever discipli
un a un no m e ne n
that exercised by a yo u n g e l der si ster Th e big bo y s

w
.

ere i n their boyish way gen tlem en an d defe r red to Bee ,

more o r less which set a good ex amp l e to the y ou n g on es ;

—

b u t she was e n veloped i n a tor re n t of tal k f u n games a nd , , ,

j est hich raged rou n d her from before she go t u p i n the

,

m o rn i ng t i l l at least the twiligh t when the n u rsery chil ,

dre n g o t tired an d the big boys havi n g exhau sted every

,

method o f am u semen t d u ri n g the day began t o feel the ,

bu rden of n othi n g to do an d retired i n to s hor t l i ved at

w
-
,

tempts at readi n g or games of beggar my n eighbo r or - -

,

h
,

a y other si ple mode of possible recreat i o n descen di ng

n m —

to t e level of imagi n ary footbal l with an ol d hat throu gh

the corridor before it as time t o go t o bed .

In the even i n g Bee was th u s com pletely alon e li s t e n i ng

h
,

to the distan t b u mps i n the p assage an d the voices o f the

h
,

players T e drawi n g room Was large an d it was i n di f

w
-
.

f er e n tl y lighted wh i c is apt to m ake a cou n try drawing

,

room gloomy i n the even i n g There was on e shaded l amp

h
.

o n a writi n g table covered at this mome n t with color boxes

-

h
an d ro u gh drawi n gs of the boys o had bee n co n st r u ct

w
h
,

i n g a u t i n the grou n ds a n d wasti n g m u ch vermil io n a

,
nd
Pr u s s ian bl u e on their plan s for it ; an d n ear t e fireplace ,

i n which the chill of the spri n g stil l req u ired al it t le fire

hh
,

was an other l amp shi n i n g silen tly u pon Bee s hite dress ’

wh
,

h
an d e r a n ds crossed i n her l ap H er face an d al l i ts
t o u gh t s were i n the shade n obody to share n obody to
c are what they were .
,
.

Be t ty as i n town her on e f aithfu l thou gh n ot always

hw
,

en tire l y symp at etic compan ion ; the au n t at all ti mes —

h
n ot m u ch m ore th a
h
n a piece o f still life was u n wel l and —
,

ad gon e to bed ; C arlie was l ost i n the great depth a nd

w
sile n ce of t e orld ; Bee was th u s alon e She had been

w
.

work i n g for the chil d re n m ak i n g pi n afores or some other

h
,

n ecessary as becam e her position as sister mother ; f or -

h
,

where t here are so man y c ildre n there is al ays a g re at

de a
h
l to do b u t she ad gro n tired of the pi n afores If
h
—
.

it were n o t a hard th i n g to s ay s e was a li ttle tired o f t e

 T H E SO RC E RE SS 2 99

hdre
.

c il n h avi n g to look after them per

t oo , t ired of

p e t u a l l y of the n u rse s comp l ai n t s an d the

’
n a u ghti n ess

h
, ,

o f b aby who was spoiled a

,
n d u n man a geable tired o f the —

b u m pi n g a n d la u g i n g o f the boys a n d tired t oo o f b id ,

d i n g them b e q u ie t a n d n o t to rou se the childre n .

A l l these thi n gs had su dden ly become i n tolerabl e t o

Bee .

f u l n ess that she a d so m u ch to do a h

She h ad a great man y times expressed her th an k
n d n o time to thi n k

h h
,

an d probably t o mor row morn i n g she wo u ld agai n be of

-

t at O pi n ion ; b u t i n t e mea n ti m e she was very tired of it

w
al l t ired of a po s it i o n which was too m u ch for her age
, ,

an d which she was n o t able to bear She was onl y a speck

w
h
.

i n t h e lo n g empty dra wi n g room her white skirts an d

,
-
,

e r h a n ds crossed i n her lap bei n g all that sho ed dis

wh
t i n c t l y betrayi n g the fact that somebody was there ; b u t
,

i t her face h idde n i n the rosy shade there was n obody

t o see that tears h ad stole n u p i n to Bee s eyes Her han ds ’
.

e re idle folded i n her l a She was tired f b ei g d ti

w
, p o n. u
ful a n d a good girl as the best o f girls are sometimes It

h
.
,

s e e m ed t o her f or the mome n t a dreary world i n which

s e was pl aced merely to t a ke ca r e of the ch i l d re n n o t f or ,

an y pleasu re o f her o n She felt that she cou ld n ot e n

h
.

d u re for an other mome n t the bu mpi n g i n the passage a nd

i
h
t e distan t v oices o f the boys

pi n gs from the n u rsery of childre

Probably if they wen t on
t ere wo u ld be a q u eru l ou s message from A u n t Hele n o r
n woke up a n d a
.

f u ri
,

p ,

w
o u s desce n t o f n u rse more tha n i n si n u ati n g that Miss Bee
d i d n ot care whether baby s sleep was broken or n o t
’
Bu t

h
.

e v e n with t his certa i n ty before her Bee did n o t feel th a t ,

s e had e n er g y to get u p from her cha i r a n d i n terfere ; it

as t oo m u ch She was too solitary l eft alon e to bear all
.
,

the bu rde n .

The n the habitu al tho u ght of Charlie ret u rn ed t o her

mi n d Poor Charlie ! where was he sti l l more alon e tha n
.
,

she perh aps hidde n away i n the sile nce o f the seas or
, ,

tossi n g i n a storm goi n g away away where n o on e who

, ,

ca r ed for him wou ld ever see him more ? The tears wh ich
had com e vagu e l y to her eyes dropped maki n g a mark ,

u po n her dress legitimat i zed by this tho u gh t Bee wo u ld

h
.

h
,

ha v e bee n ashamed had they falle n f or herself ; bu t for

Ch arl i e Charlie lost n o n e of i s fam i ly k n owi n g w ere
, ,
30

w
0

h w w T HE S

he as she m ight i n deed be al lowed t o cry W ere as

,

he ? Where was b e ? If e had bee n here he o u l d have

O R C E R E SS .

. h
h
w h
be e n s itti n g with her maki n g thi n gs m or e p o s s i b l e Bee

h
.
,

kn e w very well i n er heart that if Charlie had been wit

her he wou ld n o t h ave be en m u ch help to er that he

h
, ,

wou l d h ave been gr u mbli n g o ver his o n hard fate an d

h
,

calli n g u pon e r to pity him ; b u t the abse n t if they are ,

so m etimes wron ged have on the other han d t e privilege

w w
,

of bei n g r emembered i n their best aspect The n Bee s ’

h
.

thou g hts glided on from Charlie to som e on e else whom

ww
she had for a lon g ti m e refu sed he t i n k of or tried t o r e

w
'

fu se to thi n k of She as so solitary to n igh t ith al l her

.
-

doors ope n to recollection s that he had stolen i n before

,

blot s u pon her white d ress h

she kn ew an d n o there was qu ite a shower o f ro u n d

h A u brey oh A u brey !

w w
o.
, ,

had betrayed her tru st s o o had don e her su ch c r u el

wron g b u t yet b u t yet
—
,

She was in terru pted by the en tran ce of a serv an t with

the eve n i n g post K i n g s ar d en was n ear e n ou gh t o to n
.

to have an eve n i n g post which is a privilege n o t always

,

desirable Bu t a
.n y i n cide n t was a good thi n g f o r poor
Bee She drew the pi n afore a t which she had bee n work

h
. ,

i n g hastily ov er her k n ee to hide the spots of moi stu re

, ,

an d dashed the tears from er eyes with a rapid han d .

I n the shade o f the la m p n o t eve n the most kee n eyes

w
cou ld see that she had been cryi n g She even pa u sed as .

she t ook the letter to say Will y ou pl ease tell the boys ,

h
n o t t o make s o m u ch n oise ?

u s u al d a
,
There were three let ters o n
t e tray on e for her father on e for her a u n t on e B e tty s
ily rigmarole o f little n ews and n on se n se hic
,
—
,

h
’

she n ever failed to se n d whe n she was away Betty s let .

’

ter was very welcome to her sister Bu t as Bee read it .

hh
her face began t o bu r n It became more an d more crim

w w h
.

s o n so that t e rose shade of the l amp was ove r powered

h
by a deeper an d otter color Betty t o t u rn u pon e r t o
take u p t e other side t o cast herself u n der t hat dreadfu l
.
,

h
,

b an n er o f Fate ! Bee s breath came q uickly her ’

ne ,

heart beat with an ger an d tro u ble S e g ot u p from her .

chair an d began t o alk q u ickly abou t the room a su d d e n

h
,

passion sweepi n g away all the forl orn sen ti m e n t of her

previo u s th ou ghts Bett y ! i n additio n to a
. l l t e r es t .
 THE so ac mt nes 30 1

h
.

w
B e e felt l ike t e forl orn chatel ai n e o f ab esieged cas t le alon e

w
t o d efe n d the wal ls agai n st the march of a destroyi n g i n

ww
v a d er The dan ger which had been far o ff was c o mi n g , i t

hw
.

as comi n g ! an d the castle had n o g ar riso n at all i f it

w
—

e re n ot perhaps these dreadful boys maki n g n oise en o u gh

t o bri n g dow n the ho u se
l e ast t o be depe n ded u pon
o,

h
ere precisely the partisan s
o wo u ld probabl y throw
d o n their arm s withou t striki n g a blow
,

An d Bee was .

al o n e the cap t ai n deserted of all her for ces to defen d the

h
,

sa c r ed hearth an d the little chi l dre n Th e little childre n !

.

Be e stamped er foot u pon the floor i n a n appeal n o t t o

h
,

h e ave n b u t t o all the powers of I n dign atio n Fu ry War ;

h
, , ,

War ! She wou ld defen d those walls to er last ga s p

w
.

S e wo u ld n o t give way sh e wo u ld fight it o u t step by

h
,

step to keep t he i n vader from the childre n The n u rsery

h h
,
.

sh o u ld be her citadel ; o she k n ew what wo uld happe n

, ,

s e cried to herself i n con sequ e n tly ! Baby o was ,

s p o iled wo u ld be twisted i n to rigid shape the little girls

, ,

w o u ld be su bdu ed like little m ice— the boys At this

m o men t the old hat which served as a football cam e with
a th u mp from the corri d or i n to the hal l followed by a ,

l ou der shou t than ever from Arth u r an d R ex Bee ru shed .

for t h u po n them fli n gi n g the d oor ope n with her bl u e

, ,

ey e s blaz i n g .

”
Do y ou mean t o bri n g down the hou se ? she said i n a ,

su d de n o u tbu rst . Do y ou mean to break the v ases an d

th e mirror an d wake u p the whol e n u rsery an d bri n g A un t
H e le n down u pon u s ? For good n ess sake try t o behave ’

li k e re ason able creat u res an d don t drive me ou t o f my

,
’

”
s e n ses ! cried Bee .

The boys were so s t artled by this on sla u gh t that R ex

h
with a fi n al kick sen t t he wretched ol d h at flyi n g to t he
e n d o f t e passage which led to the serva n ts hal l as if it ’

w
,

h
were that harmless obj ect that was to blame while Art hu r —

covered t e retreat su lkily by a complai n t t hat there was

n o thi n g to d o i n this beas tly old ho l e a n d that a fellow

w
,

co u ldn t read books all day lon g Bee as so i n spired

’
.

an d t hrilli n g with the passio n i n her that she wen t fu r ther

,

tha n an y properly co n stit u ted female creat u re kn owi n g

her o n posi tion ou ght t o d o
“
'
.

Y ou have a grea t d eal more t o d o than Ih a ve s e

'

, h
36 2 T HE S O R C E R E SS .

said f ar far m ore t o do an d to am use you rse lves wi th

, ,
.

Why sho u l d y ou expect s o m u ch more tha n I do becau se

h
,

u are boys a n d I am a girl ? 1 3 it fair ? Yo u re always

‘ ’

y o

t alki ng o f t i n gs b ei n g fair It isn t fair that y o u s hou ld ’

.

d ist u rb the whole hou se the li t tle babies a n d every o n e

, ,

f o r yo u r pleas ure ; a n d I m n o t s o v e r y m u ch older than

’

y o u are an d ,
what pleas u re have I ? ”

The b oys were very m u ch cast d own b y this fie r y r e

mon stran ce There had be en a sq u all as of se v eral babies

w
.

s en ta
h
from the u pper regions an d they had already been warn ed
o f t e co n seq u e n ce of their horse play
t i o n to u ched them i n their te n deres t poi n t
,

Bu t Bee s r epr e
Was it
-
.
’

w
.

fair ? Well n o perhaps i t as n o t qu ite fair They wen t

'

, ,
.

back after her h u mbled i n to the drawi ng room an d b e

, ,
-
,

so ught her t o j oin them i n ag ame After they had fi n ally .

retire d havi n g fi nished the even i n g to their o n parti al

,

con te nt Bee took o u t agai n Betty s le tt er an d read it with

,
’

less exciteme n t t han at fir s t o r at leas t with less de

w w
—

mon stration o f excitemen t ; this was what it said :

h a i h of a a so h
tf w a a fri
d el g ul
h a
m e nd
’
Be e , suc o n, p p s ! nd

th wh ch r e h a h
s o m e , s o n i ce . v r so cl e r e v i so a el l d e s s ed . e ery t ng y ou c n

ith h
.

w
in k e x ce pt o y u ng , i i
o f c ou s s e is n ot —
n or nyt ng

of ha
si y
ll a at l
P p ay
d m e t o get r e d to c om e ou t im to se e

w
o

th h
.

a n ol dfri end is wa t a a wil

nd I
'
t ll i tl
l i ng d d n i ke i t
’

ww
sn

h
, . .

i t mu i a li e
b e s om e o l d m g e acki
k ol d M r s M

w w
t st

w w
oug n n on .

ac
o r N n y E ve r s fie l d d o n t k rs M aL tt
’

d l d

ww w
y o u n o y o n s e e

h h h
, . .

to ta ke m e o u t t o s e e s o m e p c u r e s
i t a era a co
nd G ld s m i ng

ki f r ar to it h a a a
, .

a nd e r e e to a at r ve ar after a
u n in t e p k a nd I d p u t on

th th r th with
,

my ne a a c me

w
fr ock n d s l oo ng o d en p p

rs h
,

in i i r rs o de : G e t on y ou i sa c ng nd om e me I

w shir a h
,

wa t t a
n to to
ke y o u a s ee i
n o l d f r en d
”
a to
Of c o u e I d g o

h r th h th al a fr h
.
,

f o r M r s L y on l i l ne e
v r al lo me t o i
k ny t n g Bu t I

w
a a s a a th l a a a a har how
. .

a s n ot i nav r e y good umo ou g ey c l e d me s es

ar a h
,

s ro e nd llat —
to p e se p p ; s if e c ed e

ch h th o e
l o o k ! H e o ok m e t o G e g e S t e e
t or r t a v H no e r S qu e or

h h
, ,

a o me t o

w
rid lit i
t l e l o dg n g s u l c
s peop e en ey c m up

h whth
.

fro m t e ou n y
c tr a
h
An d I l a s ri s a a te a
d t o o o k s e ou nd

w
s s dy

h
.

a
fr om t e
e
s p os s i b l
char oh i
h s h
a
h
f o r t e s ke o f t e ol d

ah
a i r t
s u c d ff
la
e rs
e n p
dy ;
ta
e o
hn a l h
r ose
en
l l bt
e e r

u t s s i g
up

h ai h th
, , ,

a s y ou a re, 1t uc a fac a
n d s o me e a a r
nd su c m nn e

th a a th h f l a mot h
.

S e m g av e a a i
e b en — l e t u s s y ta t
n ce s ee a u n — b ut u nt

th hwhw r
.

i s not a n me at m e n s n y i n g d el i g t u ; n d er I
a
m u s t n o t s y , f or e e i s o n l y o n e m o e i n t e
r th r ol e o ld ;
 T HE SOR C E R ESS B
3 3

hi
w
.

h h
w w h h
o but s ome t i ng I c ann ot g i ve a n am e s o r ta u n de s n d in g ,

h h
. ,

k nd s o ni ce f o r t at mean s e v e r y t in g i S e k s s ed me

w
so

h h h
. , .
,

a a a
en s e b eg n to t l k t o m e a

w
n d th r
s i f s e kn e e v e y on e o f

w h h ar h
a ll ao ai
An d t e n b u t C r l e h o m s e s ee m e d t o kn o

www
u s

h hah at h with h
.

papa th
,

w el l aS e c ll e d i m d e ai a w
C rl e nd I on de r i f i t i s

ww w
v ery

h ith h
.
,

s e oa s a
s per u de d a
e is t e M c ki n n on s

hD a i h
i n S c ot l n d
ever I
Bu t I kn o
a t th aft
h
l l t el l y ou b ou
. e i s not
is
a

h a th
t e M c kinn o n s

w
o er

i h wi a h
, .

e r Bee at i a l l y ou s y t ll en I e i

w
t t d

w
y o u s e

h h th
,

l g tfu l a i a
om n i s M s s L n c e ? Y oua h art
ll s y I

w w
ve no e

h i a o h t h h at h
,

o r n o Sp ir t a ai nd m n o t s c n g t o y o u t ou g
ti ki r i a ck nd

h
,

ha h
t n s I u g t ; b u t y ou m u s a av
e r fir St I e g ot t o
a
h
it a i
h h h h
w w ww
s y a
H d I kn o n a s M ss L nce I s oul d v e s u t my

h h hav h th h f h
.

e
s l f cl os e u p
a
a
d b ee n I s ou l d
atnd

r th
a
a
e
ev er s e

h a
,

h
d n o ing t o s y t o er
i
h
d d o n e or o e v e r n c e s e
a I s e d

h h h h
.

be en a a l n ng e a a
u n de a r
t n m e I s ou l d e m e m b er e d

w
ve

h r l v tr h
at a ai a d d
hat h a
l d I a d a

w
y o u s n s o u n o t
, v e s e e n n y g o od i n
Bu t I n e e a e rd a ti er n m e w a ll ll

ww w
er s e e re
-

h h h
.

in M i
R e v e s s u d o qu e it a ti af
’

l on g aa me a
ter P p di d s

a h th
.
, .

e a a l y s i tr
d o e s n o d u c e d m e t o e r b u t n o t e r t o me He

h th ha
,

h
. .

ai a if a I mu s
”
s r
d M y d u g t e Be t t y s i i v e kn o n b y nst nct

h li v it h li h h
,

o s e a s An d d e
ar Bee l
ou g I c kn o e d g e y ou

h h
.
, ,

av r a n n ot t o b e e e t s e is de g f ul s e i s

ww
e ev ery e so

ve hv r h
, , ,

e is ! a h av
S e m y e wr e d on a t l I c n t e l o f c ou s ;
r e ’
S ong

h li h t wi h h
.
,

b u t I d on t b el i e a a
me n t i t or t o r m y ou o r
’

s e e e

h h ha ha
, ,

C ar i a
l e o r n y on e r E ve y b ody i s de g e d t M rs

w
er

h a th at h h ah
. .
, .

L y on o y o u kn o v r ar a a
i s e y p ticul r s y s s e s t e m n

w wh h h
, ,

r
ne s o af du c e s s —
nd is s ea su c ti n d s om e d i s n

h h
.

g u i s e d l o o w a
k i n-
g o m n i S e i i
s c o m r n g t ot d n e e e n e x

h with h h
.

at
S urd y a l
T e o n y on e s o d oe n o t s e e m t o b e qu i e
t

w ar h h
.

c ar med a is pr j
er i s G e r l d o i e u d i c e d l ke y ou

i h h h
.
,

D o try t o ge t ov e r r p j i y o u r e u d c e B e e d e —
s e i s S e

a a t ha a ah h
, , .

is i n de e d d el g t l l wa t
f u ! Y o u on y t o kn o By t e

ww
n er

h e a th at h th r ha h i
.
, ,

y b o u t e M c k i n n oan s : it
p p is g o t fi r m l y n t o i s

h h h h h h h
,

d ai C rl e i s e e ; e s ys i r i s m n d i s qu t e e l i e v e d

o th
a b ou , i m
t a t at
nd r t e mo e
t i it e r
n ks of t e mo e e is

h
,

h
,

c r am it I kn
at a r I got

w w
e t i s s o ; no i t i s n ot s o l e tt e

aw r a t h h h
.

f l a
r om H e e n M c ki nn o n t e d y I c m ea a h r a e e n d t e r e i s n ot

h h h a h h a h
,

o d b ou Cal a r ie w —
nd s eav ou l drtai e b een c e n to

h h h th ri ah ah
a v e m e n on e d
ti im tri
d e b e en t e r e I
i ed to s y t

w
s to

ha m ahr tt a a a t hwh h
.

pa a p b u t a a
i s e df l s s o u l o f t e o e d e t t e d i d n o t

h h
,

t fi s n d I c ou l dn i I i d M
’
e r e g o o n s p e r e t o s s

a t h a h
.
,

La
a
n ce i n t e s u d i o
s so
i t h
tro l
"
a
ub ed i tr
a r h
nd d s
nd at
s ke d
a
es s ed h
er
b ou C
h
,

t ar
I S ou l d do
rl i e t t t e e
S e
s
.

c me
a
Oh a hi, d
n o
e r c
er ey es
lt a a ythi
d , d o n
i i
bu t
s y n r n g
,

f
ai
f t e t n k ng a m om e n t S e s d
Y o
’
u y
,

o u n g r i e n d .
. ,
 w
T HE SO R C E R E SS
3 4

w
0

w w
.

h h h h
w h h
w
mi g t h a ve b e en i n a urry S e mi ght not h av e t hou g t i t
h
w
.

h hi
ne c e s s ar y t o Sp e ak o f y o u r b ro t e r O d on t l e t u s o r ry
’

th h a
.
,

im n o ! Ba d ne s a l ay s c o m e s s o o n e n ou g an d of

i h h th
, ,

c ou r s e , it it
l l fin d
e Dou t i f is so o y ou ink s e s

a th h i h h
.

r g t? Bu t o ar a af ai
Be e d e Be e , I m
i i r d y ou l l n ot nk

w h Wri
, , ,

nyi a t a
ng s e s y s i s r g g fi
; o
n d y e t s e i s del z lzt d I f . nly

y o u kn e e r ir
! a t
t e d a thi
e c tl y , nd el l me l l y ou n k .

Bee was n o t excited o n this s econ d readi n g Sh e did

h
.

n ot spri n g t o her f e et n or stamp o n the floor o r feel i n

, ,

w
c l i n e d to ca l l u po n all the i n fer n al gods Bu t h er eart .

sa nk dow n as if it wou ld n e ver rise agai n ; an d a great

w
pai n took possessio n of her Who was this witch this

h
.
,

magician that every on e who belon ged t o Bee S h ou l d be

,

draw n i n to her toils eve n Betty ? What cou ld S e an t

,

with Betty who was on ly a little girl who as her si s ter s

, ,
’

n at u r a l secon d a n d s u pport ? Bee s at a l on g t i m e with

her head i n her han d s letti n g the fire go ou t fe e l i ng
, ,

col d an d solitary and miserable and frighte n ed t o de ath

, , , .

C HAPT E R XL I I .

IN the aftern oon the n ext day Bee was agai n alone
of .

The ol d au n t had come down for l u n ch b u t gon e u p to her

room ag ai n to rest aft er that m eal It was a lit t le chi ll y .

ou tside The children of cou rse wrapped u p i n their

.
, ,

warm thi n gs an d i n the virt u e of the E n glish n u rse ry

, ,

which Shri n ks from n o east wi n d were ou t f or their vari ,

ou s w a lks The big boys atte n ded by su ch o f the little

wh h
.
,

boys as cou ld be tru sted with these athletes were t aki ng

w
,

viole n t exercise somewhere An d Bee sat by the fire alone

w
. .

It i s n o t a place for a girl of twe n ty The l ittle pi n afore

w
.

h alf made as o n the table beside her She had a book .

i n her han d .

h
Perhaps ad she b e e n a you n g ife l ooki ng
for the ret u rn of e r you n g h u sb an d i n the eve n i n g i t

w
al l the air o f the b i gg er or l d abou t him a nd a n ab u n
'

dan ce o f n ews an d pl an s an d life a pretty e n ou gh pictu re

h
,

m ight have bee n made of that cozy fireside retiremen t

h
.

Bu t eve n this ideal has ceased to be satisfa ctory t o t e

present ge nera tion An d Bee s s pi r i ts a
nd ea er e very
’
. rt
lo whh h w
.

th i s
S e
al l her
t o d o an ythi n g
an ger ad faded a ay She had n o co u rage
T HE

She see med t o have come t o an e n d of

.
S OR C E R E SS

ad disp at ched a fi ery letter t o Betty ; an d with

.
.
3 5
o

all possibilities She had n o lon ger an y o n e to fall back

.

u pon a s a s u pporter an d sympathizer no t e ve n Betty —

.

E ve n this closest li n k of n at u re see m ed t o have bee n

br o ken by that e n emy .

T o ha ve a n e n emy is n o t a v ery commo n experie n ce i n

m o d e r n life People may do each other small harms an d
.

a nn oyan ces b u t t o most of u s the stre nu ou s appeals an d

,

d am n ation s of the Psalmist are q u ite beyon d experien ce .

B u t Bee had come back to the primitive stat e She had

wh
.

an e n emy who had s u cceeded i n taki n g from her every

wh
t i n g she cared for A u brey her be trothed Charlie her

h
, ,
.

fat er her sister o n e after the other i n q u ick s u ccession

w h
,
.
,

It as n o t yet a year a n d a half si n ce S e first heard this

o m an s n ame An d i n that t ime all these losses ad
h
’

h
.

h ap pen ed She was n ot eve n s u re t at her mother s de ath ’

w
.

w h
as n ot the work of the same s u btle foe ; i n deed S e ,

br o u ght he r self to believe that it was at least accelerated

by al l the tro u ble an d con te n tion brou ght i n t o the family
b y her o n misery a n d rebellio n all th e work o f that —

o m an ! Why why ad Bee been si n gled o u t f or this

h
,

f at e ? A little girl i n a n E n glish ho u se l ike other girls ,

h
n o worse n o better ,
Why sho u ld S e a l on e i n al l E n glan d
.

av e this bittern ess of an e n emy to make her desolate an d

h
bre a k her heart

w
?

h Whi l e S e was th u s t u rn i n g over drearily those dismal

h
w
t o u ghts there was a messen ger approachi n g t o poi n t more

B e e had l a h
s arply still the record of these disasters an d their ca u se
id do n er book i n her lap ; her tho u ghts had
s trayed completel y from it a n d go n e b a ck to her o n
.

t r o u bl es whe n the door of the drawi n g room O pe ned

w
-
,

q u ietly an d a se r va n t an n o u n ced Mrs Leigh Mrs . . .

h
L e igh ! It is n o t an u n common n ame A Mrs Lee li ved
i n t e village a Mrs Gra n tham Lea was the clergyman s
,
.

ife i n the n ext parish Bee drew her breath q u ick l y an d .

. .

c omposed her looks b u t tho u g ht Of n o visitor that co u l d

,

m ake her heavy heart beat Not eve n whe n the lady

h h
.

c am e i n a more tha n m i ddle aged matro n Of solid form

,
-
,

an d good color dre s s ed w i th t e su bdu ed f a

, s i ona bl enes s
39
 30 6 T HE S O R C E R ESS

h
. .

w w
appropr i ate t o er age It was n ot Mrs L ee from the

w w h
. .

village n or Mrs Gran th am Lea n or

,
. Yet Bee h ad seen ,

her before S e rose u p a littl e sta

. r t led a nd m a de a step
or t o forwar d .

Y o u d o n ot k n o m e Miss K ings ar d ? I c anno t ,

won der at i t s ince e me t b u t on ce an d that i n circu m

, ,

s ta n ces Don t s t art n or fly thou gh I see y ou h ave rec

’

ogn i ze d me .

I n deed I di d n ot thi n k of flyi n g Wil l y ou will y o u .

—

s i t dow n ?

w
Y ou n eed n ot b e a fraid Of me my poor child said , ,

w h
Mrs Leigh

h
. .

Au brey s moth er seat ed hers elf and looked with aki n d

’

hh
yet t rou bled look a t the girl
t i tu d e i n which s e a
s a y o u the o t her t ime
o s ti ll stood u p i n t he a

d r i sen from her chair

,

I sc arcely
It was i n the garde n
t
.

w
S e said ,
. .

Y ou did n ot give me a good reception I shou l d like .

m u ch some t ime or other if y ou wou ld tel l m e why I .

h ave n e v er made ou t why Bu t don t be afraid ; it is n ot .

’

”
o n that su bj ec t that I have com e t o y ou n o .

Bee seated herself She kept her bl u e eyes which

.
,

seemed expa n ded an d larger than u su al b u t had n o n e of

the former i n dign an t blaze i n them fixed on the ol d lady s ,
’

face

h h
.

You r father is no t here the serv an t tells me ,

No —
e is i n t own S e a n swered fal t eri n g
,
almost ,

too m u ch absorbed by an ticipation to reply .

A d yo
n u are alo n e n ob o d y with —
y o u t o s t a n d by y o u ?
”
Mrs Leigh s aid Bee catchi n g her b reath I do n t ’

w
.
, , ,

k n ow why y ou Sho u ld ask me s u ch q u estion s or o r b e ,

—

'
sor ry for me I don t n eed a nybody to be sorry f or me

h
. .

“
Poor lit tle girl ! We n eed n t go i n to that q u estio n ’
.

I am sorry for an y girl who i s motherless o has to tak e

w hh
,

her mother s place I wou ld m u ch ra ther have S poke n t o

’

h
.

you r father ad e be en here

h
.

“ ”
After all said Bee my father cou ld say n ot i n g
,

h
, .

It is I o m u s t decide f or myself

w
.

She said this with an i n vol u ntary be trayal of er c on

s c i o u s n e s s that there co u ld be b u t on e s u bj ect between

h
them ; and it was n ot i n the power of Au brey Le i gh s
h
’

m o t er however s tro n gly aw a

, re she as of ano t er t hem e
ww hh w
h
THE S O R C E R E SS .
3 7
0

w h
On hich S e ad come to S peak n o t t o n o t e o d i ff ere n t ,

as Bee s reception o f her from t e other ti me when the

’

g irl had fl e d from her prese n ce an d wo u l d n o t eve n hear

h
h at she had to say Bee s eyes were large an d h u m id ’

h h
.

an d f u ll o f an an xiety whic was almost wistfu l She h ad

w h
.

t e air o f ref u si n g t o hear wit her lips b u t eagerly ex ,

p
h
e c t i n g with her w ole
A n d S e looked s o yo u n g so solit a
heart wh at was abo u t to
ry i n her mother s chair
be said
’
.

h
, ,

i th a mother s work l yi n g abou t the head o f t his sile n t

’

o u se that the he art of the elder woman was deeply

w
—

t o u ched If little Betty had bee n like a rose Bee was al

w
.
,

m ost as white as t he cl u ster Of fragra n t white n a rcissu s

h h w h
th at s t ood on the tabl e Poo r littl e girl S O su bdu ed an d
‘

h
.
,

c a n ged from the little pass i o n ate creat u re o wou ld n o t

h
e ar a word a
h
e ve n the zeal o f the mother
nd ,
o s e i n dign atio n was stro n ger th a
.

o had come t o p l ead

n

w h
er

s o n s cau se !
’

h M rs Leigh drew a l ittle n earer an d took Bee s han d ’

. .

T e girl did n ot re s ist b u t kept her eyes u po n her steadily, ,

atchi n g her m in d i n a great t u rmoil n ot kn owi n g what

w
, ,

t o expect .

h My d ear said t e O ld lady don t be alarmed I ’

w hh
, ,

h h
.

ave n o t come t o speak abou t A u brey I c an n ot help .

opi n g t h at o n e day y ou ill do i m j u stice ; b u t i n t e ,

m e an time it is somethi n g else that as brou ght me here

M iss K i n g s a
, .

r d yo u r brother

h
,

Bee s ha n d i n th i s l ady s cl asp betrayed her i n spite of

’ ’

h erself It became limp an d u n i n terested wh e n S e was

h
.

as s u red that Au brey was n o t i n q u esti on ; an d then at her

w h
,

b roth er s n ame was s n atc ed s udde n ly away

’
.
,

hh
”
My b rother ? S e cried Charl i e ! The n su bdu i n g
.

ersel f Wh at do y ou k ow abou t him

,
“
n ? Oh claspi n g ,

her an ds as n e light seemed to break u pon her y ou ,

”
h ave come to tell m e some bad n ews !

w
h I hope n ot My s on fou n d him some tim e ag o dis
.
,

e arten ed an d u n happy abou t leavi n g O xford He per

h
.

s ua d e d him to . me a n d share his rooms H e has been .

i th him more or less all t e time wh i ch I hope m a y be ,

h
a c o m f or t t o y ou An d the n h e fell i l l My dear A u brey
‘

hh hh
. .
,

as tried t o see yo u r father b u t i n v ai n ; an d poor Charl i e ,

is n o t a n x i o u s ,
I f e ar to s e e i s fa t er
, Y e s e a s bee n , ,
3

h
0 8

not s o s er iou sly th a

i l l , b ut
H e has sh aken OE the complai nt b u t e wan ts rou si n g
wa t some whom he loves Au brey sen t f or m e a
T HE

t e n eed fe ar an y thin g s eri o u s wh

S OR C E R E SS

,
.

w
e n s on e

h
.

fort ight a
n g o H e has .bee n well t ake n c are o f ; the r e is

n othi n g real ly wron g Bu t we can n ot pers u ade i m to

h
.

rou se himself It is illn e ss t hat is at the bottom o f it all

. .

He wou ld n ot h ave l eft y ou withou t ne s of i m he w o u ld

h
,

n ot S hri n k from his fat her if h e w e re n ot i l l Bee I wi l l .

,

con fess to y o u that it is A u brey who as se n t me ; b u t

don t be afraid ; it is for Charlie s sa ke only for Charl ie s
’ ’
—
’

h
sake H e thi n ks if y o u wou ld b u t come t o him i f y ou —

h
.

wo u ld have t e cou rage to come t o you r broth e r Be e —

, .

He e thi n ks ? n ot Ch a rlie y ou don t mean Ch ar lie ? ’

— —

Bee cried

n ot rou se him
.

h
Ch arli e does n ot seem t o wish f or an yt i n g We c an
We t i n k that the S ight o f som e on e he
.
’
h .

loves
Bee was fu l l Of agi t at ion
h
Her lips qu 1 v er e d ; her

w
.

hands trembled O m e ! she said ;

”
I am n o o n e

h
.
,
.

It is not f or his sister a b oy cares ; I do no t thi n k I s ho ul d

d o him a n y good O Charlie Charlie all this ti me
h
-

h
.
, ,

th at e have been blami n g him so thi nki n g i m s o cru el

he as bee n lyi n g ill ! If I cou ld do him an y good ! s e
h
”
,

h ,

w h
cried wri n gi n g her an d s

h
.
,
“
The sight of y ou wou ld d o him good It is n ot t a t .

he wan ts a n u rse Iha ve see n t o t at ; b u t no n u rse cou l d

—

rou se him as the si g ht of some o f h is o n peopl e wou ld

DO n ot q u esti on my dear b u t come O ,
come ! H e
thi n ks h e is c u t OE from e verybod y th at his father will
,
h
—
,
.

h
w
,

n ever see him that y o u m u st all have t u rn ed agai n s t him

w w
, .

Words wi l l n ot con vi n ce i m b u t to see y ou that wou l d , ,

do s o He wo uld feel that he was n ot forsaken

. .

O h forsake n ! How co u ld he thi n k it ? He m u st kn o

,

that e have bee n breaki n g ou r hearts It was he o h

h
.

forsook u s all Bee had rise n agai n an d stood lean i ng

h h
.
,

u po n t e ma n tel piece too m u ch shake n a -

nd a gitated to

w
,

keep still Tho u gh S e had thou ght G e lf so i n d ep en

.

den t she had i n reality n ever broke n the strai n ed ban d of

,

d omestic s u bj u gation She had n ever S O m u ch as gone

h hh h
.
,

t ho u gh it was l ittle more tha n a n hou r s j ou rn ey t o L on

’

,
‘
on on er o n a u t h orit y T e t o u gh t o f t aki n g s uc a .
w
whh
SOR C E R ESS
'

T HE 3 9
0

h
.

s tep st ar tled her An d that S e shou ld do this on the

.

o rd a n d i n the compa n y o f Au brey s mother Au brey ’

wh
—
,

f or hom s e had on ce been re ady to aba n don everythi n g

h
,

f r o m who m s e had been viole n tly separated whom she ,

hh ad cas t Off fl u n g away from her witho u t heari n g a word

e
,

ad t o s ay ! H o cou l d s e p ut herself i n his way

ag ai n go with his mother accept his services ? Bee had

w
—
,

h h
ac t ed q u ickly on th e imp u lse of passion i n all that had
ap pe n ed to her before Bu t she had n o t k n ow n the c on

w
.

h
fl i c t t e re n di n g as un der of opposite emotion s In the
'

w
.
,

i rl o f her thou ghts her l over whom she had cast o ff

w h
, ,

ca m e betwee n her a n d the brother whom he had s u ccored

h h
.

It as to Au brey s hou se to i s very dwelli n g where h e

’

as that S e m u st g o if she wen t t o Charlie An d C arlie .

an ted her or at least n eeded her lyin g weak an d de

w
, ,

spa

hwh
i ri n g waiti n g for a S i gn from home
,
It was di ffi c u l t .

t o r ealize her brother S O or to believe i n deed that he

h
, , ,

c o u l d wa n t her ve r y m u ch that there was a n y year n i n g i n,

i s heart toward his o n flesh a n d blood Bu t Mrs Leigh

h
. .

th o u ght S O an d o cou ld S e refu se ? H ow co u ld she

,

r e f u se ? The problem was t oo m u ch f or er She looked

'

i n to Mrs Leigh s face with a n appeal for he l p

’
. .

My d e ar her compan ion said l ayi n g a cal m an d cool

”

w
, ,

h an d u pon Bee s arm which trembled with n ervou s e x

’

c i t e m en t if y ou are afraid of meeti n g A u brey com

, ,

o s e yo u rself A u brey wo u ld rather go to the e n d of the

p .

o rld than g ive y o u a n y pai n or p u t himse l f i n yo u r way ,

.

h
h
W e ar e layi n g n o trap for y ou ; I shou ld n ot h ave come if
t e case had n o t bee n u rgen t Never wou ld I have come
ad it been a q u estion Of my s on ; I wo u ld n ot begu ile y ou
.

e v e n for his sake I t is for yo u r brother Bee ; n ot for

w
.
,

A u brey n ot f or Au brey !
,

Not for Au brey ! Was that any comfort ? Was there

h
w
stre n gth i n that assu ran ce ? At all eve n t s these were the

w
hw
,

ords that ran g throu gh Bee s head as S e made her ’

h
,

h u rried preparation s She had almost repeated them

.

al o u d i n t he hasty explan ation s S e made t o MOS S u pstairs

w
,

o as n o at the head of the n u rsery an d to the hou se ,

ke eper below T o n either of these f u n ctio n aries did it

.

s e e m Of a n y s olem n importan ce that Bee sho u l d go away

f or a da y o r t o There was n o Obj ectio n o n their part to
.
 0 T HE S OR C E R E SS
31

h
.

w
bei n g left at the head o f a ff airs An d the n Be e fel t e r

w
.

se l f carried alon g by the whirl o f stran ge excitem e n t an d

feeli n g which rather tha n the less ethereal m eth ods o f an
e xpress trai n seemed t o s eep her throu gh t e air o f t e h h
w h
darken i n g Spri n g n ight by Mrs Leigh s S i de A fe .
’
.

w
ho u rs before she had fel t herself the most el pless of de

h
pe n de n t creatu res aban don ed by all i n capable Of do i n g

w
, ,

an ythi n g An d n o what was S e d oi n g ? R u sh i n g i n t o

.
,

the heart of the con flict as su mi n g an i n divi d u al par t i n

h
,

i t acti n g on her o n respon sibility

,
She co u ld scarc e ly .

believe it was herself o sat there by M r s L e igh s s i d e ’

.

h
.

Bu t n o t f or Au brey n o t for A u brey ! Thi s k ept ri n g i n g

,

i n her ears like the tolli n g o f a b ell throu gh all the ot er

h
,

so unds She sat i n o n e corn er o f the carriage an d l ist

.

e n ed to Mrs Leigh s explan ation s an d to t e clan g Of t e

’
,

h
w h
. ,

e n gi n e and ru sh o f the trai n all m i n gled t og eth er i n b e

,

wilderi n g con fu sion Bu t t e other voice fille d all sp ace

.
,

echoi n g thro u gh everythi n g Bee fel t herself trembl i n g

w h
.

o n the edge Of a crisis s u ch as her life had n ever k n o n

h h
, .

All the world seemed t o be set agai n st er h er e n e m y , ,

pe r aps her f ather an d all the abit ual au th orit ies o f her

h w hw
h h
,

you n g an d s u bject life n o su dden ly risi n g i n to rebellio n

, .

She wo ul d ave t o do an d say thi n gs whi ch S e wo u l d n o t

hw
have ve n t u red S O m u ch as to thi n k of a little t i m e ag o ;
as t o be

w
b u t whatever S e mi g ht h ave t o e n co u n ter t er e

h
n o re n ewal to Bee o f her o n s t ory a n d mean i n g It was .

n o t for A u brey that S e as called or wan ted ; f o r t e s u c

c o r o f others f o r S isterly help f or charity a
, n d k in d n e s s,

b u t n o t f o r her o n lo v e or life .

'

C H AP T E R XLI I I .

w
IT was a hou se i n on e o f the stree ts Of M ayf air th at
to

h
Mrs Le 1 gh con veyed her you n g compan ion on e o f those
.

,
small , expe n sive places where person s withi n t e ci rcl e Of
,
18
what called the world i n Lon don con trive t o l iv e ith
as l 1 tt l e comfort an d the gre atest expe n dit u re possi b l e It .

yi n g i n Mayfair ; n owhere is i t m ore

t to keep fu rn itu re o r e v e n h u man ap are l c l e an
p ;
 S OR C E R E SS

w h
T HE 1

hh
.

t rooms are small

e an d the streets it is on e
S habby ; but
of t r ght pl aces
e i in which to live no t s o perfect as it ,

as no ce i de d n e ,
bu t still fu rn ishi n g an u n impeachable
ad dress .

It had half p u t o n t e aspe c t o f the season by this time ;

w
s o m e o f the balco n ies were f u ll o f flowers a n d the air o f

w h
,

r e s u scitatio n which comes to certai n qu arters o f Lon do n

w
after E aster as if i n deed they t oo had risen from t e dead

w
, ,

as vagu ely visib l e T o be su re little o f t his was a

.
p ,

a re t ih the dim lamplight whe the ladies arrived

w
p n n t o

h
at the d oor Bee was h u rried u pstairs throu gh the n arro

w h
w
.

p a ssage tho u gh S e had bee n very kee n ly a are that some

h
,

o n e i n t e lower room had mom e n tarily lifted the bli n d to

h h
l o ok o u t as they arrived some on e o did n ot appear —
,

h o made n o so u n d

e r life .
o had n othi n g to do with her o r

The rooms which are u su ally the drawi n g roo ms of su ch

,

w
-

h
aho u se were t u r n ed ev i de n tly i n to the apartme n ts o f the
s u ff erer In t e back room which they en tered first was

w h
.

an u rse who greeted the ladies i n d u mb S how an d whose ,

hite head dress an d apron had the stran gest e fi e ct i n t e

-

sem i darkn ess

-
She said half by gest u re half with
.
, ,

h i spered word s more visible than au dible H e is u p ,

b etter impatien t good S ign discon ten ted with every

— — —

"
thi n g I s this the lady ?

h h h
.

M r s Leigh an swered i n the same way

. His sister ; ,
”
S all I g o with er ? y o u ? alo n e ? — —

By herself said t e n u rse l acon ic ; an d almost i n

,

au dible as this con versation was it occasion ed a stirr i ng

w hh
,

an d moveme n t i n the i n n er room .

”
What a n o i se y ou make ! cried a qu eru lou s u n steady ,

voice “
W ho s there ? Who s there ’
? ” ’

w
.

The n u rse took Bee S hat from her head ith a n oiseless ’

swift movemen t an d relieved her of the little cloak S e

softly for ard

.

Nothi n g to worry
,

was w e ari n g She took her by t e arm an d p u shed e r

Soothe him she
h .
.
,

breathed holdi n g u p a c urtai n that Bee might pass The

,
.

room was b u t badly l ighted a si n gle lamp on a t able al ,

mo s t exti n gu ishe d by the S hade a fire b urn i n g thou gh the

h h
,

n ight was w a rm an d on e o f the lon g wi n d ows ope n letti n g

, ,

i n t e at m osphere a n d s o u n ds of t e Lon don street Bee .

 T H E SOR C E R E SS
31 2 .

stole i n an u n cert ai n S hadow i n to the shad e d room less

wh h
, ,

e ager than f r i ghten ed an d overawed by thi s s u dd e n en

tran ce i n to the presen ce of sickn ess an d miser y S e was
n o t acc u sto m ed to associate s u ch t i n gs with h er b rother
I t did n o t see m any o ne wi t whom S e as acq u ai n ted
h
h h
.

w
that she was abou t to see .

“
O h Charlie ! the littl e c r y a n d moveme n t s e m ade
”
,

h
,

falli n g dow n on her kn ees beside him raise d a p al e u n

h h
, ,

happy face half covered ith t e dow n o f an i r re g u lar

,

fledgli n g e ar d from t e pillow ,

.

Hallo ! he said an d the n i n a ton e of disapp oi n t m en t

"

w ww w
h
w
,

and d isdai n Y ou !
”
,
“
O h Charlie Charlie dear ! y ou
, ,
av e bee n ill an d we
n ever k n ew .

“
Ho do y ou k n o no ? th e y k n ew I n ever an ted
y o u to k n ow he said

w
.
,

O h Charlie who o u ght to k n ow b u t y o u r o n people ?

,
—

We ha ve been wretched thi n ki n g all sor ts of dre adfu l ,

”
thi n gs— b u t n o t this .

”
Nat u rally he said my o n people might be t ru sted
, ,

n ever t o thi n k the right thi n g Now y ou do k n o w y ou .

may as well take yo u rself o ff Idon t wan t y ou o r an y ’

body he added with ah

— —

h
”
impatie n t S igh

w
.
,

Charlie Oh please let me stay with y ou W o shou ld

—
,
.

be with y o u bu t you r S ister ? an d I k n ow a great deal —

abou t nu rsi n g Mamma

w
.

I say hold you r to ngu e can t y ou ? Who a n t s y ou

—
,
’

”
to talk Of a n ythi n g o f that sort ?
—

h
Bee heard a slight stir i n the c u rtai n s an d looki n g b ack
hastily as S e dried h er streami n g eyes s a t e lacon ic
n u rse maki n g sig n s to her The S ight o f t e S gan g e r was .
,

hh
more e ff ect u al eve n tha n her sign s an d restored Bee s ,
’

self comm an d at o n ce
-

h
.

Why did they bri n g y ou here ? said Charlie I d id n t ’

h
.

wa n t y ou ; they k n ow w at I wan t well e n ou gh ,

.

What is it y o u wa n t o Charlie dear ? Pap a an d all , ,

—

h h
of u S will d o an yt hi n g i n the worl d y o u w an t
—
.

Papa he said an d i s weake n e d an d irregu l ar voice

, ,

ra n throu gh the gam u t from a igh feebl e ton e Of irrita

t ion t o the qu a ve r o f th a t self pity which is s o s tro n g i n -
 w
T H E SOR C E R E SS

w
.
31 3

all you thf u l trou ble h

Yes ; e wou ld be p l eased to get

h
.

m e ou t of the way an d be don e with me n o ”

w
.

“
O h Charlie ! y o u k n ow o wron g that is Papa has

w
, .

bee n miserable
—

h Charli e u ttered a feeble l au gh H e p u t his han d u pon

i s chi n stroki n g d o n the irre g u lar tu fts of hair ; eve n
i n his l o
,

state the poor b oy had a certain pride i n what

.

h e believed t o be his beard .

N o t m u ch he said,
I dare say you ve made afu s s
.
’

B e tty an d y o u The govern or wil l crack u p Arth u r f or

hh
.

F O an d let me drop like a ston e

. . .

“
N O Charl ie n o
,
He has n o su ch thou gh t
,
. e as —

take n s u ch trou ble n ot to let it be k n own H e wou ld n o t .

a d v ertise o r an ythi n g
Advert ise ! ”
asu dde n hot fl u sh came over the gau n t
—

”
face f or me ! I t d i d n ot seem that su ch a thou ght had
e ver occ u r red t o the yo u n g m a n Like the fellows i n .

th e n ewspapers that steal their master s mon e y all is ’

—

a r ran ged an d y ou c an retu rn t o you r sit u ation By

"
G e orge !
There was agai n a fai n t ru stle i n the c u rtai n s Bee .

spra n g u p with her n atu ral impatie n ce an d wen t s tr aight ,

to the spot whe n ce this sou n d had come

h
.

If I am n ot t o speak to my brother alon e an d i n free

d o m I will n ot speak to him at all
,
S e said , .

The lacon ic n u rse remon strated violen tly w i th her lips

an d eyes

h
.

Don t excite him

’
Don t distu r b him He ll n ot ’ ’

h
. .

”
s l e ep all n ight S e man aged to con vey with m u ch arch
,

i n g o f t e eyebrows a n d mo u th the n disappeared S ile n tly ,

o u t of the bedroom behi n d .

h
”
Wh at s that ? said Charlie sharply He move d on
’
.

“
i s sofa a n d t u r n ed his head rou n d with di fli c u l ty Are
”
th ere more Of y o u t o come ?
There seemed a ki n d of hope an d expectation i n the
q u estion b u t whe n Bee an swered with despon den cy
, ,
”
There s only me Charlie he broke ou t harshly :
’

, ,

I don t wan t y ou Iwa n t n on e of y ou ; I told the m s o

’
—

h
.

Y ou c a n go a n d tell my father ; as soon as they let m e g e t

o u t I m goi n g Off t o New ! ealan d or s omewh er e
’
— t e
fu r th es t o ff place I c an get t o
-
”
.
 w
31 4 T HE S O R C E R E SS

h
.

Charl ie ! cried Bee taki n g every w o r d a

Oh,
”
s t e ,

s i nc erest u t tera n c e of a fixed i n te n tio n

ww w w
hat cou ld y ou ,

do th ere ?

h
“
D ie I su ppo s e,
he said with agai n th at q u aver of
, ,

s el f co mpassion i n his voice

w
-
o r go t o th e d o g s whic , ,

w
i ll b e eas y e n ou gh Y o u may say why did n t I d i e here
’
.

and be don e with it ? I don t k n ow Iam s u re I an ted

w
’
—

It a an d that woma n that talks

'

to . s the doctor fello ,

ith her eyebrows an d that con fou n ded cad Leigh they
, ,
—

ou ldn t le t me An d I ve got s o weak ; if y o u don t go

w hh
’ ’ ’

h
.

a ay this mome n t I ll cry like a dashed baby ! with a ’ ”

more piteo u s qu aver than ever i n the re mn an t Of i s on ce

m an ly v oice .

Al l that Bee co u ld d o was to thro her arm s ro u n d i s

n eck a n d draw his head u pon her sho u lder wh i c h e re ,

s isted fiercely for a momen t the n yielded to i n th e aban

h
,

d onm e n t o f his weak n ess Poor Charlie felt p e rhaps a .

, ,

momen tary sweetn ess i n the relaxat ion of all t e bon ds of

self con trol an d al l the wel l mean i n g a t tempts t o keep
h h
- -

him from i nj u ri n g himself by emot i on ; t e u n e xpected

ou tbu rst did him good partly be c au se i t was a bre ac of
all the discipli n e of the sick room : Presen tly e c am e to
himself an d p u shed Bee away
,
-
h .

What d o y ou come botheri n g abou t ? h e sai d ; y ou

.

ou ght t o have left me alon e I ve made my b e d an d Ive

h
’

w
’

w
.
,

g o t t o lie i n it I do n t
. s u ppose that an y o n e
’
a s take n —

the trou ble to ask abou t me he added aft e r a l ittl e

— ? ”

while i n what was i n te n ded for a careless ton e

h
w
, .

O h Charlie every on e
, ,
o has k n o wn ; b u t pap a o u ld
l e t n ob od y k n ow ; except at O xford We we n t t o O x .
—

f or d
He go t u p on his pillo s with his eyes S hi n i n g o u t of
their hollow sockets his lon g limbs com i n g to th e g r o u n d

w
,

with a fai n t th u mp Poor Charlie was you n g e n o u g h to

.

have grown d u ri n g his ill n ess an d those g au n t l i mbs ,

seemed u n reason ably lon g .

w
Y ou wen t to O xford ! ”
he said an d y ou s a ,
—

Dear Charlie they will say I am exciti ng y o u — d o i n g

,

y u harm
o
"
Y o u saw ? he cried bri n gi n g dow n his fist u o n the
p ,

table with a blo that made the very floor sh a ke .

 w
T HE SO R C E R E SS .

w
Y es s aid Bee trembli n g we saw — or rat her papa

h
, ,

s a

w
H e pu shed u p the shade o f the lamp wi t h i s lon g bon y
fi n gers an d fixed his eyes bright i t h fever on her face

h
, , , .

O h Char l ie don t look at me so ! The lady whom y o u

’

h
, ,

u sed t o talk t o m e abo u t whom I s a i n t e Academy —

h
“ ”
Yes ? e g raspe d her ha n d across the table with a
—

m om en t ary ot pressu re
“
She came an d saw papa i n the hotel She told i m
abou t y ou an d that y ou had Oh Charlie an d S e S O old !
.

—
.

h h
, , ,

as Old as
H old you r ton gu e ! ”
e cried viole n tly : a h
n d the n with

h
al on g draw n br ea th What more She told him an d
- ? —
,

e was r u de Is u ppose ,
Con fou n d him ! con fo u n d ” c o n
.

fo un d them all
I will n o t say a n other word u n less y ou are q u iet said ,

Bee her S pirit risi n g

,
P u t u p yo u r f e et o n the s ofa a
. nd
‘

b e q u iet a n d r e membe r a
,
l l the r isk y ou are r u n n i n g ; or
I will n o t say an other word

h
.

H e obeyed her with m u rm u rs of complai n t b u t n o ,

l o n ger the lan gu id gloo m of i s first accost Hope seemed .

t o h ave come i n to his he art H e su bdu ed himself lay

h
.
,
,

b ack amon g his pillows obeyed her i n all she stip u late d ,
.

T he light from u n dern e ath t e raised S hade played o n his

f ace a
h
'

,
n d gave it a t i n g e o f color thou gh it showed more ,

cl early the emaciation of t e o u tl i n e s an d the aspect o f

n eglec t rather t ha n as poor Charl ie hoped of e n ha n ced
, , ,

m a n ly dig n ity con veyed by the irre gu lar s i ck ma n s

’

grow th o f the i n fan t beard .

Papawas n ot ru de s aid Bee he is n ever r ude ; he

”
, ,

i s age n tlem an Worse than that

ww
.

”
Worse tha n what ?
—

O h I can n ot u n derstan d y o u at all y ou a nd the rest —

h
, , ,

c ried the girl ; o n e after a n other y o u give i n t o her y o u

h h
,

ad mire her y o u d o what she tells y ou ; t at oman wh o

, ,

as harmed me all S e c an an d y ou all she c an an d n o

.
, ,

— Ch a rlie ! ”
Bee stopped with ast on i shme n t an d i n dign a
ti on H er brother had raised himself u p agai n an d aimed
. .

a fu riou s b u t fu tile blow at her i n the a i r

h
It did n o t
t o u c h h er b u t the i n di gn ity was n o less on t a t acco u n t
Well e cried ag ai n bri n g i n g dow n that ha n d whic
h
.

h
, ,
31 6

co u ld re ach her o n the table

no t
o f o n e yo u re n ot

h
’

k n ow n S e wou l d n t d e s ert me I t i s S e
the way ope n and s ubd u ed my father an d
o
,

w
H o d are y ou S p e ak
ort hy t o n ame ? Ah ! I might have
’
as kept
An ih
T HE SORC E RE SS

.
.
.

w
w hhh
h
, ,

efl a b l e look of happi n e ss came u pon the wor n a n d ga unt

‘

co un te n an ce his eyes s often ed i s v oice fe l l I m ight

h
.
, ,
” ”
have k n own he s aid t o himself I might have k n own !
, ,

And wha t cou ld Bee say ? Thou gh S e did n ot be lieve

i n tho u gh she hated a n d feared with a child s i n te n sity
’
—

h
of terror the wom an who had s o of t e n crossed her path

S e co u ld n o t co n trad i ct her brother s faith tho u gh S e

con sidered it an i n fatu ation a folly beyon d b elief

’

,
h
h h
,

it seemed after all i n a man n er tru e that this woman

, ,

ad n o t d eserted h im She had s u bdu ed i s father s dis ’

w
.

pleasu re somehow made everythi n g easier Bee l o oked

,
.

at h im the victim o f those wiles yet n evertheles s i n d eb t ed

w
, ,

t o them with the same exasperation which her fath e r s

’

su bj u gation h ad ca u sed her What cou ld she s ay hat

w
.
,

cou ld she d o t o reveal t o them t ha t en cha n tress i n her

,

hw
tru e colors ? Bu t Bee k n e that she cou ld do n oth i n g ;
an d there bega n t o rise i n her heart a dreadfu l q u estio n
h h
.

h w
Was it s o su re that S e herself was ri g ht ? Was th i s o
ma n i n deed an evil Fate o r was S e was s e
, ,
An d , ,

the first story O f all the story o f Au brey a

s it p e rh a
,
ps ,

tru e ?
The n u rse came i n n oiselessly u rr yi ng hile Be e s
h
’

, ,

m i nd r an throu gh those thou ghts— e v id en tly wit the c o n

v i c t i on tha t she wo u ld fin d t he patie n t worse Bu t Charl ie .

was n ot worse He tu rn ed his face toward his atten dan t

.
,

still with somethi n g of that dreamy rap tu re i n it .

“ ” “
O h y o u may speak o u t he sa id I don t m i n d ’

, , ,

n oises to n ight S u pper ? yes I ll t ake s ome su p p e r

h
’
-
.
.
,

w
Bri n g me a beefsteak or somet i n g su bstan tial I m g oi n g ’

h
.

”
to get well at on ce .

h
lids
N u rse n odded at Bee with m u c u plifti n g of her ey e
.
“
Pu t n o faith i n y o u
c i n ery O f her l ips ;
she sai d worki n g t e m a
as wron g D on e him n o en d O f
,

.
,
h
good Beefste ak ? not exactly ; b u t soon s oon i f y ou r e
.
, ,
’

good .
 THE s o nc nns ss .
31 7

BE E s w
hh
a Charlie th at n ight
no m ore
CHAPT E R XLIV

c ame ou t o f i s room where there was a cert ain mean i n g

When she of
.

w
,

i n her prese n ce S e seemed to pass i n to the region of

,

d r eams She was taken u pstairs to refresh herse l f an d

'

r e st i n to the smaller of two bedrooms which were over

,

C harlie s room the other Of hich was occ u pied by M rs

’

, .

L eigh An d she was take n dow n stairs to di n e with tha t

.

l ady tétad téta at the small S hi n i n g table

,
’
- -
The r e was .

s o methi n g a bou t the little hou se altogether a certai n co n ,

c i s e ness a n abse n ce Of drapery a

,
nd o f the small elega n t ,

l i tter which is so ge n eral n owadays which gave i t a mas ,

c u li n e character or at least Bee n ot acc u stomed to

—
,

ae sthe t ic yo u n g m e n acc u stomed rather to big b oy s an d ,

th eir scorn o f the decorative art s thou ght so with a cu rio u s

h
,

fl u tter of her bei n g This perhaps was partly becau se the

.

o rn ame n tal part o f t e ho u se was devoted t o Charlie a nd ,

the little di n i n g r o om below s eemed the sole roo m t o l i ve

-

in It had o n e or two portraits h u n g o n the walls pictu res

w
.
,

almost too m u ch for its s mall d ime n sion s The still .

s maller room behi n d was clothed with books a n d had for ,

its o n ly orn a me n t a small portrait of Mrs Leigh over the

h
h
w
.

m an tel piece -
Whose rooms were these ?
. o had f u r

n i s e d them so gravely a n d left behi n d a n impression ,

O f serio u s character which almost chilled the heart o f ,

B e e ? H e was n o here vi s i ble n o r a n y trace o f him NO ,

.

al l u sion was made as to an abse n t m aster o f the h ou se ;

an d yet it bore an air S O i n divid u al tha t Bee s se n sitive ’

bei n g was moved by it with al l the might of somethi n g

h
,

s tra n ger than i m agi n atio n She stood trembl i n g amon g .

th e books looki n g at t e mother s portrait over the

,
’

m an tel piece feel i n g as if the very man tel S helf on which

h
w
- -
, ,

sh e rested her han d was warm with the tou c o f h is

h
, .

B u t n o t a word was said n o t a n all u sio n made t o A u brey

ww
, .

h
What had S e to do with Au brey ? Nothi n g less than

h
,

i th an y o ther m an i n the world any s tran ger to w om —

S e co u ld S peak with freedom i n tercha n gi n g the commo n

hh h
,

coi n of ordi n ary i n tercou rse He was the on ly m an i n the .

orl d om s e mus t n ot t a l k of , mu s t no t s ee t e onl y —

31

on e
S ign a
8 TH E

whose pre senc e it as n eces sary to obliterate every

Of
n d n ever to u tter the n ame where she as Poor
wh
S O R C E R E SS .

w
h
, .

w
Bee ! Yet she fel t him n ear ; i s prese n ce s u gges t ed b y
eve ryt hi ng i s n am e alw a ys laten t i n t he ai r She slept

h
.
,

and waked i n tha t stran ge atmosphere as i n a dream In

w h
.

w
A u brey s hou se ye t with Au bre y obliterated ; t e one
’

per son i n ex i ste n ce ith whom s e had n othi n g n othi ng ,

t o do .

I t as l ate before she was allowe d t o see her brot her

n ext day a
'

n d Bee i n the mea n time left to h er o n de

, , ,

vices had n ot k n ow n wha t t o d o She had taken p e n and

,
.

paper two or three times t o let her father k n ow that Charlie

was fou n d ; b u t her m i n d revol ted somehow from m aki n g
that i n timation What wo u ld happen whe n h e k n ew ?

w
.

He wou ld come here immediately ; he wou ld probably at

tempt t o remove Charlie ; he wou ld cer tai n ly order Bee

u n s u itable f or er ; an d yet h
away at on ce from a place s o u n su itable f o r e r I t was
She scarcely s a even Mrs
h .

Leigh after breakfast b u t was left t o hers elf with the , ,

w
door ope n i n to that san ct u ary which was A u brey s with ’

all his books an d the n ewspapers l aid ou t u po n the table

h
, .

Bee sat i n the di n i n g roo m an d looked i n to tha t oth e r-

secl u ded place In the light of day S e dared n o t g o i n to

.

it It seemed like thru sti n g herself i n to h is prese n ce

h h
w
. o

had n o tho u ght o f her who did n ot wan t e r O h n o t ,

.
,

for Au brey ! A u brey wou ld n o t f or the world distu rb her

hh
,

or bri n g a n y embar rassme n t i n to her mi n d Au brey wou ld

h
.

rat er disappear from his o n hou se as if he had n ever ,

existed t an remi n d her th at he did exist an d per aps

w
, ,

sometimes thou ght of her still Did he ever thi n k of her ?

h h
.

Bee k n ew that it wou ld be wr on g an d u n like Au brey if

h h
, ,

he kept i n these rooms t e poor little photograph o f e r

almos t childish face ich he ad o n ce prized S O m u ch

h h
.

It wou ld h ave bee n i n del icate u nl ike a ge n t l em an ; an d ,

yet S e m ade a asty an d fu rtive search everywhere to s e e

hh
w
if perhaps it might be somewhere i n some book or l ittl e
, , ,

frame She wo u ld h ave bee n an gry ad S e fo un d it an d

h
.
,

i n dign an t ; yet she felt a certai n desol at e sen se o f be i n g

altogether o u t of the q u est i on steal i n to er heart whe n
h
,

she did fin d i t— i the i n c on s i st e n ci es of h i ch the

1
ar t i s p
“

uolt1
 hh
T HE

w
SO R C E R E SS .
31 9

w
It was mid day w e n S e as called u pstai rs t o fin d
-

C h arlie established i n the room which shou ld h a ve been

w
t h e draw i n g roo m an d ro u n d wh ich she threw a n other
-

istfu l look as she ca m e i n to it i n fu l l daylight .

a woman s room i n an y way ! with n on e Of those little

’

w
,

p h otograph frames abo u t hich strew a woma n s table ’

n o t on e a n d co n seq u e n tly n o n e of Bee

,
Sh e took this i n .

at the first glan ce as sh e m ad e th e three or fou r litt l e,

h
s te p s betwee n the door a n d Charlie s cou ch He as m ore ’

h
.

ollow eyed an d worn i n the d aylight ! than he had bee n

-

e v e n o n t e n igh t before his appeara n ce e n tirely ch a ,

n ged
from that o f the com m on place you n g Oxford m an t o an

h
,

c o n ce n trated i n i s eyes h
e ager a n xio u s bei n g with all the cares of a tro u bled sou l ,

Mrs Leigh sat n ear him an d .

,

h
.

t e n u rse was b u sy with c u shion s a n d pillows ar ran gi n g

w hh w
i s cou ch

h
.

My dear y o u will be than kfu l t o h e ar that the doc t or

,

ives a ver good report day H e says that tho gh

w
g y t o u -
e .
,

ou ld n Ot have san ction ed it my remedy has do n e on ,

d ers . Y ou a r e m y remedy Bee l a m prou d of so s u ccess,

.

f ul a n ide a t ou g — t o be s u r e i t was a very si mple on e .

No , y o u m u st go o n a n d co m plete the c u re A n d I give .

y o u ca r t: bl a n d ze Ask an y o n e. here an y o n e y o u please , ,

s o lo n g as it is n o t t o o m u ch for Charlie H e may see

h
.

o n e or two people if n ur se s a n ctio n s it I am goi n g ou t

w
.

m yself f o r the day Is al l n o t retu rn t i ll late i n the

w
1

h
.

aftern oon an d y o u are mistress i n the m ean ti m e absol u te —

m istress said Mrs Leigh kissi n g e r Bee felt that

h
. .
, ,

A u brey s mother wou ld n ot eve n meet her ey e s lest she

’

h
s h o u ld throw t oo m u ch m ea n i n g i n to t ese
t ere was n o mean i n g i n them ! except s o far as Charlie
ord s O h .
,

as con cern ed
h h
w
.

An d then she was l eft alo n e with e r brot er the most

w
,

na t u ral the o nly su itable arran geme n t N u rse gave the

w h
.
,

l ast pat to his c u shion s the last twist to the coverlet which

h
,

as over his gau n t limbs appe aled t o i m the last time

h
,

i n d u mb S how whether an ted an y th i n g an d th en

w
e

hh
,

p h
h he
i thdrew
a r a n c e a
It was most n at u ral that i s S ister whose ap
d d o
.

n e i m s o m u ch g ood S ho u ld be left with

,

h
h
,

i m as i s n u rse ; b u t S e was frighte n ed a n d C arlie ,

s elf a
-
b s orbe d an d i t as s ome t i me before eit er fo u n d a
,
 w
32 0 T H E SO R C E R E SS .

w ord t o s ay A t las t he said Bee c alli ng her atte n

.
,

tion ; an d th en a s S ilen t agai n f o r s ome tim e speaki n g ,

n o more

h
.

Yes Ch arli e there was a fl u tter i n Bee s vo 1 ce as 1 n

, ,
’

e r heart .

I say Iwasn t p erhaps very n ice to y ou last n ight ; I

—
’

h
,

c o u ld n t bear t o be bro u ght back ; b u t t hey say I m twice

’ ’

as wel l si n ce y o u cam e S O I am I ve g o r s om e t i n g to ’ '

. .

keep me u p Bee look here Am I dreadfu l t o l ook at ? I

w
.
.
,

k n ow I have n t an o un ce o f flesh left on my bo nes b u t som e

’

do n t mi n d t hat ; an d t he n my beard I ve heard it said

’ ’

h
.
,

th at abeard t ha t n e v er was S haved was— was— an embel

hw w
l i s men t don t y ou k n o ? Do y o u t hi nk I m dreadfu l to
’ ’

h
,
”
look at Bee ? ,

O Ch arlie said the girl from the d ep ths o f her

, ,

y o u look t e mor e n e ed h
heart what d oes i t matter o y ou look ? The more ill
,

y o u have f or yo u r o n peopl e

w
,
”
abou t y ou who n e ver wou ld th i n k t wice o f that

h
.

Charlie S ga u n t cou n te n an ce was d istorted with a grin

o f ra ge a n d an n oya n ce
h
I wis yo u d S h u t u p abo u t my ’
.

o n people T e go vern or perhaps with his gra n d air

.
, , ,

o r Betty as sharp a ,
s a n eedle as if I wan ted the m ! or —

”
to be told th at th ey cou l d p u t u p with me .

“
Ch arlie said Bee trembli n g
”
,
“
I don t w an t t o vex
, ,
’

are a l ittle b co ld t have a barber to ’

y o u ; y o u u t u n y ou —

co m e ? an d perhaps he cou ld take it Off

w
.

There came a flash of fire ou t of Charlie s eyes ; h e p u t ’

h
w
u p his han d to his face as if to protect th at beard i n wh ich ,
“

w
he at least bel ieved I might ave k n own h e said .
, ,

that y ou were the last person A fellow s sister is al ays .

’

l ike that ; j us t as we n ever thi n k a n y thi n g of a girl s l oo ks

h
’

hw
i n o u r o n famil ies Well yo u ve given you r opi n io n o
h
’
.
,

that s u bj ec t And y o u thi n k that people

. o care f or me
”
wo u ld n t thi nk twice o f that
’
.

“
Oh no ,
”
said Bee cl aspi n g her ha n ds
,
o ,
sh o u l d
they ? b u t on ly fee l f or y ou far far more

w
.
,

Charlie took down his han d from his you n g beard H e .

looked at her with his hollow eyes fu ll of an xiety yet ,

“ ” “
with a certai n complace n ce I nt eresti n g ? he sai d is

h h h
.
,

that hat y ou mea n t to say ?

“ ”
O , yes , cr i ed Bee , er e ye s f ul l of i t f or t e
p y y ,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 32 1

h
.

w
can s ee w at y o u have go n e throu gh an d how mu ch y o u ,

h av e bee n su ff eri n g ; if t here was an y n eed o f maki n g y o u

C h
m o re i n teresti n g to
arlie stroked dow his little t fts ool for som e
us .

n u of

s a to h I wa t
ti m e witho t speaki g a the he said u a caressi g n ,
nd n in n
to n e unu u l
do me a favor Bee i m, n y o u to ,
.

Anythi g a ythi g whatever nwish Charl ie

,
n n , y o u ,
.
”

There is j u st on e thi n g I wish an d o n e person I wa n t —

to s e e S i t dow n a n d write a n ote y o u n eed n o t d o more

w h h
.
,

th a n say where I am said Charlie spe aki n g qu ickly

h
.
, ,

S ay I am ere a n d have bee n very ill ; b u t t at the hope

,

S h e d come a n d to hear th a t S e had forgi ve n m e was l ike

’

w
ne life Well ! what is th e mea n i ng of you r an ythi n g
.
,

a n yt hi n g i f y o u break dow n at the first thi n g I ask y o u ?

—

Lo o k here Bee if y o u wish me to l ive an d get well you ll ’

h
w
, , ,
”
do h at I say

w
.

O Charlie how c an I how c an I whe n y o u kn ow

,
?
, ,

wh at I feel abou t —

What y o u feel abou t ? who cares hat y o u feel ? Y ou —

h
th i n k perh aps it as y ou that did me all that good las t

h
n ig t That s all con ceit like the n on se n se i n n ove ls
’

h
wh
.
,

w e re a woma n n ear y ou r bed wh e n you re ill makes al l ’

t e di ff ere n ce G irls said Charlie are p u ff ed u p with

.
, ,

t h a t folly a n d bel ieve a n ythi n g Y ou k n ow I did n t wa n t

’
.

It a what told me abo t Ia that did me

w
y o u s y o u u z r

h
.

go o d An d yo u r u mb u g sitti n g there cryi n g an ythi n g

.
, ,

a n y thi n g ! Well here s somet i n g ! y o u n eed n o t wri te a

,
’

re g u lar letter if y o u don t like it P u t where I am : ’

.

Ch arlie K in g s ar d very ill will y o u come an d see h im ? ,

A telegram wou ld do an d it wo u ld be qu icker ; sen d a

h h
”
tel e gram he cried ,
.

“
O Charlie !

w
,

Give me t e paper an d pen c il Im shak y b u t I c an —

’

”
do th at m u ch myself .

“
Charl ie I ll do it rather than vex y ou ; b u t I don t
’ ’

h
w
,

kn o whe r e to se n d it .

“
O I c an tell y o u that Avon dale n ear the Parks —

h h h
, , ,

O xford .

S e is n o t t ere n o ; S e is i n Lo n don said Bee i n , ,

a low ton e
In Lo n do n ?
.

Agai n the lon g gau n t limbs ca me t o t e ,

h
32 2 T HE S OR C E R E SS

h h
.

gro u n d w i t a th u mp Bee if y ou wou ld get m e a a

w
. n ,

som perhaps I cou ld go

h
.

The n u rse at this mome n t came i n n oiselessl y and ,

Charlie shra nk before her She pu t him back on t e sofa .

with a s ift moveme nt If y ou g o on l i ke this I ll t ake ’

the yo u n g lady a
.

way she said

h
.
,

I ll n ot go on Il l be as meek a

w
s M o s es ; b u t n u rse
’ ’
—
, ,

t ell her she m u st n t con tr adict a m a n i n my state S e

h
.

m u st d o wha t I say .

N u rse tu rn ed her back u pon t he patien t an d m a de t e ,

u s u al grimaces ; H u mor him her lips an d e y e br o s

h
,

said
“
.

hh
C arlie papa k n ows t e address an d Be tty an d I
,

o u ght o I ou ght t o let them kn ow a t on ce t hat y o u a re

,
—

h
, ,
”
here .

”
Betty ! he said wi t h a grimace what does t a t li ttl e
, ,
”
thi n g k n ow ?
She k n ows be tt er than y ou thi nk I do ; an d papa
h
“

w
—

h
.

Papa is n ever happy b u t whe n e is wi t h that l ady H e .

goes to see her e very d ay ; S e wri t es t o him an d h e w r i tes

h
”
to her ; they g o o u t together cried Bee thi n ki n g of that

w
, ,

i nvitation t o Portman Sq u are hich had seemed t e last

i n s u l t which she cou ld be called on t o b ear .

Charlie smil ed the same smile of i n e ff abl e sel f c om

wh
-
,

p l ac e n c e an d co n fi d e n ce hich had replace d i n a m o m e nt

t he gloom of the pre v iou s n ight ; a n d the n h e g rew grave .

H e was n ot su ch a fool he said to himself as t o be j e al

w
, ,

ou s o f his o n fat er ; b u t still he gru dged that a ny one

h h
w
b u t himself shou ld have her compa n y He rememb e red .

w a t it was to go t o see her every day t o write t o er t o

hh
, ,

have her letters t o b e pri vileged to gi v e her his arm no

w hh
,

an d then to escort her here or there

,
If it ad b e e n .

an other fellow ! b u t a man s father the govern or ! e as ’

—

n o t a riv a l Charl ie imagi n ed to himself the con v e r s a

.

tion s with him for their su bj ec t an d o perhaps f or t he

firs t time the govern or wou ld learn t o do him j u s t ice
,
h , ,

h
, ,

seei n g him thro u gh Lau ra s eyes It was tru e t at s e ’

w
.

h ad rej ec t ed h im had almos t lau ghed at him ad s e nt

h
,

h h
,

him away so completely broke n down an d mi serab l e th at

he had n o t cared w at became of i m Bu t hop e ad .

s p ru n g with i n him all the more wildly from that do n

 THE S O R C E R E SS .

w 3 3
2

h
w
fall It was like her to go to the old ge n tlema n (i t as

w
.

t u s he co n sidered his father! to explai n eve rythi n g to

wh
h
,

se t him right She wo u ld n o t h ave don e so if her heart

.

ad n o t rele n ted her heart a s S O ki n d She m u st have

h
—
.

felt what it was to drive am an to despair an d n o s e —

as worki n g for him soothi n g d ow n the govern or bri n g

h
,
,
i n g e verythi n g back .

E ? he said va gu ely some time after ; he a

”
,
d i n the ,

m ea n time he ard Bee s voice goi n g on vagu el y addressi n g

’

”
s o m ebody i n the air are y ou speaki n g to me ?

h
, ,
“ ”
There is n o o n e else to S peak to cried Bee almost , ,

h
“
an grily An d th e n S e said
. Charl i e how c an y ou as k , ,
”
e r to come here ?

h Why n o t here ? She ll go an y where to do a ki n d ’

w
t in g

h
.

Bu t n o t t o this hou s e n o t here n o t here ! —

h
,

W y n ot I S hou l d like to k n ow wh at s here ? The n

,
—
’

C ar lie stared at her for a mome n t with his hollo e y es

h
,

an d broke i n to alow feeble la u gh

'

.
,

O he said I k n ow wh at yo u ve got i n yo u r head :

, ,
’

b ecau s e of that con fo u n ded cad Au brey Leigh That

h
?

h
,

i s j u st why she will come to S how what a lie all t at was ,

as if S e ever wou ld have looked tw i ce at a fellow like

w
L eigh .

H e seems to have saved you r life said Bee c on

w
, ,

f u sed n o t k n owi n g what to thi n k

,
.

Y ou mea n h e gave me ho u se room whe n I as ill an d

h
-
,

s e n t f o r a doctor Why an y shopkeeper wo u ld ave do n e

.
,
“
th at An d n o
. said Charlie with a gri n he S hall be , ,

fu lly paid back .

CHAPT E R XLV .

B E T T Y K IN G S W AR D lived i n what was to her a whirl of

p
of
l
heas
er
u re at Portma n Sq u are where everybo d y was fo n d
an d all man n er Of e n tertai n me n ts were devised for
,
,

h er pleasu re An d her correspon de n ce was n o t ge n eral l y

of a n exci ti n g character
.

Her mo rn i n g le t ters whe n S e

h ad an y were pl aced by her plate o n the breakfast table
.
,

-
h
, .
 THE S OR C E R E SS
324

h h
.

If any came by other posts S e got them whe n s e had a

s p are mome n t t o look f o r the m

S pare mome n t at this very lively a

of her yo u ng career
and S e had scarcely a
n d very happy mome nt
,
h
Besides that p artic u l ar eve n i ng

w
,
.

whe n Bee S n ote a r rived was a very importan t on e t o Betty

h
’

w
.

It was the eve n i n g at which Miss Lan ce was to di n e wit

the L yo n s An d i t was n o t a mere q u iet fam i l y di n ner

h
.
,

b u t a party a thi n g which i n her n e n ess a n d i n experie n ce

w
,

sti l l excited the little girl o was n o t to say properl y ,

out i n co n seq u e n ce of her mo u r n i n g sti l l weari n g black

w
, ,

ribbo n s with her wh i te frocks an d on ly allowed to accept ,

”
i nvitation s hich were qu iet A di nn er o f t we n ty peo .

ple is n o t exactly an e n tertai n me n t for a g irl o f her years ,

b u t Betty s exciteme n t i n the a ebflt o f Miss Lan ce

’
as s o
’ ’

great that n o ball cou ld have occ u pied her more There
was an un u s u al i n terest abou t it i n the whole o u se : even h .

h
M r s Lyo n s maid the most staid of co n fide n tial person s
’

.
, ,

ad begged Betty to poi n t ou t to her over the b al u ster the

h
”
l ady M i ss Betty that is comi n g with yo u r papa
, , .

h h
”
O S he s n o t comi n g with papa Betty h ad cried with
’

, , ,

a la u gh at H obbs mist ake S e is on ly a great great

’

, ,

frie n d Hobbs Y ou will easily k n ow er f or there is

, .
,

n obody e l se so ha n dsome

h
.

Ha n dsome is as han dsome does said the woman an d , ,

S e patted Betty on the sho u l d er u n der prete n ce o f ar

ra ngi n g her ribbon

w
.

Betty had n o t the leas t idea why Hobbs looked a t her

with su ch compassio n ate eyes
Miss Lan ce h owever did come i n to the room to Betty s
.

, , ,

su rprise closely followed by Colon el K i n g s ar d as if they

w
,

had arrived toge t her She was like a pict u re i n her black .

sati n an d lace dressed n ot too you n g b u t rather t o o ol d

h
w
,

f o r her age as Mrs Lyon poi n ted o u t who was as m u c

w
,
.
,

excited abou t her n e g uest as Betty herself ; an d the u n

k n ow n lady had the greatest possible su ccess i h a party
hich con sisted chiefly as Betty did n ot rem ark o f o l d
frie n ds of Col o nel K i n g s ar d with whom S e had bee n
ac q u ai n ted all her life Betty did n ot remark i t b u t
,

.
h ,

Gerald Lyo n did who was more than ever her c om rade
,

an d compa n ion i n this elderly compan y .

”
Why all these old fogies he had asked irrevere n tly
?
,
 S O R C E R E SS

w
T HE 32
5

h
.

as t e tle e wi h stars
e g n m n t on t heir coat s an d the lad i e s

w
in diamo ds came n in

h
.

Betty perceived that it as an u nu su al l y solem n party

h h
,

b u t tho u g t n o more o f i t It was the eve ni n g o f the first . .

L evee an d that per aps was the reason the l d

w
, , _
y o ,

gen tleme n wore t heir orders Ol d gen tleme n ! they were

h
w hh
.

the flower o f the British army Ge n erals Th is an d That , ,

eads o f departmen ts ; impossible to imagi n e more gran d

people i n the flower of their age like Colon el K i n g s ar d
—

h
.

B u t eightee n has its o n ideas very cl early marked on

t at su bj ect Betty an d Gerald stood b y lig ti n g u p on e
.
,

corn er with a blaze o f u n de n iable you th t o see t em come

h
,

in . The you n g pa i r w ere l ike flowers i n comparison with

th e su bstan tial S ize an d well worn complexion s o f t eir -

se n iors an d they were th e on ly li t tl e n obod ies the sol e

,

represen tatives o f u n dist i n g u is ed an d ordi n ary h u m an ity h ,

w
ro un d the table They were n ot by an y mean s da u n ted
.

by that On the con trary they felt themselves as it

h h h
.
, ,

were soari n g over t he heads of all those limited person s

,

o had a ttai n ed Sp u rn i n g t e l evel heights o f realiza

h
,

tion T ey did n ot i n the leas t k n ow wh at was t o become

.

o f t em i n life b u t n at u rally they ma d e l i ght o f the others

,

wh o had don e al l they were l ikely t o d o an d had n o more ,

t o look at The di g n ity of accompl ished s u ccess filled the

.

yo u n g on es with impu lses of la u gh t er their i n feriority :

g ave them an elevatio n over all the g r1 z zl e d heads ; they

felt themselves n obodies t o b e a l most l u dicrou sly diz

, , ,

z i l y above the heads o f the rest O n ly on e of the com .

pa ny seemed to see t his however t o cast them an occa , ,

siou al look even t o make the m the con fid an t s of an occa

w
,

s i ou al smil e or raisi n g of the eyebrows a sor t of 1 1 n ,

spoke n com me n t on the fin e compa n y which m ade Betty ,

still more l ively i n her criticisms Bu t this made almost .

aq u arrel between the t o

h
.

O h I wish we were n earer to Miss La n ce t o hear what

h
,

s e th i n ks of i t all Betty said ,

.

I can t t i n k wha t y ou see i n that wom an

’
cried ,

G erald I f o r on e have n o desire t o kn ow her opi n ion .

h
.
, ,

Be t ty t u rn ed her little shou l d er u pon him with a glan ce

O f flame t at al most set the yo u n g m a
,
n o n fir e .

Y o u pre j u diced cy n i ca l u n charitable malici ou s

, , , ,
32 6 T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
.

o dio us b oy ! And t ey did n ot say another word to

”

ea ch o th er f or five mi nu t es by the clock

h
.

Miss Lanc e however there was n o dou bt h ad a dis

w
, , ,

t i n gu i s e d s u cc e ss She c apti v ated t he ge n tle me n who

w
.

were n ex t to her a t table an d what was perhaps more

h
w
,

di ffi c u l t she made a favorable impressio n u pon the ladies

,

i n t e d ra i n g room H er as pect there i n deed was of

-
.
, ,

the mos t attractive ki nd She drew Betty s arm ithin .

’

her o n an d said with a la u gh Y o u an d I are the girl s

h
, ,

little Be t ty amo n g all these gran d married ladies ; an d

,

the n s e added Isn t it a little a bs u rd that we S h o u ldn t

’ '

w
,

have some t itle to o u rselves we ol d maids for Mi s s ?

,
—

mean s eightee n an d it s hard that it shou ld mea n forty

,
’

Fan cy the di s appoi n tme n t of heari n g this j u ven il e

wh w
t oo

h
.

t i tle an d the n fi n di n g tha t it mean s a middle a ged oman -

.

S e la ughed S O freely that some o f the other l adies

lau ghed too The atten tio n o f al l was directe d toward the
.

ne comer which Betty tho u ght very n at ural she as so

-
, ,

m u ch the an dsomest of them all .

“
Y o u mea n the disappoi n t m e n t o f a ge n tlem an ? said
on e O f t he g u ests .

O h n o O f l adies t o o Don t y o u t hi nk wome n are j ust ’

h
.
, ,

as fon d Of yo u th as men are an d as m u ch disgu sted with ,

an e lderly face vei l i n g itself 1 n false prete n ces o m ore ! —

,

We thi n k more of be au ty than the m e n do sai d Mis s ,

Lan ce raisi n g her fine head as if t o expose its feat u res to

w
,

the fir e of all the gl an ces be n t u pon her .

There was a littl e choru s o f crie s O h n o no ! an d ”

, , ,

arg u me nts agai n st S O n ovel a view .

Bu t Miss Lan ce did n o t q u ail ; her o n bea u ty was don e

fu ll j u stice t o She was so placed that more than o ne
.

mirror i n the Ol d fashio n ed room reflected her gracefu l -

an d not u n st u died pose

w
.

I kn ow it is n t a u s u al view she sai d b ut if yo u ll

'
, ,
’

thi nk of i t a l ittle you ll fin d it s t r u e The common th i n g

’ ’
.

is t o talk abo u t wome n b ei n g j ealou s of each other If .

e are i t is beca u se we are a l ways the first t o fin d o u t a

beau tifu l face an d u su ally we m u ch exaggerate its

—

power .

h
DO y ou k n ow said Mrs Lyon i n e r q u averi n g voice
,

I almost t i nk Mi s s Lan ce 1 3 right M 1 Lyo n i n s t a n tly

.

.
h .
,
 T HE S O R C E R E SS .
32 7

ays
h
‘
s ,
H u mph whe n I poi n t o u t a pretty person to him
.

A n d Gerald t ells me Y ou t in k every girl pretty au nt

‘
.
, ,

That 1 3 becau se there is on e little girl that he thi n ks

th e most pretty of all said Miss Lan ce with a sort of , ,

s oft matern al coo i n Betty S ear

’
.

The s u bj ect was take n u p an d tossed abou t from on e ,

t o an other while she who had origi n ated i t drew back a

,
,

l ittle l isten i n g with an air of m u ch atte ntio n tu rn i ng

w
, ,

h er head t o each speaker an attitu de which was most ef

w
,

f e c ti ve It will probably be thou ght the greatest waste o f

wh
.

e ff ort for a woman th u s t o exhibit what the n ewspapers

c all her person al ad v an tages to a gro u p of her o n sex ;
b u t Miss L an ce as a very clever woman an d S e k n ew h
h
,

hat S e was abou t After a ti me whe n the first fervor .

,

o f t he arg u me n t was over S e ret u r n ed to her first theme ,

as t o the appropriate titl e that o u ght t o be i n ve n t ed for

Ol d maid s .

I have thought o f it a gr eat deal S e said I S ho u ld h

w
,

h ave called myself Mrs La u ra Lan ce to di s cr 1 m 1 n ate .

,

b u t f o r the America n c u stom of n ami n g a l l married ladies

h
”
S O which is abs u rd .

I have a frie n d i n New York o writes to me as Mrs .

M ary Lyo n said the m i stress o f the ho u se

,
.

“
Yes which is ridic u lou s y ou kn ow ; f or y ou are n o t
, ,

M r s Mary Lyon dear lady

. Y ou are Mrs Fran cis Lyo n
,
. .
,

if it is n ecessary to have a Christia n n ame for Lyon is

, ,

you r h u sban d s n a m e n ot you rs Y o u are Mrs M ary

’

w
.
, .

H oward by rights if i n su ch a matter there are an y —

”
rights .

“ ”
What ! cri ed o l d Mr Lyon comi n g i n after the lon g

w
w
h
.
,

a rray of gen tleme n are y ou goi n g to divorce m y ife

“
,

from me o r give her a n ot er n ame or what are y ou goi n g

, ,

to do ? We thou ght it was we on ly who cou l d chan ge the

ladies n ames K i n g s ar d eh ?
’

, ,

Colon el K i n g s ar d had placed h imself immediately

i n fro n t o f Miss La n ce a n d Betty looki n g o n a l l un , ,

h
s u spicio u s saw a gla n ce pass between them or r ather —
,

S e saw Miss La n ce l ook u p i n to her father s face Betty ’

.

did n o t k n ow i n the l e ast what that look m ean t b u t it

gav e her a littl e S hock as if S e had tou ched an electric
batter y It mean t somethi n g more than t o Betty S c on
.
h ,

’
32 8 T HE s oRC E R Ess

h
.

had ever bee n p u t i n to word s

s c i ou s n e s s S e t u rned
h er eyes aw a
.

h y f o r a mo m e n t to escape the c u r i o u s thrill

t at r an thro u gh her an d i n t hat mome n t met Geral d

Lyon 3 eyes fu ll of somethi n g ma l ici o u s mocki n g d is
’
,

, , ,

agreeable which made Betty very an g ry B u t she cou l d

,
.

n o t explai n t o herself what a l l these looks mea n t

This c u rio u s se n sation somehow spoiled the rest of t e
eve n i n g for Be tty E verybody it seemed to her after thi s
.
.

h
mea n t somethi n g somethi n g more tha n they said They
—
.

looked at her father they looked at Miss Lan ce they , ,

looked e v e n at Betty s l ittle se l f embraci n g all three ’

sometimes i n o n e comprehe n sive gla n ce An d all ki nds

o f sign ifica n t little speeches were made as t e comp a
we n t away I am s o glad to h ave seen her o n e lady
.
ny
.

h
,

said i n an u n derto n e to Mrs Lyon “

On e regrets of ,

c o u rse ; b u t o n e is than kfu l it is n o worse I thi n k

w
.
,

said a n other it will do very well Ithi n k it wil l d o very

,
‘
—

“
wel l than k y o u for the opport u n ity An d Charmi ng

w
.
, ,

my dear Mrs Lyo n charmi n g said an other They al l

w
,
.
, .

spoke low an d i n the most co n fide n tial ton e Wh at as .

it they were all so i n terested abo u t ?

The l ast of the par ty to go ere Miss La n ce an d Colo
n e l K i n gs ar d They see med to go away together as they
.

had seemed to come together

w
.

“
You r father is so ki n d as to see me home M iss Lan ce ,
“
said by way o f explan ation Iam n o t a gran d lady with .

a carriage I am old en o ugh to walk home by m yself

.
,

an d I always do it b u t as Colo n el K i n g s ar d is s o ki n d

w
, ,

of co u rse I like compan y best

w
.
,

She too had a private word with Mrs Lyon at the head .

of the stairs Betty did n o t wan t t o liste n b u t she heard ,

h
.

“
by i n stin ct the repeate d Than k y ou than k y ou ! H o ,
—

ca n I ever express how m u ch I t an k y o u Betty as s o

bewildered that she co u ld n o t th i n k S e paid n o atte n
tio n to her father who p u t i s han ds o n her shou lders whe n h . h .

h h
,

he said good n ight an d said Betty I ll see y o u t o

“ “
-
, , ,
’

morrow : oh of co u rse she s o u l d see i m to m orrow o r

,
- —

n o t as circ u msta n ces might ordai n

,
What d i d i t m atter ?
She was n o t a n xio u s to see her fat er to morrow ; it co u ld h .

n o t be of the least importan ce whether they met or n o t ;

b u t what Betty wou ld re a l l y ave liked wo u l d h av e bee n h
 T HE S O R C E R E SS .
3 9
2

w
to fin d ou t what all these l i t tle whispe ri ngs cou ld
m ea n

h
.

M rs Lyon came u p to her whe n the last to wit Colon el

.
, ,

K i n gs a r d followi n g M iss La n ce ad dis appeared an d , ,

“
p u t her arms ro u n d the little girl Y o u are l ooki n g a

h
ww
.

“
l i ttle tired she said j u st this last ho u r I did n o t thi n k

h
.
, ,

t ey wou ld stay so late It is all M i s s Lan ce I beli e ve ,

h
.
,

s e tti n g u s o n to argu e with e r metaphysics Well .

,

e verybody like s e r very m u ch hich w i ll please y o u , ,

m y dear as y ou are so fon d of her ; an d n o

,
Betty y o u , ,

m u st r u n o ff to bed There s hardly time for you r bea ut y ’

s l eep .

Mrs Lyon . said Betty very c u rio u s was it to meet

, , ,

M i s s Lan ce that all those g r a n d p eo p l e came ?

I don t k n ow what y ou ca l l gran d people Th e y ar e
h
’

w
.

al l great frie n ds o f o u rs an d also of you r fat er s an d I ’

t h i n k y ou k n ow them every o n e An d they all k n ow e ach

h
.

o t her .

E xcept Miss La n ce said Gerald o was alwa y s , ,

d isagreeable always whe n an y o n e me n tion ed Mi s s

—
,

L a n ce s n ame ’
.

“
I k n ow lzer certai n ly an d better than an y of them
,
!
,

an d there is n obody so delightfu l Betty cried with f e r

w
, ,

v or ,
partly beca u s e she believed what she said an d part l y ,

t o be disa greeable i n her t urn to him .

An d so they all see m ed to thi nk said old Mr Lyo n , .

,

tho u gh I m n o t so fo n d of n e people as the rest o f y o u ;

’

la ha n ds s u dde n ly o n n o m a n is what I say

y ,
.

An d I say th e s ame as my u n cle said Gerald an d , ,

i t s still more tru e of a woma n tha n a m an

’
.

Y o u are s u ch a n experie n ced person said the o l d

h
,
“
l ady ; they k n ow so m u ch better tha n we do Betty ; b u t ,

n ever y o u mi n d for yo u r frie n d as made an excelle n t

h
w
,

i m pression u pon all these people t e most tre m e n dou s l y —

respectable peo ple Mrs Lyo n sai d n on e of yo u r artist s

h
w
,
.
,

an d light m i n ded person s ! Make you r s elf comfortable

w
-

ith that thou g t an d good n i ght my little B e tty Y o u

,
-
, .

m u st n o t stay u p s o late a n other n i g h t .

What n o nse n se that as of s tayi n g u p late whe n it ,

as n o t yet twelve o cl ock ! Bu t Betty we n t o ff to her ’

room with a l i ttle con fu sion an d b ewilderme n t of mi n d ,

 w
33 r m: SO R C E R E SS

hh
o .

h
t o th i n k abou t whe n s e sh o u ld b e a
s e had t o th i n k a
,

h
happy on the whole b u t feeli n g as if s e ad somethi n g
lon e What as i t
bo u t ? She co u ld n ot thi n k what it was
.

w
wh en she sat dow n alon e t o st udy her probl em There

hw
.

was n o problem an d what the departi n g g u es t s had said to

,

Mrs Lyon was qu ite simple an d re fer red t o somethi ng

w
,
.

th at was their o n bu s i n ess tha t had n oth i n g to d o with

wh h
,

Betty ; o cou ld it have an ythi n g t o d o with Betty ?

Aroun d the corn er o f the Park Bee to o as sitti ng

w
, , ,

and thi n ki n g at the same time ; an d the t o sets o f thou g ts ,

n either very clear revolved ro u n d the same circ l e ; b u t

,

n either o f the s isters k n ew con ce rn i n g t i s problem , ,

whereabo uts t he o ther as .

C HAPT E R XLVI .

AN D yet all this time there lay u pon Bett y s table , con
h
’

h
c eal e d u n der the pretty laced ha n dkerchiefs which s e

wh w
ad p u lled o u t o f their sachet t o choo s e on e for the party ,

Bee ’
s little tre mu lo u s letter expressi n g a state o f mi nd
more agitated than that o f Betty and fu ll of won derings
an d trou ble It as fou n d t ere by the maid
.

thi n g s i n order n ext morn i n g when she called the young

o p ut
,

h
,

visitor .

H ere s a letter tha t came l ast n ight an d y o u have

h
“ ’

n ever ope n ed it said the maid half r eproachfu l ly S e

, ,
.
,

at least she was a n xio u s to n ote had n o t be en t o blam e

h
w w
, , .

Betty took it with g reat sang f r oza She saw by t e

'
’
.

writi n g it was on ly Bee s an d Bee s n ews was n ever i m ’

—
’

h
p e r at i v e There
. co u ld n o

t e state of a ff airs at K i n g s a
t be m u ch t o disc l ose
r d e n tha t was n e
to her of
si nce

h
,

the n ight before l ast

h
.

Bu t the res u lt was that Betty we n t down s t airs i n er

h
at an d gloves an d th at Mr Lyon an d Geral d wh o were

h
both sitti n g down to t at s u bsta n tial breakfast which is
.
,

h
the first symbol of good ealth an d a good con scie n ce i n

h
En gl a n d h ad m u c fi d o to detai n her lo n g e n o u gh t o sh a
,
re
that meal M r s L y on d i d n o t come dow n s t airs i n t e
. .
 w
THE SO R C E R E SS .
331

m o r n i n g so that they
,
sed the arg ume n t o f helplessn ess
u ,

r fes i g themselves able to po r t their tea

w
p o s n u n u o u o n .

An d what bu si n ess c an Bett y have of s u ch i mportan ce

t h at she m u st r u n ou t withou t her breakfast ? said the

w
o l d g e n t lema n .

O h it is n ews I have heard hich I m u st take at on ce

h
,
”
t o p apa !
T e t o ge n tleme n l ooked at each oth e r a n d Mr Lyon

w
.

s h o o k his big ol d head .

I wou ld no t trou ble you r papa my dear abou t an y

ww
, ,

th i n g y ou may have heard Depe n d u pon it he will let

h
,
.

y o u k n ow a n ythi n g he wishes y o u t o k n ow i his o n —

”
ti m e .

”
Bu t it is n e s n e s ,
said Betty ; n ews abou t Charlie !
,

T he n she remembered that v ery little had bee n said

ev e n to the Lyon s abo u t Charlie an d stopped with em ,

h
ba r ra s s m e nt ; a n d her frie n ds co u ld n o t b u t believe that
t i s was a hasty expedie n t to co n ceal from them that she had
h e ard somethi n g some flyi n g ru mor which had set her
h
—

l itt le impetu ou s bei n g on fire Whe n she ad escaped

.

fr o m their sympathetic looks an d Gerald s magn an imo u s ’

w
pr o posal to accompan y her wi t hou t time f or so m u ch as
—

an egg to fortify h im for the labors o f the day Betty set —

h
o u t crossi n g the park i n the early g lory o f the morn i n g

ich fe l t at n i n e o clock wh at six o clock feels i n the

’

c o u n try to carry the news to her fathe r

’
,

hh
.
,

C harlie fo u n d a n d ill ! a n d dem an di n g to see Miss La n ce

w
w
hh
, ,

is e alth a n d recovery depe n di n g u pon it whether he

sh o u ld see or n o t Betty s first i n sti n ct had bee n to aste n
’

h
.

at o n ce t o George Street Han over Squ are b u t the n s e

, ,

re membered that papa presu ma bly was th e o n e o as

m os t an xiou s abou t Charl ie a n d h ad the best right t o
k n ow an d it was perhaps better n o t to explai n t o the
,

frie n ds i n Portman Sq u are why Miss Lan ce shou ld go to

Ch arlie I n deed whe n she had set o u t a great m an y
.
,

q u estion s occ u rred to Betty circu lati n g throu gh her l ively

,

h
l ittle m i n d withou t an y possibility of an a n swer to them
W y shou ld Charlie be so an xiou s to see Miss Lan ce ?
Why had he bee n so lo n g there i l l an d n obody come to
.

, ,

te l l his people of it ? an d wh at was Bee doi n g i n C u rzon

Stre e t i n Au brey Lei g h s ho u se which was the last hou s e
’

,
ww
332

in t h
a ligh
alked
rld where she had a right
e
fas a the s
o
y air with all
be
t
ov
h
e t nd
THE S O R C E R E SS

ny
.

to
i ts m
? Bu t
m
s e

ww
so unn e n
nd ess c aried her a fi led her with pl
tn so t r on nd l e as an
so d a images that these tho ghts blowi g l i
un s nd th e u n ke

th

w
, ,

n t
wi d hro gh her little i tellige ce had u m ch ect n n ,
n ot u e ff

on Betty tho gh there was i cipie t tro bl e

no — u n n u in e m

w
,

a eve she co ld see

s n u

all h
.

Colo el K i n gs
was seated at his brea fast he ar d k

w
n n
his little girl b rs po him fresh es the u t in u n in t e n s of
mor i g H er yo th a her bloom
n n . her h ite f ck u nd ,
an d ro ,

n otwithst an di n g its black accou treme n ts made a g re at ,

sho i n the dark colored solem n o ffic i al looki n g ro o m

w
- -

h
, , ,

with i ts T u rkey carpets an d morocco ch airs Th e c o lo .

n e l was evide n tly startled by the sig t of her H e s aid .

,
“
Well ! i n that to n e of self defe n ce an d almost defian ce
”
-
, ,

with hich a m an prepares for bei n g called u po n t o g ive

an acco u n t of himself ; as if a n yt hi n g s o a b s u rd co u l d be
h
hw w
possible as that Betty little Betty c ou ld call u po n e r , ,

father t o give an accou n t of himself ! Bu t the n i t i s very

t ru e that whe n there i s somethi n g t o be acco u n ted for the
’

s tron gest feel o con scie n ce do th make co ards of u s al l .

" ” “
Oh she cried breathless papa Charlie ! Bee has
, , , ,

fou n d Charlie an d he s bee n very ill typhoid fever ; h e s

h
’ ’

w
—
,

getti n g better an d he s i n Lon don an d she s wit him ; ’ ’

h
, ,

an d he wants b u t t o see Miss La n ce O h papa that s

’

w
, ,
.

what I came abou t c iefly he wan ts t o see Miss L an ce

h
, .

Colon el K i ng s ar d s face chan ged man y ti m es d u ri n g ’

w
H e s at the

w
this breat l ess delivera n ce H e said first .
,
’

Ma
”
c ki n n o n s I k n ow ; the n I
n Lo n don ! i th n o
’

, ,

pleasu re at all i n his ton e ; an d fin ally M iss La n ce ”

,

a n grily his face covered ith a dark glow

What is all this ?
,
”
e cried w e n she stoppe d f o r an t h h .

h h
,
“
o f breath Charlie i n tow n ; y o u m u st be o u t o f yo u r
.
—

se ses W he is i Scotla d I heard from

h h E
n n n ?
.
y , ,

Well I don t k n ow t at I ad an y letter b u t

h An d
’

, ,

ill an d Bee with i m ? What is the mean i n g of al l this ?

w
,

Are y ou both mad or i n a con spiracy to make you rsel v es ,

disagreeabl e to m e ?

hh h
“ ”
Papa ! cr ied Betty very ready to take u p th e chal ,

le n ge ; b u t on t e o l e t e n ews was too importa n t t o

,
‘

J stify a comba t of self defe n ce

u She prod uc e d B ee s n ote ’
-
.
w
THE S O R C E R E SS .
333

o u t of i ts e n velope an d placed it before him r u nn in g o n

, ,

ith a report o f it whi l e the colon el groped f or his eye

g l ass a n d arra n ged it u po n his n ose
h
A lady came an d fe tc ed her cried Betty h u rriedly
.

h
, ,

t o foresta l l the readi n g an d bro u ght her u p to town an d

,
‘‘

t o o k e r to him oh so bad ! where he h ad bee n f o r weeks ;

w
, ,

an d she told h im y ou had been to O xford an d somethi n g ,

ab o u t Miss Lan ce ; a n d he wan ts to see Miss La n ce a nd

w
,

c all s a n d calls for her a n d won t be satisfied O h papa !

’
.
, ,

Colon el K i n g s ar d had arran ged his pzm e nez very car e

'

fu ll y ; he had take n u p Bee s n ote an d we n t over it word

h
’

h h
,

by ord wh i l e Betty made her breathless report W e n .

h e c ame to the first me n tio n of Miss La n ce he stru ck

h
an d u pon the table like an y other m an i n a passion
is

h h
,

m a ki n g all t e c u ps a n d pl ates ri n g

h
.

“ “
T e li ttle fool he said t e l ittle fool ! what right
, ,

ad she to bri n g i n that n ame ? ”

It was this that called

h h h
f o rth Betty s exclamation ; b u t n o more was said by either
’

h
t il l e r ead it o u t to t e en d T e n he fl u n g the letter
fro m i m an d getti n g u p pa ced abo u t th e room i n rage
,
.

an d dismay

h
.

A lon g ill n ess said the colon el was perhaps the

, ,

h
b e st thi n g that co u ld have happe n ed to i m t o sweep all
t at had passed before ou t of his mi n d an d here does
th i s i n fern al little idiot this little demo n fu ll of spite an d
,

w
,

m al ice get at th e b o y at his worst mome n t a

,
n d bri n g every

t h i n g back .What right had she the spit e fu l e n vio u s , ,

l ittl e fool to bri n g i n the n ame of a lady of a lady to

w
—
,

h om y o u al l owe the greatest r espect ? ”

w hhh
Papa cried Betty o v er t e l m e d Bee cou l dn t have
, ,
’

m e a n t an y harm .

Colon el K i n gs ar d was o u t of himself an d e u ttered

ords which terrified i s da u ghter an d whic n eed n o t be
,

hh
,

recorded agai n st i m for e certai n ly did n o t i n cold blood

w
—

w ish Bee to fall u n der an y celestial maled i ction H e .

stormed a b ou t th e room sayi n g m u ch that Betty cou ld

,

n o t u n derstan d ; that i t was j u st t e thi n g of all others h

h
th at shou l d n o t h ave happen ed ; an d the time of all others ;
t at if it had bee n a little later o r eve n a little earlier
i t wou ld n o t have mattered ; that it as en ou gh t o ov er
,
‘
,

t u r n e v e r y arra n gemen t i n crease every di ffi c u lty He

,
.
w w
334

as at al l a man to give way t o his feel i n gs so H i s

T HE S O R C E RE SS .

h
w
n ot .

chil d re n i n deed u n til v ery lately had n ever see n i m

, , ,

excited at al l an d it as an aston ishme n t beyon d d es cr i p

h
,

t ion to little Betty to be a specta t or of this sce n e In .

d eed Colo n el K i n g s a
,
r d awoke prese n tly to a se n se of t e
self exposu re he had bee n m aki n g an d calmed dow n or
-
, , ,

at least con trolled himself u pon which Betty ven tu red

w
, ,

to ask h im very h u m bly what he tho u ght she h ad bet ter

do .

“
hMay I g to Miss La c
o n e an d tel l e r ?

a n gr y n o n o r u n happy abou t him like l ike us s ai d

Sh e i s n ot
”

w
—

h
, ,

w
Betty p u tti n g the best face upo n it with i n sti n ctive

h
,

capacity an d she might kn ow what to d o S e is s o very

, .

ki n d an d u n derstan di n g don t y ou thi nk papa ? an d s e ,

’

,
”
o u ld k n ow what t o do .

For the first time Colon e l K i n gs ar d gave his agitate d

“
little visitor a smile Y o u seem t o have som e u n de r

w
.

st an di n g t oo for a l ittl e girl he said an d it l ooks as i f

, , ,

y o u wo u ld be worthy o f my co n fide n ce Betty Whe n I

h
.
,

see y ou t his aftern oo n I shall perhaps have som ethi n g to

hw
tell y ou t at ,
There came over Colon el K i n g s ar d s ’

fin e cou n te n an ce a smile a co n sciou s n ess wh ich filled ,

Betty with amaze She had see n her father look hand .

some comman di ng very seriou s She had se en i m e a

, ,
r .

an ai r wh ich the girls i n their profan ity had b ee n u sed in

t heir m other s happy days to call that of the fibr e n oble
’
.

She had see n him an gry eve n i n a passion as to day She

wh
-
, .

had heard h im alas ! blaspheme which had bee n v ery , ,

t errible t o Betty Bu t she had n ever sh e ack n owle d ge d

.
,

t o herself seen h im look s i l ly before Silly i n a girl s ’

whh
.
, ,

phraseology was what he looked n o ,

with t at fatu ity ,

which is almost solely to be attr ibu ted to o n e ca u s e ; b u t

of this Betty was n o t aware I t came over his c ou nt e

h
.

n an ce a n d f or a mome n t Colon el K i n g s
,
ar d let imself
go on t e flood of complace n t co n scio u sn ess w ich h eal e d
, ,

al l his wou n ds The n he s u dde n ly braced hi m self u p an d

.

t u rn ed to Betty agai n

h
.

Perhaps he said i n his most fatherly ton e f or i t

, , ,

seemed t o the m an i n this crisis of i s life that eve n l ittl e

“
Betty 5 su p port was someth i n g t o hold b y ;
’
my d e a1
‘
d you r i n sti n ct is right Go to Miss La n ce an d tell
, .
w
h t ke this odio s letter h
THE SOR C E R E SS .
335

w
v er h

w
how thi gs are Do
er n .
’
n t a u ,
o

e said seizi g Bee s ote a teari g it across

,
”
e ,
n
’
n nd n

ith i n dign ant v eheme nce with all its prej u dices an d “

h
,

as s u mptio n s Tell her i n you r o n words an d where

h
.
,

t ey are an d where are they by the way ? he said

— —
, ,

ropi g for t frag m e t s f the letter i his waste pape

w
g n e n o n r -

“
b asket I hope y o u n oted the address
. .

H e had n o t the n it was evide n t n oted the address n or, , ,

t h e n a m e of Mrs Leigh n o r i n whose hou se that Charlie

h
w
.
,

as Betty s heart beat high with the q u est i on whether

’

w
.

h
s

h
e sho u ld ca l l his atte n tio n to these a

e r co u rage fai l ed her

dditio n al facts b u t
H e had cooled down he was
imself agai n ; an d after a m ome n t he added
.

I ill
,
,

w
h
,

h
rite a little n ote wh ich y ou c an take with o n ce more
t e smi l e t ha t Betty t o u ght silly floati n g across his face
S e was sta n di n g c l ose by t e w ri ti n g ta b le a
h h
n d Betty
,

-
.

as n ot aw a re that there was an y harm i n the n at u ral

g l impse which her kee n eyes t ook before she was co n scio u s ,

o f it of the n ote he was writi n g

,
It was n o t l ike a com .

”
1 n o n n ote It did n o t begi n Dear M iss Lan ce as wou ld
.
,

h ave been n atu ral In short it had n o begi nn i n g at al l

.
, ,

n or a n y si g n at u re o r rather it was sig n ed o n ly with his

—

”
i n itial F How very extraordi n ary that papa sho u ld
.

S ig n F an d shou ld n o t p u t an y begi nn i n g to his letter

. .

A ki n d of won deri n g con ster n at i on e n veloped the littl e

girl Bu t still she did n o t i n the least u n derstan d what it
.

m ean t .

Bet ty walked away alo n g Pall M all an d Piccadil l y an d ,

by the edge of the park to George Street H an o ver Sq u are ,

h
.

I t is n o t accordi n g to the prese n t fashion s that a girl sho u ld

s ri n k fro m walki n g alon g thro u gh those bu sy Lo ndon
streets where n o b ody is i n search of adve n t u res at least

h
, ,

at that hou r of the m orn i n g Her white morn i n g frock .

an d e r black ribbo n s an d her early bloom lik e the , ,

m o rn i n g tho u gh delightfu l to behold did n o t make al l

, ,

the passers b y stan d an d stare as the moveme n ts of a

-

pretty girl u se d to do if we are to credit the n ovels i n th e

w
,

begi nn i n g o f the ce n t ur y People perhaps h av e too

h
.
, ,

m u ch to do n owadays to give to that n o t u n u s u al sight

the atte n tion w ich the dan dies an d the m a c aron i best owed -

u po n it a n d Betty was so e v ide n tly be n t on her o

,
n little
336 T HE S O RC E R ESS .

bu si ness whatever it was th at n othi ng n atu rally occ u r red

w h
w
, ,

t o detai n her

h h
.

h
It was so u n u s u al for her to ave a grave piece o f b u si
n ess i n ha n d t at she was a li t tle e l ated by it eve n th o u g

w
,

so sorry for Charlie o was ill an d for Bee wh o as so ,

pertu rbed abo u t e verythi n g Betty h e rself was n ot p e r

h
w
.

t u rb e ; she was f u ll o f the pleas ure of the morn i ng a

d nd

w
the lon g i n teresti n g walk an d t e se n se of her o n i m
, ,

portan ce as a messe nger If there did occasion ally fl o a t .

across her m i n d the idea that her father s demean o r as

h
’

stran ge or tha t it as odd he s ho uld have sign ed i s n o te

to Miss La n ce with a n F it was mere l y a mome n tary i d ea
.
,

an d she did n o t q u estion it or detai n it An d poor Ch arl ie !

w
.

ill n ot a ble to get o u t this fin e weather ; b u t he was g e t

w w
,

ti n g better so that there was real ly n o thi n g to be trou b l ed

,

abou t
Miss Lan ce was u p b u t had n ot yet appeared ,

Betty as show n i n to her l ittle drawi n g room She as

en
-
.
h
no t a n early riser It was o n e of her v ices she fran kly
.
,

allowed Betty had to w ait and had t i me to admire al l

.
,

her frie n d s k n ick k n acks of which there were many b e

h h
’
-
, ,

fore she came i n which s e d i d at la s t with her arms p u t

,

o u t to take Betty matern ally to er b osom Sh e loo k ed .

i n the girl s face with a very i n te n t glan ce before sh e t o o k

’

her i n to this embrace .

My little Betty ! so e arly she said an d kissed t e

girl an d the n looked at her agai n as if i n expectation o f
, ,
h
, ,

somethi n g ; b u t as Betty co u ld n ot thi n k of a nyth i n g th at

Miss Lan ce wo u l d be expecti n g from her she re m ai n ed

h
,

u n co n scio u s of a n y special mea n i n g i n this look

h
.

“
Yes I am early she said ; it is beca u se I ave som e
,
”
,

thi n g to tell y o u an d so m et i n g to ask of y ou too

, ,
.

Tell my dear l ittle girl an d as k Y o u may be s u r e I

, ,
.

shall be at yo u r service Bu t what is th is i n yo u r han d

.

”
a n ote for me ?
Yes i t is a n ote for y o u ; b u t may I tell y ou first wh at

h
,
”
it is abo u t ? Betty wen t o n qu ickly with her story

h
.

thou gh Miss La n ce wi t hou t waiti n g for it took t e n o tc

, ,

an d open ed it M iss Lan ce C arlie is fou n d ; he h as be e

.
,
n

very ill an d he wan ts to see y o u

, .

“ ”
T o s ee me ? M iss La n c e looked with eyes of s y n ‘
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 337

h
.

p a t y y e t g,re at i n n oce n ce as if at an im p ossible proposa l , ,

h h
at th e breathl e ss girl so an xio u s to get it o u t
B e t t y if e is wit yo u r frie n ds the M a
Bu t
c ki n n o n s i n Scot
.
,

h
, ,

l an d

w
“
OMiss La ce I told he was there do ’
n ot t

w
n y o u n

w H e has h
, , ,

y remember
ou H e has ever bee a ywhere all this? n n n
ti em a typhoid fever a Th rsday Bee d nd on u

he h
.

h
,

se t for a fo d him stil ill

as n me di g nd un l but n n An d

w
pe ace till h
, , .

n eard were
e tow he d give her y o u in n o ul no
wrote a asked S to com e a see him
e nd y o u nd .

An d she did k ow yo r add ess so she wrote

n ot me n u r to . I
e n t to tell papa first an d the n I came on her e O h

w
, ,
.

w il l y o u come an d see Charlie ? Bee said he wan ted to get

i n to a h a n som a n d come to y o u as soon as he heard y ou
w ere here
“
.

Wh at i n d u ced them to talk of me ? an d

”
t e l l him I was here ? Miss Lan ce cried with a mome n tar y
y did she
‘

w
clou d u pon her face s u ch as Betty had n ever seen there ,

before She sat d ow n su dde n ly i n a cha i r with a pat o f

.

h er foot u pon the carpet which was almost l ike a stamp ,

of impatie n ce an d the n she read Colon el K i n g s ar d s

,
’

n ote for the seco n d time with her brows draw n together

wh
,

an d a black n ess abo u t her eyes which filled Betty with

alarm an d dismay She looked u p however n ext mi nu t e .
, ,
“
with her co u n te n a n ce cleared You r father says I am t o

wh
.

“
u s e my o n discretio n she said with a half l au gh ; that ,

i s n o t m u ch h e lp to m e is i t ? i n d eci d i n g what it is best — —

t o do So he as bee n i l l an d n o t i n Sc o tl an d at all ?
.
”
—

I told y o u he as n ot i n Scotla n d cried Betty a little

h
, ,

i m patien t i n her t u rn O
'

Mi s s Lan ce he has bee n ill , , ,

h
.

b e is still ill an d wo n t y o u com e an d see i m whe n he ’

w
—

wan ts y ou so ? O come an d see him please ! H e looks , ,

h
so ill an d wretche d Bee says an d weak an d c an n ot get
back his stre n gt ; an d he thi n ks if he cou ld see y ou
, ,

h
Poor boy silly boy ! s aid Miss La n ce
h
”
, y does he ,

d o im ah
thi n k it will do i m good to see me ? Idou bt if it wo u ld
n y good ; a n d you r father says I am t o u s e my
,

h
wh
d iscretio n I wo u ld do a n ythi n g for a
. n y of y o u Betty , ,

b u t perh a ps I s o u ld do him har m i n stead o f good H a v e

h
.

”
y “o u got yo u r si s ter s l e tter ? ’

I left i t with pa pa tha t i s e t hre i t i n to t e —

,

22
w
338 T HE

as te paper b as k et s aid the t oo tru thfu l Betty growi ng

-
,
SO R C E R ES S .

w
red

h
.

I u n d ers tan d s ai d Miss Lan ce it was n ot a letter

, ,

t o show me Bee as her prej u dices an d perhaps she i s

.
,

r ight I c an n ot expect that all the family sho u ld be as

w
.

n ic e t o me as y o u
- H ave t hey take n him to K i n g s ar den
.
?
”
or where is b e poor b oy ? ,

He is at No 1 0 0 0 C u rzon Stre et B et ty said

hh
,
. .

” ”
What ! said Miss Lan ce Where ?
.
H er bro .

c u rv ed o ver her eyes ; her face grew d ark as if t e li g t

had go n e o ut of the morn i n g and she spoke the two mono ,

s yllables i n a sh a rp imperati ve t on e s o that they see med

, ,

t o ou t like a k n ife .

A t N o 1 0 0 0 Cu rzon Street Betty repeated with great

.
,

w
alarm n ot k n owi n g what t o thi nk
,
.

Miss Lan ce rose q u ickly as if there had bee n somethi ng ,

t hat st un g her i n the i nn oce n t words She looked as if .

she were abou t to pace the room from e nd to e n d as Col o

w h
n el K i ng s a r d did whe n he was dist u rbed B u t eith er .

she did no t mean this or s e restrai n ed herself f o r what

, ,

she did was t o walk to her writi ng table an d p u t Colon el -

h
K i n gs a r d s n ote awa y i n a drawer a n d the n she we n t to
’

w
,

t e wi n dow a n d looked o u t an d said it was a fin e m orn i ng

b u t d u sty for walki n g a— n d the n she ret u rn ed t o h er chair
and sat dow n agai n an d l ooked a t Betty She was pal e .

h
,

an d there were li n es i n her face that had not bee n t here

'

before H er eyes ere al m ost pi t eou s as she looke d a t t e

w
.

sur prised girl .

I am i n a ve r y strait pl ace she said an d I don t ’

h
, ,

know wh a t t o do Somethi ng like moistu re see m ed to

.

come u p i nto her eyes This is always o it happe ns to

.

“
me she said j u st a t the mom en t j u st a t the mom e n t
,
”
, ,

What am I to do ? ”

w
C H APT E R XLVII .

BE E h ad passed the whol e day with Charlie the Friday

h hh
,

of the d 1 nn er party at Portman Sq u are She had re sisted

-

as long as she co u ld writi n g t e let te r h i c

.

ad bro u ght
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 339

h
.

hh ad i sisted po
so
e
mucexcitem e
n u
Be t ty an d the passion w i th which
nt to
n this the stru ggle betwee n them the
,

h
w
, ,

v e h emen ce with which he had declared t at he cared f or

n o th i n g i n the worl d b u t to see La u ra on ce agai n to tha n k

h
,

h er for havi n g pleaded for him with his father to ask her ,

f o rgiven es s for his follies had bee n bad for Charlie —

o

h
,

l ay for the rest of the day u po n the sofa tossi n g from him ,

o n e after t e other the n ovels that were p r ovi d ed for his

a m u seme n t declari n g them to be rot or ru bbish
,

gr owli n g a t his sister whe n she con ti n u ed to speak to i m

an d red u ci n g poor Bee to that state of wo u n ded imbecil ity
h ,

w
w h ich is the lo t of those who e n deavor to please an u n
’

pl easable i n valid with the con viction that all the time they

h
,

are doi n g more harm tha n good .

Bee as n o t maladroit by n at u re an d s e had the warm ,

e s t desire to be serviceable to her brother ; b u t it appeared

th at she always did the wro n g thi n g n ot on ly i n the eyes ,

of Ch arlie b u t i n those o f the n u rse who came i n from

h
,

t i m e to time with swift moveme n ts bri n gi n g s u bordi n a ,

tio n an d q u iet w ere there had b ee n n othi n g b u t irritation

an d resistan ce An d i n this ho u se where she had bee n
.

brou gh t e n tirel y f or the service of C arl ie Bee did n o t

k n ow what to do Sh e was afraid to leave the roo m s that
,

h ,

h ad bee n give n u p to him lest she sho u ld meet some o n e

whw
o n the stairs to be see n o n ly to be avoided as if her
, , ,

presen ce there was that of a gh ost or an en emy Poor .

Bee weari n g o u t t he lon g hou rs of the spri n g aftern oon

w
—

ith poor attempts to be u sefu l to the i n valid to watch

w
,

h is l ooks ( hich he rese n ted by freq u en t adj u ration s n o t

t o watch i m as a cat watches a mo u se ! to an ticipate his ,

ish es (which immediately became the las t thi n g i n t he

orld he wa n ted as soon as she fou n d ou t the d ri n k or got
th e paper for which he was looki n g ! heard or thou ght -
,

sh e hear d steps comi n g to th e street door s u bd u ed voices

, ,

i n the hal l comi n gs a

h
,

h
n d goi n gs half stealthily n oises s u b
d u ed lest she s o u ld hear What d i d i t m atter whether
h
,

h
.

sh e eard or n o t ? Why shou ld the master of the o u s e be

ba n ished that s e so i n e ff ect u al as she ad proved sho u ld h
h
, ,

be bro u ght to her brother s s i de ? She had n o t don e an d ’

h h h
,

cou l d n ot do an y good t o Charlie ; all that s e had don e

,

ad been to remind i m of M is s Lance t o b e t e medi um

.
,
3

of
4 0

calli n g that disastrou s person

T HE S OR C E R E SS

o had do n e al l t e w
h
.

h h
w
,

harm back i n to Charlie s life n ay ; of bri ng i n g er bac k

’
—

h
w
,

t o this hou se the i n mates o f which she had already h arm e d

h
,

t o t e u tmost o f her power

h
.

That was all th at had bee n don e by Bee ; an d n o er

presen c e kept a t a distan ce the on e i n dividu al i n t e o rl d

who h ad the b est right to be here He cam e al m ost .

secretly ( she fel t s u re! to the door i n t he du sk to i n q u ire

w wh
after h is p atie n t or to get his letters ; o r stole i n su b d u i n g
, ,

his step that she m ight n o t be distu rbed

,

Poor Bee ! It was very bitter t o er to thi nk th at A u brey

Lei g h sho uld leave his o n hou se becau se she as t ere
h .

h
.

Some t imes she won d ered whether it was seme rem n a n t o f

,
m
old almost e xt i n gu i s l d feeli n g i n i s bre ast which had
made him thi n k that the sight o f Bee wou ld do Charlie g ood
the sigh t of Bee for which her brother did n o t care at all
h
w
—

h
,

n o t at all ; which was a n an n oyan ce a nd fatigu e t o im ,

except when sh e had betrayed w at was the l ast thi n g i n

h
,

the world she shou ld ha v e betrayed the possibility of s e e ,

i n g agai n that woma n o had h a rmed them al l If

w
.

A u brey had thou ght s o with som e rem n an t o f the ol d

,

roman ce how m i stake n he had bee n ! an d it was i n to l er

,
‘

able for the girl to thi n k that for the sake of this u n s u c
ce s s f u l experime n t he had bee n se n t a way from his o n
hou se She placed herself i n the corn er o f th e ro om i n
.

which Charlie (to whom she was su pposed to d o good an d

w
bri n g pleasu re ! co u ld see her l east an d bittern ess fil l e d ,

her heart There were times i n which she tho u ght o f

w
.

steali n g away leavi n g a word for Mrs Leigh t o the e ff e ct

,

that she was doi n g Charlie n o goo d an d that Betty

w ou ld come to morrow might perh aps be of more u s e an d
-
o ,
.

—
h
h
,

retu rn i n g forl orn to K i n gs ar d e n t o re n ew the life wh ere

h
,

h
per aps n obody wa n ted her very m u ch b u t where at leas t

h
t ere were so m an y thi n gs w ich she an d n o on e else was
t ere to d o
, , ,

w
.

She was still i n th i s depressed state when Mrs Le i gh .

wh
( who had evi d e n tly go n e away also that the brother a n d
sister might be alon e an d happy together ! cam e back ,

l ooki n g i n to Charl i e s room t o ask how he as on h er way

’

u psta i rs to dress for di n n er

“
h
Bet ter t e nurs e s ai d wit her e yebro s
,
.

h
Peev i s .
 T HE S OR C E R ESS .
34 1

ww
.
— yo u ng lady m u st n t cross h im m u st be h u mored ’
—

thi n g s n o t go n e qu ite so well to day -

.

Y o u wil l tel l me abo u t it at di n n er said Mrs Leigh

w w
, .
,

hw
n d Bee e n t do n stairs with a h e avy heart to be q u es ,

t ion e d A u brey s mother looked cheerf u l e nou gh ; she d i d

’

h
.

h
n o t see m t o b e u n happy abou t his abse n ce o r t o disl ike
t e society o f the girl o h ad drive n him a ay An d

w
.

s e as very con siderate eve n i n her qu estion s abou t the

patie n t .

“
We m u st expect these fl u ct u ation s sh e said ; y ou ,

mu st n o t be cast do n if y ou are n o t q u ite s o tri u mphan tly

h
”
su ccessfu l t o day -

h
.

“
O Mrs Leigh I am deceivi n g y o u I have n ever
, .
,
.

bee n s u ccessfu l at all He did n o t wan t me e doesn t .

—
’

h
care f or me ; an d t o stay here is dreadf u l u psetti n g the
ou se doi n g n o good
—

M y dear this is a stran ge stateme n t to make ; an d y ou

.
,

mu st n o t expect me to believe y o u i n the f ace o f facts .

He was m u ch better after seei n g y ou last n ight

w
.

h
“
Doi n g n o good sa i d Bee shaki n g her head but

w
, , ,

harm o real harm ! It was n o t I that d i d him good it

h
, , ,

was telli n g him o f some o n e o f a lady oh Mrs Leigh ,

—
,
.
,
”
am I t o tell y o u ?

w
o

w
My dear child ! a n ythi n g t hat y o u you rself k n o c an
su rely be told to me We were afraid that somethi n g .

abo u t a woman was at the bottom o f it b u t then that is ,

al ays the thi n g t hat is said ; an d typhoi d y o u k n o , ,

mean s bad drai n s a n d n o t a tro ubl ed mi n d t ho u gh the —

on e may make y o u s u scep t ibl e to the other Don t be so ’

.

w
distressed my dear It seems more to yo u r i n experie n ce
,
.

than it is i n real i t y H e will get over that

h
. .

“
Mrs Leigh said Bee very pale he has made me

h
.
, , ,

write to as k her to come an d see i m here .

I t was n o Mrs Leig s t u r n to chan ge color She .

’

ew red looki g asto ished i the girl s despairi g face

h
’

g r n n
,
n n .

A woman to come an d s e e him here ! b u t yo ur brot er ,

h
wou ld n e v er i n su lt the hou se an d y o u Iam talki n g n on

w
—
,

se n se s e said su d de n ly stopp i n g herself an d miscon

, , ,

s tr ui n g him altogether It is some lady who has j ilted .

,

him o r somethi n g of that ki n d

—
.

Bee had n o t u n derstood hat Mrs Leigh s first idea .

’
34 2 T H E SOR C E R E SS

h h
.

was an d s e did n ot see any cau se f or relief i n t e

,
'

secon d .

I don t k n ow what she did to him or what she has done

’

t o them all
”
the girl said m ou rn fu lly
,
They all are the .

same . Papa eve n who does n o t care very m u ch f or

, ,

l adies ge n erally Bu t Charlie poor Charlie ! O h I b e

,
.
, ,

lieve he is i n love with her still t hou gh she is twice as ,

old as he is an d has almost broke n his hea

,

h
“
My dear said Mrs Leigh this m u st be somethi ng

w
,
.
,

very di ff ere n t from what we thou ght We thou gh t he ad

got i n to some dreadfu l trou ble abo u t a ah
.

altogether i a —

f e r i or person

h
Bu t as it seems to be a lady a
is kn own to the family an d o ca
. n d o n e that
h ,

w
n be asked to come ,

ere If y ou c an tell me a l ittle more clearly what the

story is I shall be more a ble to give y o u m y advice

h
.
,

Bee looked a t her qu estion er helpless half d istracted , ,

n o t k n owi n g t o speak ; a n d yet the story m u st be told

w
o

h
.

She had written that fatal i n vitation an d i t cou ld n o t be

con cealed who this possibl e vis i tor was She bega n wit

h
wh
.

a great deal o f hesitation to talk o f the lady whom Ch arlie

had raved abou t at Oxford an d o he was to work to

w h
,

please her ; an d how he did n o t work b u t failed i n every ,

way an d fled from Oxford ; an d o her father wen t to

,

i n qu ire i n to the story ; an d how the lady had com e t o

Colo nel K i n gs ar d at the hotel to explai n to i m to ex

h
, ,

c u se Charlie t o beg h is father to forgive him

,
.

Bu t my dear she ca n t be so ve r y a
”
d said Mrs Leigh
’

h
, , ,
.

sooth i n gl y Y ou m u st n o t j u d ge her hardly ; if she

.

thou ght she had been to bla me i n the matter t at was ,

”
really the right thi n g to do .

An d si n ce the n res u med Bee I thi n k papa h as

tho u ght of n obody else ; he writes to her an d tells e r
everythi n g He goes to see her ; he forgets abou t Charl ie
, ,

w
.

an d all of u s ; he has take n Betty there an d Betty adores ,

her to o An d to n ight crie d Bee the an gry tears com

.
-
, ,

i n g i n to her eyes she is di n i n g i n Portman Sq u are d i n

, ,

in g ith the Lyon s as a great frie n d o f o u rs i n Portm an —

w
S q u are .

Mrs Leigh drew Bee to her an d gave her a kiss o f con

.
,

solatio n I thi n k it was partly that the gi rl i n her misery

.

shou ld n ot see the smile hich Mrs Leigh thin ki n g th at .

,
s
n ot
hotherwise
e no w
saw hro gh this
co cea
t
n
My poor child she said m y dear girl ! this is hard
u

”
l
T H E S OR C E R E SS

.
n ot un
.

common m ystery cou l d ,

34 3

h
, ,

u po n y o u si n ce y ou dislike her s o m u ch b u t I am afraid -

,

i t i s qu i te n at u ral an d a t i n g t hat cou ld n ot have been

h
,

g u arded ag a i n st A n d the n y o u m u.st co n sider that yo u r

fa t er m a

w
y probably
o
be a better j u dge than yo u rself I .

d o n t see a ny harm this lady has don e except that perhaps

’

i t is n o t qu ite good taste t o make herself s o agreeable

b oth t o the father a n d s on ; b u t perhaps i n Charlie s case
’

w h
t h at as n o t her fau l t An d I see n o reason my dear .
,

r e ally a n d si n cerely as yo u r frie n d Bee why y ou s ou ld ,

—

b e so prej u d iced agai n st a poor woman whose on l y fau l t is

t h at ev erybody else l ikes her No isn t it a li t tle u n .
’

”
r e a s o n able whe n y ou thi n k o f it calm l y you rself ? ,
“ ”
O h Mrs Leigh ! Bee cried ; the sit u ation was so i n
,
.

t ol erable the passion o f i n j u r y an d m i scon ception s o

,

s tro n g i n her that she co u l d o n ly g a sp i n i n su pportable

w
a n ger an d dism ay .

Bee Bee ! this feeli n g is n atu ral b u t y ou m u st n ot let

, ,

h
i t carr y y o u away H ave y o u see n her ? Let me come i n
e n she is here an d give my opin ion
h ,
.

I have see n e r three times said Bee solem n ly on c e

.

, ,

at the baths an d on ce i n the Academy an d on ce at C x

h
, ,

f o rd ; an d then on ce more exciteme n t mastered the girl .

O h w e n y ou k n ow wh o she is ! Don t smile don t

’ ’

h
, ,

s m i l e b u t liste n !
,
She i s Miss Lan ce .

Miss Lan ce ? Mrs Leigh repeated t e n ame with .

s u rprise looki n g i n to Bee s face Y ou m u st compose

’
.
,

y o u rself she said y ou m u st compose you rself M iss

, , .

h
M y d e ar y o u have g o t over excited y o u have mixed -
, ,

w
t i n gs u p .

N o I am n o t o v er excited ! I am telli n g y ou on ly the -

h
,

t r u th It is Miss La n ce ; an d they al l believe i n her as if

.

s e were a n a n gel a
”
n d she is comi n g here ,
.

Mrs Leigh was very m u ch s t artled b u t yet she ou ld ,

h
.

n o t belie v e her ears She had heard Charlie deliriou s i n

h
.

i s fever n ot so lon g a g o Her mi n d gave a litt l e leap t o .

th e alarm i n g thou gh t that there m igh t be madn ess i n t e

fam ily an d tha t Bee had been seized like her brother
,
.

T hat wh at she said was actu al fact seemed to her too i m

344 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

h
w
p o s s i bl e t o b e t ru e She soothed the e x c i ted girl
. with al l
er power Whoever it is my dear y ou shall n o t take

h
.
, ,

an y har m There is n othin g to be frighte n ed abou t I

. .

will take care of y o u oever it is

w
.

I do n o t thi n k y ou belie v e me said Bee I am n o t ,

.

o u t o f my mi n d as y o u thi n k It is Miss Lan ce Mi s s

,
.
—

Lau ra L an ce the same the very same that an d I hav e

—
,
—

r itte n a n d she will be comi n g here

hhw
.
,

This is very stra n ge said Mrs Leigh I t does n o t

w h
. .
,

s ee m possibl e t o believe it The same who cam e b e

hw w
—
.

tween A u brey an d y ou ? O I n ever mean t to n ame i m ; ,

I was n ever to n ame him ; bu t o c an I help it ? La ura ,

h o was the tr o u ble of his hou se who wo u ld n o t leave —

him o we n t to yo u r father ? An d n o yo u r father

w
—

Ican n ot un derstan d it I can not believe that it is tru e . .

It is tru e said Bee b u t Mrs Leigh y o u forget that

, , ,
.
,

n o o n e cared the n except myself ; they have forgotte n a ll

tha t n o they have forgotte n what happe n ed
,
I t was .

on ly my b u si ness i t was n o t their bu si n ess All th at has

h h
.
,

gon e from papa H e remembers n othi n g abou t it An d

. .

s e is a witch she is a magicia n she has a d evil

w
—
,
o , ,

please forgive me forg ive m e Idon t kn ow what I am ,

—
’

sayi n g It has all bee n growi n g on e thi n g after a n other

.

h
,
— firs t me an d then Charlie an d the n papa an d th en
— — —

Betty An d n o
. after bri n gi n g him al m os t to deat an d
,

destru ction here is Charlie i n this hou se calli n g for h er

, , , ,
”
ragi n g with me till I wrote to call her Me ! cried Bee .
,

with a sort o f i n dign an t eloqu e n ce Me ! Cou ld i t go .

fu rther than that ? Cou ld n othi n g be more than th at ?

Me! a n d i n this hou se

h
.

“
My dear child said Mrs Leigh I don t won der I
,
.
,
’

don t won der i t is like somethi n g i n a t ragedy

’
—
O .
,

Bee ! forgive m e for what is first i n my tho u ghts Was .

she the reason the o n ly reason for yo u r breach with m y

h
,

poor Au brey ? for at first y ou stood by him an d then y o u —

t u rn ed u pon i m .

Do n o t ask me an y more q u estion s please I am n o t ,

.

able to a n swer a n ythi n g I sn t it e nou gh tha t al l th e se .

’

thi n gs have happen ed throu gh this woman an d that she ,

h
is comin g here ?
Mrs Leigh made n o fu rther qu estion S e saw that
.
.
t

h
h
th
egirl s exciteme t a almost eyo d her co trol a
’

a her yo g mi d was strai d to its tmost She said

alf
t
to
un
herself I m s thi k I c a ot tel. a ome t
n
n

u
w
THE

t
s
S

n
O R C E R E SS

ne
.
b
.

nn
n
u
l in
.
n

m
,
34 5

nd

n
,

what to do I m st se d A rey I is his d ty a

. u n f or ub . t u nd

m i n e to let it g o f u rther Y o u m u st try to compose

no .

y o u rself my dear an d t ru st u s O h Bee there were

, ,
.
, ,
”

t e ars i n her eyes as she c ame u p t o the girl an d kissed her ;

h
if y ou cou ld b u t have tr u sted u s— i n all thi n gs I don t ’
—

”
t i n k y ou ever wou ld have repe n ted .

Bu t Bee did n o t make a n y respo n se Her han ds were

w w
.

cold an d her head hot She was wrapped i n a stran ge pas .

si o n an d con fu sion o f h u man chaos an d bew i lderme n t

e v erythi n g gon e wro n g all the elem e n ts o f life twisted —

th e perverse ay ; n othi n g ope n n othi n g clear She as ,

.

i n capable o f an y simple u n m i n gled feelin g i n that c on

f u sion an d medley of everythi n g goi n g wron g .

M r s Leigh a little disappoi n ted we n t i n t o the i n n er

.
, ,

r o om the little library to write a l etter n o dou bt to c on

, ,
—

s u lt or s u mmon her s on from which she was i n terr upted —

afew mi n u tes l ater by a fai n t call an d Bee s white face ’

wh
,

i n the doorway .

Mrs Leigh papa wil l come to mor row an d he will t ake -

h
,
.
,

u s away ; at least he wil l take me away I Ish an t be

’
—
,
.

an y l on g er i n an y o n e s ay O don t keep i m apart ’ ’

,
.

f r om y ou don t se n d an y o n e ou t of the hou se becau se o f

—
’

me!
”

CH APT E R XLVI II .

hT H E R E was a great deal of commotion n ext morn i n g i n

t e ho u se i n Mayfair
Bee was startled by havi n g a tray bro u ght to her bed
.

room with her breakfast whe n she was almost ready t o go

h
w
d ow n stairs Mrs Leigh thou g t miss as y o u had bee n
. .
, ,

s o tired last n ight a

”
n d migh t like to rest a little lo n ger
'

h
, ,

sa i d the maid ; an d Bee divi n ed with a sharp pa n g throu gh

w h
al l t e trou ble an d con fu sion of her mi n d that she was n o t

h h an ted that probably A u brey was comi n g to con s u lt w i t

,

i s mother what was to be d on e It may be imagi n ed

ith w a t scru p u lo u sness she kept withi n her room her
.

,
34

p r
6

ide all u p i n arms tho u gh her he art s e t ou g t as

brok en Tho u gh the precau tion was so n atu ral t ou gh
,
T HE s o ngs xnss .

hhh
h w
h
.
,

it was taken at what was su pposed t o be her desire at

h
w
,

w at was really her desire the on ly o n e she wo u ld have ,

e xpressed yet s e rese n ted it

,
i n the con tradiction a
ferme n t of her bei n g If Mrs Leigh su pposed t a t s e
wan ted to see Au brey ! H e as n othi n g to her h e had n o
.
nd ,

. hh
h
,

part i n her l i fe Whe n she had been bro u ght h ere agai n s t

h
,
.

her will it ad bee n expressly expl ai n ed th a t it was n o t

w
-

h h
,

f o r A u brey that he wou ld rather go away t o t e e n d o f the

h
,

world t han distu rb e r An d s e had herself appealed to

h
.

i s mother her last action on the previo u s n ight to br i n g —

h
,

w
him b ack n o t to ban ish him on accou n t of th e girl
,
o

was n othi n g to him an d whose part i t was n o t i s to go , , ,

aw ay All this however did n o t make it seem l ess kee n

.
, ,

a wou n d to Bee that she shou ld b e so to speak i m prison e d

, , ,

i n her o n room beca u se Au brey was expec t ed d own ,

stairs She had n ever she declared to herself veh e m en tly

w
,
.
,

felt at ease u n der the roof that was his ; n oth i n g b u t

w h
Charlie s s upposed wan t o f her wou ld have i n d u ced her t o
’

s ubj ect hersel f t o the cha n ces of meeti n g h im an d t e

h
,

still more appalli n g cha n ce o f b ei n g su pposed t o ish t o

meet i m An d n o this i n su l t o f imprison m e n t i n her
.

bedroom lest she shou ld by an y chan ce come u n d e r i s h

h
w
,

observation o ff en d his eye ! Bee was con trad ictory e n o u g

w
,

at all times a rosebu d set abou t wi t h wilfu l t h orn s ; b u t

,

e v er ythi n g was i n t u m u lt abo ut h er an d all her c o n d ition s

h
,

n othi n g b u t con tradictio n s n o

h
.

Th u s it h appe n ed t at while Betty was setti n g ou t ith

m u ch exciteme n t b u t that a l l pleas u rable w a
,
lki n g l ig tly ,

amon g u n discovere d dan gers Bee was s u dden l y a r reste d

h
,

h
,

as she felt i mprison ed i n the l ittle room looki n g o u t u pon

,

roofs an d backs of o u ses thru st aside i n to a corn er th at s e ,

might n o t be see n or her presen ce k n ow n (i m perceptibly

w w
the force o f the description grew as she wen t on p ili n g u p
agon y u pon agon y ! It was some time before i n the
commotion of her feel i ngs she cou l d bri n g erself t o
s al low her tea ; an d then she wal ked a b ou t th e r oo m
.

,
h ,

gazed ou t from the i n d ow from which as it was at th e ,

back of the ho u se she saw n othi n g an d fou n d the po s iti on

, ,
m
ore an d more i n tolerable every mi n u te A pr i s o n e r ! .
 T H E SO R C E R E SS 34 7

h who had bee bro gh here a ai st hwill

.

s e n pre u t g n er ,
on
te ce that her prese ce migh save her brother s l fe or i
h
’
n n t ,

s omethi n g eq u ally gra n diose a n d impossible save e r —

b rother s life bri n g him back from desp a ir by t he sight

’

w
,

o f some on e th at he lo v ed These were the sort of words

.

th a t Mrs Leigh had said As if it mat t ered t o Charl i e

. .

o n e way o r other what Bee m ight thi n k or d o ! a s i f he

h w
w
ere to be con soled by her or stim u lated or bro u ght back

w
, ,

t o life ! She had aEe c te d him i n volu n tarily u n d esirably ,

h
b y her betrayal of the vici n ity o f t hat woma n that wi t ch

hwh
h
, ,

o had arped h is eart an d bei n g Bu t as f or i n fl u e n c

h
.

h h
i n g i n her o n person er brother s mi n d o r life Bee kn ew
’

w
,

s e was as little capable as baby t e little tyra n t of t e ,

n u rsery Oh foolish she had bee n to come at all to

w
. o , ,

yield to what was said t e flat teri ng s u ggestio n that she

,

c o u ld d o so m u ch whe n she k n ew al l alon g i n her o n

w wh
,

i n m ost c o n sciou sness that she cou ld do n othi n g ! The

o n ly thi n g f o r her t o do n o was t o go back to the d u l l
l ife o f which i n her impatie n t foolish n ess she h ad grow n
s o weary ; the d u ll life i n hich she as i n deed o f some
u s e after al l where it was clearly her d u ty to get the u p
,

e r ha n d o f baby t o preserv e the discipli n e o f t e n u rsery

p

h
,

h
,

t o trai n the li ttle o n es a

c o u ld i n terfere n ot a
n d keep the b i g boys i n order
T ese were t e elder sister s d u ties wi th whic
n y ridic u lou s
,

n obo d y
se n time n tal e x ag
’

,
h .

, , ,

erated idea as Charl ie had said f what a woma s m i

’

w
g ,
o n n ,

i s tr a
”
t i on s cou ld do O h woman i n o u r ho u rs of ease !
.
, ,

th at sort of foolish foolish i n tolerabl e l u dicrou s ki n d of

—
, ,

t h i n g which it u sed t o be con sidered ri gh t to s a

, y tho u gh ,

h
p eople k n ew better no ! Bee felt bitterly that to say of
e r t hat she was a mi n isteri n g a n gel wo u l d be iro n y c o n ,

t u m e l y the sort o f thi n g people said wh e n they la u ghed

h h
,

at wome n an d their ol d fashion ed sham prete n ces She

w
-

hh
.

h ad n ever made an y s u ch prete n ce

t e begi n n i n g t a t C a
She ad said fro m
r l i e wo u ld care for n o n e of her
.

m i n istratio n s
h
She had bee n bro u ght here agai n st her
.

w
j u dg m e n t ; agai n st e r will ; n d n o she was sh u t u p
as i n a prison i n order that Au brey might n ot be e mb ar
ra s s e d by the s i ght of her ! As i f she had wished to see
A u brey ! as if it had n o t bee n o n the assu ran ce th at she
as n ot to see Au brey that s e had bee n be g u iled ere !
'

h h
 ww w
8 T H E S OR C E R E SS
34 .

h
W e n a message came t o her that she was to go to her
brother Bee did n ot kn o wha t to do It seemed to er h .
,

that Au brey might be l u rki n g some here o n the stairs

w w
h
,

th at he might be behi n d Charlie s sofa or ly i n g i n ait ’

o n the other side of the c u rtai n n o t withs t a n di n g er of

h
,

fe n ce at the q u ite con tradictory idea that she was i m p r i s

oned in e r room t o b e kept ou t of his ay These t o .

t hi n gs were en tirel y con trary from e ach other y e t it was ,

qu ite possible t o en tert ai n an d be dist urbed by both i n the

t u m u lt an d confu sion o f a perverse you n g mi n d She

h
.

stepped ou t of her room as if she were abou t to fall i n to

an ambu sh n otwithstan di n g that she ad bee n thrilli ng
h
w
,

i n every i r ritated n erv e with t e idea o f bei n g impriso n ed

there

u s u al
.

He had n o t waited for the doctor s visit H e as

h
Charlie had i n sisted on getti n g u p mu c e ar l i e r than -

’
.

w
. .

better ; we l l he said stim u lated i n to n ervo u s stre n gth

, ,

h
an d capability th o u gh his ga u n t l imbs tottered u n der
im a ,
,

n d his thi n han ds tremble d Whe n he go t i n t o his .

h
sitti n g room he fl u n g away all his c u sh i on s an d rappi n gs
-

as soon as his n u rse left i m and wen t to the mirror ove r

the man tel piece an d gazed at himself i n th e glass
-
,

smoothi n g dow n an d stroki n g i n to their right plac e those

h
irreg ular soft t u ft s growi n g here an d there u pon hi s chi n

w
,

which he thou ght were t e begi n n i n gs o f a beard

h
.

W o u ld she thi n k it was abeard that sig n o f ma n hood ?

h
,

They were t oo d own y fl u ff y u n e n ergetic a foolis ki n d

, , ,

o f gr o th like a colt s som e lon g som e short ; y e t C arlie

’

, ,

cou ld n o t help bein g prou d of them H e fel t th at they

h
wh
.

h
wou ld come t o somethi n g i n time an d remembered t at
e had ofte n heard it said th at a beard which n ever had
been shaved became the fin e s t i n time —
,

Wou ld she thi n k so or ou l d she la u gh an d tell him

,

that this wo u l d n o t do that he m u st get himself shaved ?

h
,

H e wou ld n o t mi n d t hat she s o u l d lau g She mi g ht

d o an y t i n g ; all she did was delightfu l to poor Charlie ;
h
.

an d there wou ld be a complime n t eve n i n bei n g told th at

he m u st get shaved Charlie ad stroke d h is u pper l i p h
h
.

occasion ally w i th a razor b u t it had n ever bee n n ecessary

,

1 m that he sho u ld get sha v e d before

h
t o s u ggest to .

T~
Ie had to be p u t back u pon t e s of a wh en n u rse re a p '
 T HE S O R C E R E SS .
34 9

w
p e ar e d ; b u t he on ly remai n ed t here f or t he t im e , prom i s
i n g n o perma n en t obedie n ce Whe n . La u ra came he cer
ta i n l y s hou ld n o t receive her there .

“
When did you r l e tter g o ? he n wo u ld Betty receive
it ?
”
he said whe n Bee breathless an d pale at last u n der

h
, , , ,

n u rse s escort was b rou ght dow n st a irs

’

, .

She m u s t ave got it last n i ght Bu t there was a d i n .

n e r par ty
-
said Be e after a pa u se las t n ight a t Port

h
, , ,

ma n Sq u are
”
.

What do I care for their di nn er parties ? I su ppose t e -

st m a wo ld go all the same

w
p o n u .

Bu t Betty cou ld n ot d o a n ythi n g till this m orn i n g

h
.

w
N said Charlie I s u ppose n o t She wou ld be too

h
.
,

m u ch take n u p wit her ridic u lou s dress a n d what she was

t o wear
h
the kn owle dg e of a yo u n g m an o had sisters
—

p ierced thro u g e v e n his i n dig n atio n o r with some n o n

h that fello ! An d to thi n k ”

s e n se abo u t Gerald L y orn —
,

e said i n a
“
n o u tbu rst of high moral i n dign atio n
,
that, ,

o n e s fate sho u ld be at the mercy o f a little thi n g l ike

’

B etty or wh at she m ight say or do !

w hh
,

Betty is n o t s o m u ch yo u n ger than we are ; to be su re ,

s aid Bee with reflective s a d n ess she has n ever ad an y

w
, ,

th i n g t o make her t hi n k of all the t rou bles there are i n t e

orld .

Charl ie t u rn ed u po n her with scorn .

An d what have y ou had t o make y ou th i n k a nd hat

d o y o u s u ppose y o u kn ow ? A girl always protec t ed by ,

h
wh
e v erybo d y kept o u t of the battle
,
n ever allowed to feel ,

t e a i r o n yo u r cheek ! I m u st tell y ou Bee that you r , ,

s etti n g yo u rself u p for k n owi n g thi n gs is the most r i d i c u

l o u s exhi b ition i n the world .

Bee s wo u n ded sou l cou ld n ot fin d an y or d s She kept

’
.

o u t o f th e battle ! She set t i n g u p f or k n owi n g th i n gs !

w w
A n d what was his k n owledge i n com parison with e r s ?
H e had b u t be en del u ded like the rest by awoman whom

h
Bee had always see n thro u g an d n ever pu t an y faith i n ; h ,

h
h
s
hereas s e h ad lost hat was most dear all her i n dividu al
opes an d pro s pects an d bee n obliged to sacrifice what
,

e k n ew wo u ld be the o n ly love of her life

,

She looked at Charlie with eyes that were fu ll of nu

u ttera b le thi n gs H e was reckl es s with hope a n d ex e cta
.
p
 ° T HE S OR C E R E SS
35

h
.

tio n self de c e i ve d thi nki n g that al l was comi n g ri g t

w
-

h
, ,

agai n ; wherea s Bee kn ew that thi ngs wou ld n ever more

’

be right wi th her An d yet b e presu med to say that s e

h
.

k n ew n othi n g an d t h at t o thin k she had su ff ered was a

,
“
mere preten ce ! H ow li ttle o little Bee thou ght , , ,

other people kn ow .

The ho u se seemed fu ll that morn i n g of sou n ds an d com

motion s u n like ordi n ary times There were soun ds o f
,
.

ri n gi n g bells of doors open ed an d sh u t o f voices dow n

, ,

stairs O n ce both Charlie a n d Bee held their breath

h
w
.
,

thi n ki n g the mome n t had come ; for a carri age stopped at

the door ; t ere was the sou n d of a n oisy su mm on s an d

h
,

the n steps comi n g u pstairs

h
w
.

Alas ! it was n othi n g b u t the doc t or o came i n , ,

u s ered by n u rse b u t n o t u n til she had held a private ,

c o n fere n ce with him keepi n g th em both i n th e m ost ,

treme n dou s s uspen se i n the bedroom It is tru e this as

athi n g which happen ed every morn i n g b u t they had bot
forgotten that i n t e te n sion of highly wrou ght feeli n g h
,
.

, h
.

An d whe n the doctor came h e shook his head Ther e .

Y ou h a
”
has bee n t o o m uch goi n g o n here he sai d ve ,
.

been doi n g too m u ch or talki n g too m u ch Miss Ki n gs

w
.

ward y ou hel ped u s greatly with ou r patie n t yesterday

,
,

b ut I a m afraid y o u have bee n goi n g t o o far y o u hav e ,

h ur ried him t 0 m u ch We d are n ot press recovery at .

rail ay speed after so seriou s an ill n ess as this .

“
O h I have n ot wished to do s o said Bee

h
, , .

”
some frie n ds tha t we are expecti n g .

Frien ds ?
I n ever said he was to see frie n ds t e doc ,

tor said .

Come doctor said Charlie y ou m u st n ot be t oo hard

, , ,

u pon me It s it s my fathe r an d sister that ar e com i n g

.
’
—
’
.

You r father an d sister are di ff ere n t ; b u t n o t t o o m u ch

w
even o f them R ecollect n u rse wh at I say ; n o t t o o m u ch
.
, ,

eve n o f the n earest an d dearest The mach in ery has been .

too m u ch o u t of gear to com e rou n d all i n a mome n t An d .

,

Miss K i n g s ar d y o u are pale too Y o u had better get

, ,
.

o u t a little a n d take the air There m u s t n o t be t o o m u ch .

co n v ersation ; n o t too m u ch readi n g either I m u st h ave

h
.

”
q iet perfect qu iet
u , .

“
Am Ito do n othi n g b u t t i nk? s aid Charl i e
”
.
 THE S O R C E R E SS .
35 1

th a t the best th i n g for afellow t o do that h as missed his

s ch ools a ?”
n d lost his time
Be than kfu l that y ou are a t a time of life whe n the loss

w
o f a few weeks does n t m atter ; a n d d on t thi n k said th e
’ ’

d oc t or ,
o r we shall have to stop eve n the father a nd
s ister an d sen d y ou t o bed agai n Be reason able ; be

h
, .

reason able A few days q u iet an d y ou i l l be ou t of my

.
’

an ds
O h Ch arlie the n y ou have give n u p seei n g a
“
n y on e

h
, ,
”
e lse said Bee with a cry o f r elief as th e doctor atte n ded

w
, , ,

b y t e n u rs e wen t d own stairs , .

I have don e n othi n g o f the ki n d he cr ied j u m pi n g

h
, ,

u p fr om th e sofa a
“
n d goi n g to the wi n dow An d y o u
ad be t ter tell that om an to go o u t for a walk an d that

w
,

y o u will look after me Do y o u th i n k whe n La

. u ra co m es
t h a t I will n o t see her if fifty doctors were to i n terfere ? ,

B u t if y o u wan t to save me a l ittle y ou wil l se n d that

o m an o u t of the way It is the worr y an d bei n g c o n .

tra di c t e d th at does me har m .

h H ow c an I Charlie oh how c an I i n the face o f what —

, ,

t e doctor said ?

w
H e t u rn ed back u pon her flami n g with feverish rage an d
e x c iteme n t

w
.

If y ou don t I ll go ou t I ll have a cab called an d get

’ ’
.
’

h
a ay from this prison he cried I don t care what ’
.
,
”
appen s t o me b u t I shall see her if I d ied for it

h
.
,

Perhaps said Bee to herself trembli n g she i ll n o t

, , ,
”
c om e . O h ! per aps she will n o t come ! b u t she felt th at
th is was a very forlorn hope an d whe n the n u rse ca me ,

b ack the poor girl falteri n g a n d ill at ease obeyed the

p ere mptory sign s an d frown s of Charlie on ce m ore estab
,

h
,

l i s e d o n the sofa a n d seemi n g to take n o part i n the

w
n egotiation

h
w
.

N u rse I have b ee n th i n kin g said Bee with that

h
, ,

t al e n t f or t e circ u msta n tial which wom e n have ev en

h
“
e n acti n g agai n st their will that y o u have far mor e ,

n e ed of a w a lk an d a l ittle fresh air than I c an have o

h ave o n l y bee n here f or a day an d that if y ou will tell —

m e exac tly what to do I co u ld take care of him while y o u

h h h h
h
,

o o u t a l ittle
g .

S oul dn t t ink of leavi n g i m sa i d n urs e wit

’
er , ,
35 2 T HE S O RC E R E SS .

w h
ey ebro ws w orki n g as u su al an d a mocki n g sm ile about
her lips Too m u c talk ; doc t or n ot pleased
.

Bu t if I promise n o t to t alk ? I s all n o t talk you h .

w h h
,

don t a n t t o t alk d o y ou Charlie ?

’

, ,

Charlie la u n ched a missile at er i n i s i n gratitu de ,

over his sho u lder Not with y ou he said , ,

.

Y o u hear cried Bee n o i n ten t u pon gai n i n g the

, ,

poi n t an d terrifi e d lest other visitors might arrive before

,

t his matter was decided We shall n ot talk an d I will .

,

do all y o u tell me O h o n ly tell me wha t I a m t o do

wh w
.
, .

Nothi n g to do said n u rse n o t f or n ext hou r n oth

w
, , ,

i n g b u t keep him q u iet

,
Well if y ou thi n k y o u c an nu .
,

d e rt ake that j u st for half an ho u r ,

I will I ill for as lon g as y o u ple ase cr i ed Bee

— —
, .

I t was b etter i n d eed i f t ere m u st be this i n t erview ith

wh
, ,

Lau ra t hat there shou ld be as f e spectators as possible

,

S e h u rried the woman away with eagern ess tho u gh s e h .

h
,

had b e e n alarme d at the first s u ggestion Bu t wh e n she

,
.

as al on e with i m an d n obody to stan d by her th i n ki ng , ,

at every so u n d she heard that this was the d rea d ed arrival ,

Bee cre pt close t o him with the su dde n pa n ic of terror and

d i smay
,
.

h
O h C arl ie don t l i ste n t o her don t believe her ; oh
,

don t be led astray by er a g ai n ! I have don e wh at y o u

’
’

h ,
’

tol d me bu t I ou ghtn t to have d on e it O h Ch arlie

,
’
.
, ,

sta n d fa s t wh atever she says an d d on t be led astray by ,

’

her agai n

hh
.

The o n ly sign of Charl ie s gratit u de that Bee rec e i ve d ’

was to be hastily pu shed away by i s shou l d er Y o u littl e .

”
f ool what do y o u k n ow abo ut it
,
?
e r brother said .

CH APT E R XLIX .

w h
B U T the n u rse wen t o u t for her walk a n d came i n a g ai n

w h
wh
an d n othi n g happe n ed ; an d Charlie ad his i n val id d i n
n e r wh i ch i n
, i s exciteme n t he cou ld n o t eat , an d Bee
was cal l ed do n stairs to l u n cheo n , an d yet n obody c ame

h h
.

The l u n ch e on as a terrible orde al f o r Bee She at t empted .

to ea t , wi t a n e ye on t e w i ndow , to atch f or t e a r
 T HE SOR C E R E SS . .

35 3

w h
r i v al of the visitors an d an ear u pon the su bd u ed sou n ds ,

o f the ho u se thro u gh wh i c she se em ed to hear the d i s

,

ta ri t s t ep the distan t voice of some o n e whos e prese n ce

,

as n ot ack n owl e dged She repeated with eagern ess her .

l i t tl e speech o f the n ight before Somethi n g m u st h ave

h
.

d e tai n e d papa she said ; I ca n n ot u n dersta n d it ; b u t he

,

i s s u re to come a nd e will take me away .

“
I don t wan t y ou to be take n away my dear said
’

, ,

M r s Leigh I sho uld n o t let y o u g o if I co u ld help it

w
,
. .

O h b u t I m u st I m u st said Bee trembli n g an d

She co u ld n o t ea t an ythi n g an y more th a
h
, , , ,

a g itated . n ,

C arlie an d whe n the n u rse ca m e down stairs i ndign an tly

, ,

c ar ryi n g the tray from hich scarce l y an ythi n g had been

w
take n Bee cou ld m ak e no reply to h er remon stran ces
‘

w
h
, .

“
Th e Yo un g lady had better n ot com e u pst airs agai n

w
,

s aid n u rse she as don e him m ore harm than good ; he

,

ill ha ye a relapse if we d on t mi n d It is as m u ch as ’

h
.

”
m y character is orth She talked like other people .

e n there was n o patie n t presen t an d she was gen u i n ely ,

afraid .

What ar e we to do ? said Mrs Leigh If this l ady . .

co m es he o u ght n o t to see her Bu t perha ps she Will n ot

?

w h
co m e .

T at i s what I have hoped said Bee b u t if she

h
, ,

h
d o esn t co me he will go ou t he wi l l get t o her somehow ;
’

e will kill himself i t s t r u ggl i n g

w h
,

A t the su ggestion o f goi n g o u t the n u rse gave a shriek

an d thru st her tray i n to t e servan t s b an d s who was w ait ’

w
“
i ng He will have to kill me first she said ru shin g

hw
, ,
.

a ay .

An d immediately u po n this sce n e came Betty fresh an d

w
h
,

s i n i n g i n her white frock ith a smile like a little s u n ,

b e am o a n n ou n ced a
,
t on ce that Miss Lan ce was c o m
mg .

Ho is Charlie ? said Betty O h Mrs Leigh how

h h
.
,
.
,

good y o u have been ! Papa is comi n g h imself to than k

y o u Wha
. t a tro u ble it m u st have bee n to ave him ill here
all the time ! Mrs Lyon whom I am stayi n g wit thi n ks .
, ,

i t s o won derf u l of y o u so ki n d so ki n d ! An d Bee s ize is

h
, , ,

comi n g tho u gh it is rather a hard thi n g for her to do

,
.

S e says y o u wil l n o t l i ke t o s ee her Mrs Lei gh a n d that ,

.
,

23
 S OR C E R E SS

w
T HE
354

h
.

wh
it will be an i n t ru sion u pon y o u ; b u t I said when y ou ad

a ngr y that she s ou ld come h

bee n so good to poo r Charlie all alon g y ou wo u ld no t be'

h
o is s u ch a frie n d

An y frie n d of co u rse of Colon el K i ng s ar d s Mrs

,

w
.
, , ,

Leigh said s t i ffly while littl e Betty stared Sh e thou g t

,
.

they al l looked very stran ge ; the ol d l ady s o s t i E an d Bee ,

t urn i n g red an d tu rn i ng white an d a ge n eral air as if ,

somethi n g h ad gon e ron g .

Is Charlie worse ? she said with an a nxiou s look ,

.

An d then Bee was s u dden ly called u pstai rs C an t .

’

ma n age him a n y lo n ger the nu rse said on the l an di ng

,
.

I w ash my han ds of i t You r fau lt if he has a relapse ”

h
. .

” “
Who is that said Charlie fro m withi n ; wh o i s i t
? ?
,
.

I will see her ! Nobody s al l i n terfere n o o n e doctor or

w
, , ,
”
n u rse o r ,
the devil himself Bee !
—
.

I t is o nly Betty said Bee ; u po n which Charlie ceased

,

h is ragi n g an d fl u n g himself agai n on his sofa Y ou .

wan t to torm en t me ; y ou wan t to wear me ou t ; y ou an t

”
to kill me he said with tears of ke en disappoi n tme n t i n

h
, ,

his eyes
“
hh .

C arlie said Bee she is comi n g Betty is ere to

w
.
, ,

say s o ; s e is comi n g i n abou t an hou r or so If y ou will .

eat you r di nn er an d lie q u ite qu iet an d compose you rself

y o u will be allowed to see her an d n u rse wi l l n o t obj ect

h
, .

“
O h M iss K i n g s a rd don t an swer for me ! i t i s as ’
.
, ,

m u ch as i s life is wort h .

B ut n ot u n less y ou ea t you r di n n er a
“
n d keep perfectly
‘
E

”
t i iet

w
q

h
.

Give u s that old d i nn er said Charlie wi th al ou d , , ,

u n steady la u gh ; a n d the tray was brou ght b a ck an d e

performed his d u ty u pon the half cold dishes with an ex
h
-

p e d i t i o n an d ex u be r a n ce that gave n u rse n e a p p r e e n

h
” “
sion s . He ll have i n digestio n she said if he gobbl es
’

, ,

l ike t at speaki n g on ce more i n au di b ly over Charl i e s

,
’

sho u lder Bu t afterward all was qu iet till the fated m o

.

me n t came .

I do n ot thi n k if these girls had k n own t he feel i ngs th at

were withi n Miss Lan ce s breast that t ey wou ld hav e bee n
able to retai n their respective feeli n gs toward er Bett y
’
h h —

of adoration o r Bee of hostility She had lived a l ife o f .

adven t u re an d she had come alrea d y o n variou s occasi o n s

,
 T IIE S O RC E R E SS 35 5

h
.

to t e v ery eve of su ch a s e tt l e d.c ond i t i o n of life as wou ld

have mad e fu rther adve n tu re u n n ecessary an d impossible

w
bu t somethi n g had always come i n the way Somethi n g

w w
—
.

s o ofte n comes i n the way of s u ch a career ; the stolid p e o

an d prosper while those

n ess so m u ch
,
h
pl e who are i n capable o f an y skilfu l combi n ation s go o n
o have wasted s o m u ch clever
i t so m u ch tro u ble a n d dist u rbed the

w
—
, ,

lives of others an d risked their o n f ail j u st at the m o

h
—
’

m e n t of s u ccess I am sometimes very sorry for t e poor

.

a d ve n tu rers Miss La n ce we n t to C u rzon Street with all

.

h er wits pai n fu lly abo u t her k n owi n g t at she as abou t h

w
,

to stan d for her life It seemed the m ost extraordi n ary .

wh w
spite of fat e that this shou ld have h appe n ed i n the hou s e
o f A u brey Leigh
’

She wou ld have had i n an y case adis

h h
.

agreeable rn o m e nt e n ou gh betwee n Ch arlie K i n g s ar d

an d his fa t er b u t it was t oo m u ch to ave the oth e r
'

w w
,

bro u ght i n Th e m an hom she ad so wro n g ed the

h
w
,
.

f amily (for she k n ew that h is m other was there also ! o

w
k n ew all abo u t her wh o cou ld tel l everythi n g an d stop , ,

h er on the very threshold of the n e life that n e life i n —

h hich there wou ld be n o e q u ivocal circ u mstan ces n othi n g

t at she cou ld be reproached ith on l y d u ty an d ki n d
n ess . So often she seemed to ha v e bee n j u st withi n sight
,
,

o f that h alcyon spot where she wo u ld n eed to scheme n o

w w
m ore where du ty a
,
n d every v irt u o u s thi n g wou ld be n a t
u ra l a n d easy Was the fail u re t o come all over agai n ?
.

Sh e was li t tle more tha n an adve n t u ress this tro u ed

w
,

om an an d yet it was n o t ithou t someth in g of the e a

w w
,

alted feeli n g o f o n e who is abou t to stan d for his life for

h
,

e m an cipatio n a n d freedom to do well a n d all that is best

h h
i n existe n ce that she alked thro u gh t e streets tow ard

w
,

e r fate Tru th alon e as pos s ible with the Leighs o

wh
.
,

kn ew everyth i n g abo u t her past a n d co u ld n o t be per

h
,

s ua d e d or t u rn ed from their certai n ty by a n y expla n a tion s ;

h h
b u t poor Charlie ! bare tru th was n o t possible ith i m

wh h hh hw
hom s e had sacrificed l ightly to t e am u se m e n t of t e

wh
m ome n t whom she cou l d n ever have m arried or m ade the

wh h
,

i n stru men t of bu ildi n g u p her fortu n e except i n t e way

h ich to do her j u stice she ad n o t foresee n thro u gh t e
, , ,

access he ad give n her to i s father Ho as she t o .

s atisfy that foolis hot hea d ed boy an d o to stop t e

,
-
,
35 6

m ou t hs of the others i n t e backgrou n d ? an d o to per

ww
s u ade Colon el K i n g s ar d that circ u msta n ces alon e were
again st her tha t she herself as n o t to blame ? She di d
—
w
T HE S OR C E R E SS

h
.

h
n ot co n ceal from he rs elf a n y of these diffi c u lt i es b u t she ,

was t oo brave a woman to fly before them She preferred .

t o walk a n d t o walk alo n e to this trial which aw a ited her

h
, , ,

i n order to s u bd u e her n erves a n d get the a i d of the fresh

a ir a n d sol itu de to steady her bei n g S e was goi n g to

w
.

sta n d for her life .

I t seemed a good au gu ry that she was allowed t o e n ter

ww w h
the ho u se wi thou t any i n terr u ption from the s itti n g rooms -

bel ow where she had the con viction that e r orst 0 p

p o n e n t s
,

were lyi n g i n wait She tho u ght ev e n that s e h

h
.

had been able to disti n gu ish the hite cap an d shawl of

Mrs Le i gh throu gh t e wi n dow ; b u t i t as .Be t t y
.

me t her i n the hall me t e r with a kiss a —

hh
n d expressio n of
o

delight .

O h I am so glad y o u have come

,
said Betty ; he is ,

s o eager t o see y o u The people i n ambu sh i n the grou n d

h
.

fl o or rooms m u s t have heard the exclama t ion b u t they ,

made n o sign At the door u pstairs they were met by t e

.

n u rse excited a
,
n d lacon ic speaki n g withou t a n y sou n d , .

N o worry don t co n tradict M u ch as life is worth

’
—
.
,

she said with e mphatic sile n t lips Miss Lan ce so c om

, ,
.
,

posed s o perfec t i n her man n er s o wou n d u p t o every

, ,

thi n g la u ghed a little sh e was so n atu ral

,
—
an d n odded —

her head An d the n she wen t i n

w
. .

Charlie on the sofa was of co u rse the ch i ef fig u re Bu t

h
.

he had j u mped u p fli n gi n g h is wrappi n gs abou t an d

h
, ,

stood i n his ga un t an d trem u lo u s le n gth with his big ol ,

lo eyes an d his ragged little be ar d an d i s h an ds ,

s tretched o u t ”
At last ! he said at l ast Lau ra ! ”

w
—
.
,

st u mbli n g i n his weak n ess as he adva n ced to her Bee

hh
.

was stan di n g u p straight agai n st the wi n dow i n the f u r

t e s t corn er of th e room n o t maki n g a moveme n t
real o n atu ral how comple tely erself an d ready f o r
,
H ow
h .

w
,

h
, ,

an y emerge n cy this visitor was ! She took Charlie s han ds ’

i n hers s u pporti n g him wi t that firm hold a

, n d p u t him ,

back u pon his co u ch .

No she said the con dition s of my v i sit are t hese :

, ,

perfect q u iet an d obedie n ce an d n o exciteme nt If y ou , .

r w
ebe l in any ay I shall g o I kn ow what n u rsi n g is an d
I k n ow what common sen se is an d I came here to help
T HE S O R C E R E SS

.
.

,
35 7

w
- —

to harm Move a fi ger more tha

w
y o u ,
n o t y ou t o e o r n . n

y o u o u ght an d I shall g o

h
.
,

I will n o t move n ot a n eyelid if y ou tell m e n o t I

w
h
, .

a n t to do n othi n g b u t look at y o u Lau ra o La u ra ! I .

, ,

ave b ee n dead an d n o I am alive agai n Charlie said

”
, .

w
Ill or well said Miss Lan ce arran gi n g his c u shion s
, ,
“
ith great skill y ou are a foolish absu rd boy Partly
, , .

i t belon gs t o you r a g e an d partly to yo u r temperame n t I .

s h o u ld n ot have con sidered y ou like yo u r father at the

first glan ce b u t y ou are like him N o perfect qu iet ;

,
.
,

con sider that you r gra n dmother has come to see y o u an d ,

th at it does n o t su it the ol d lady to have her mi n d Hi s

w
t u rb ed .

H e had seized her han d an d was kissi n g it over an d over

agai n Miss La n ce took those caresses very q u ietly ; b u t
.

after a mi n u te she with drew her han d “

No tell me .
,

al l abo u t it she said y ou we n t off i n su ch a commotion

”

h h
, ,
— s o a n gry with me
”
Ne v er a n g ry he said b u t misera ble o more mis
, , , ,

c rable t oo m iserable f or words I thou gh t that y o u ad

w
—
.

c u t me o ff forever .

Y o u were right s o far as yo u r foolish ideas o f that mo

m en t wen t ; b u t I hope y ou have learn ed be t ter si n ce ; an d

h tell me what did y ou do I hoped y ou had gon e

?
no ,

ome an d the n that y ou had gon e t o Scotlan d an d the n

, ,

Wha t did y ou do ? ”

h
”
I don t kn ow said Char l ie I can t tell y ou I s u p
’

, ,
’
.

p o se I m u st av e been ill the n I came u p t o t own b u t .

,

I don t k n ow what I did An d I was b rou ght here an d .

,

I ve bee n ill e v er si n ce an d cou ldn t seem to get better

’

,
’

u n til I hear d y o u had bee n speaki n g for me You speak .

i n g for me Lau ra ! thi n ki n g of me a little tryi n g to bri n g

, ,

m e back to life I ll come back to life dear for y ou

’
.
, ,

an y t h i n g Lau ra f o r y ou !
h
”
, ,

My dear boy it is a pity y ou shou ld n ot ave abet t er

h
,

r e ason she said

,
The two girls had n ot gon e away
. .

B etty a d retired to the corn er where Bee was a n d they ,

s tood close together holdi n g each other ashamed an d ,

s c orn fu l be y on d expression of Charlie s ab a n do n me n t

’
.
35 8

E ve n Bet t y w
h
o was almost a
,
T H E S OR C E R E SS

s m u ch i n l ov e with M iss

L an ce as Charlie was was as hamed to h ear h im goi n g

.

w
,

on
"
i n this ridic u lou s way What Miss Lan ce felt to h av e

h
.

these words o f devotio n addressed t o her i n th e presen ce

o f two s u ch l iste n ers I will n o t say S e was ac u tely .

sen sible of their prese nce an d of wha t th ey ere thi n k ,

i n g b u t she did n o t shri n k from the ordeal

,
An d y o u .

mu st n ot call me Lau ra she said u nless y ou c an mak e

“

h
, ,

it Au n t La u ra or Gran dmother La u ra wh ich are titl es I

, ,

s ou ldn t obj ect t o A n ythi n g else wou l d be ri dic u lo u s

’
.

betwee n y ou an d me .

Lau ra ! the you n g m an said raisi n g him sel f q u ickly

”
, .

“
Say Au n t Lau ra my dear ; an d if y o u m o ve a n other ,

i nch I will go away ! ”

Y ou are cr ushi n g me he cried y ou are drivi n g m e , ,

”
agai n t o d e spair !
D e ar Charlie said Miss Lan ce al l this y o u k n ow i s
, ,

very great n on sen se betwee n y o u an d me ; I h ave tol d —

u so all alo n g Now thi n gs h ave really be come t

w
y o . oo
serio u s to go on I wa n t to be ki n d to y o u t o h elp y ou
.
,

to get well an d to see as m u ch of y ou as possible ; for y o u

,

are a dear b oy an d I am fon d of y ou Bu t th is ca n t be

, .
’

u n less o u will see thi n gs i n their tr u e light a n d a kno l

y c ,

h
edge the real state of a ff airs I am most willi n g an d ready .

to be you r frien d to be a mother t o y ou B u t a n yt i n g

w
.
,

w
else is ridicu lou s Do y o u hear me Ch arl ie ridic u l ou s !
.
?
,

Y ou don t wan t t o be l au ghed at a

’
n d y o u do n t w a n t me
’

hh
w
,
”

wh
to be lau ghed at I s u ppose ? She took his h an ds wi t h

h
,

h
1c he had covered his face an d hel d them i n h ers .

N o n o n o n se n se C arlie
, Be a m an ! Will y o u ave
,
.

m e for you r frie n d al ays ready to do an ythi n g f o r ou

, y ,
l l
'

or 1
y u ave n othi n g to do with me
o ?
Come ! I m ight
be 3q mother I ve always told y ou s o An d l ook h ere
’
,
’
.
~ ”
,
she sa i d with a ton e o f ge nu i n e pas s ion i n her voic e an d a
u
h
h alf t rn q f her flexible figu re toward th e two girl s Im
’

worth av mg for a mother ! Whatever ou m a t h i n k i n

h
,

y y

h
l cru el
'

Su rel y th is was t o t e m
an gn o t to 1 m
o ”
Y you th I am I am ! , ,

The moveme n t the acce n t w as m o

.
,

ar f
f
( i o n i ma ke
C s.
Char l ie my dear boy do n t m ake m
, e ridi c u l o us ,
’

people la ugh at me They c all m e an o l d .

w
—
i tch ,
na y
tryi n g to e ntrap a yo u n g m an Will y ou let peop l e
will y o,
u m a k e people call me so ?
”
T H E SO R C E R E SS .

.
35 9

h Imake a
”
n y o n e call y ou an ythi n g b u t what y o u are ! —

w
e cried Nobody wo u ld dare said the u n fort u n ate
.
,

f ellow to d o a n yt hi n g b u t re v ere y ou an d admire y o u

, , ,

s o lo n g as I was there .

An d the n break o u t lau ghi n g the momen t you r back

as t u rn e d she said
”
What a hold the ol d hag has got
, .

u p o n him ! is what they wo u ld say An d it wou ld be q u ite .

h
t ru e N o t th at I am a n o l d hag No I do n t thi n k I am ’

w
.
.
,

t at Iam wors e Im a very we l l prese r ved woman of

’
— .
-

m y years Iv e take n great care of myself to keep u p wh at

’
.

ar e called my person al adva n tages I h ave n ever wished .

I don t wish n o to be thou gh t older than I am o r

’
-
,

u g ly I am j u st old e n ou gh to be yo u r mother Charlie

.
—
,

i f I had married you n g as you r mother did ,

H e drew h is han ds o u t of her cool an d firm grasp an d

o n ce more covered his face wit them Don t tort u re h .
’
,

me ,
he cr i ed .

No my dear boy I do n t wan t to tortu re y ou ; b u t y o u

, ,
’

m u st n o t make me n o r yo u rself whom I am prou d o f ,

—

r i dic u lo u s I am goi n g probably for n othi n g is certai n

w
—
.

t i l l it happe n s she said with a mo u rnfu l to n e i n her

, ,

hv o ice slightly shaki n g her head

e lp to balk me
,
an d y ou m ay perhaps
Iam probably goi ng t o make a matc
ith a reason able person su ited to my age
—

.
h
h Poor Charl ie started u p h is h an ds fell from his face

h
w
, ,

i s large m i serable eyes were fi xed u po n hers An d

w
,
.

”
come come to tell m e this ! crie d

w
—
y o u y o u — e .

“
It will be partly f or y ou to show how impossible yo ur

h
f o l ly i s b u t most for myself to sec u re my o n h appi n ess
—
, .

S e sa id these ords very slowly on e by on e to sec u re

m y o n h appi ness H ave I n o t the right to do that b e
h
w
.
,

ca u se a yo u n g m a n who shou ld have bee n my s o n , as ,

t ake n it i n to his fool ish head to form other ideas o f me ?

Y o u wo uld rather make me ridic u lo u s a n d wretched than
c o n sider my di gn 1 ty my elfare my h appi n ess an d t his —

w
, ,

i s what y o u call love ! she s a

”
id .

The girls l iste n ed to this con versation with feeli n gs i m

p ossible t o p u t i
o n e o f them l o v e d t e
n to wor d s n o t k n owi n g what
om an an d t e other h ated her ; h
to thi n k ; ,

h
 w
360 T H E SOR C E R E SS

h
.

they were equ all y overw elmed i n their you ng an d simpl e

ideas . She seemed to be speaki n g a lan gu age n e to
the m an d t o have risen i n to a region which they had
,

n e v er k n own .

CHAPT E R L .

w ww
SHE left Charlie s room havi n g soothed him an d re d u ced
’

h
him t o q u iet i n this i ncon ceivable way with a smile on

h er f a ce an d the look o f o ne who was perfectly mistress of

t e si t u at ion Bu t he n she had gon e do n half a dozen
.
,

steps an d reached the lan di n g she stood still an d leaned

u po n the wall claspi ng her ha n ds tight as if there
, as
somethi ng i n them t o hol d by She had carri e d thro ugh .

this part o f her o rdea l w i th a high ha n d She had made .

it look the ki n dest yet the mos t decisive i n terview i n the

,

world cru shi n g the foolish you n g heart withou t rem orse
, ,

ye t ten derl y ki n dly with s u ch a force o f se n se an d reason

w w
, ,

as cou ld n o t be resisted an d all s o n at u rally with s o —

,

m u ch apparen t ease as if it cost her n othi n g Bu t she .

was after al l merely a woma n an d sh e k n ew th at on ly

half n ay n o t h a
,
lf n o t the o rst alf o f her trial as over
, ,

Sh e lay back agai n st the wal l avi n g n othi n g e l se t o rest hh ,

h
u po n a ,
n d closed her eyes for a mome n t The two gir l s
ad followed her i n sti n ctive l y o u t of Charlie s room an d
stood on the stairs on e above the other gazi n g at her
.

, .

The lo n g l i n es of her fig u re seemed to relax as if she ,

might have falle n an d i n their won der an d ig noran ce they

,

migh t still have stood by an d looked o n letti n g her fall

w
, ,

withou t k n owi n g wha t to do Bu t she d i d n ot do so The . .

corn er of the wa l ls s u pporte d her as if they had m ade a

cou ch for her an d presen tl y she open ed her eyes with a
vagu e smile at Betty
,

o was foremost
she said an d the n it isn t easy drawi n g a lon g breath
h
I was tired
,
’
.
,

, , ,
.

At this mome n t the trim figu re of Mrs Leigh s maid .

’

appeared on the stairs below ; so common place s o tr im

h
, ,

so n eat the little apparition of ordi n ary life which gl ides

,

throu g every tragedy lifti n g its every day voice i n an -

h h
,

n o u n ce m e n t s of d i n n er i n i n u iries abo u t te a mall the

’

q , ,

n ot m g s of ro u ti n e i n t e midst o f all t u m u lts o f m isery

,
 T HE SOR C E R E SS .
361

an d passi on If y ou please ma d am my l ady wou ld be

.
, ,

g l a d if y o u wo u ld step i n to the di n i n g room she said -

h h
, .

M iss La n ce raised herself i n a momen t from that hai f

w
r e c u mbe n t positio n agai n st t e wall She recovered er

h
.

s e l f got back her co l or a n d the brightn ess of her eyes a nd

h
, ,

t at look of bei n g perfectly n atu ral at her e ase n u

ww
h
, ,

s t rai n ed S pon ta n eou s

,
hic she had shown throu gh ou t
,

t e i n terview with Charlie Certai n ly she said There

'

.
, .

d i d n ot seem to be time f or the twi n kli n g o f a n eyelid b e

t ee n the on e m ood an d the other She requ ired n o .

p r e p arati o n or i n terv al t o p u ll herself together She .

l o o ked at the t o sisters as if t o call them to follow her ,

an d the n walked qu ietly down stairs to be tried for her life

w
— l ike a martyr oh n o for she was n o t a martyr b u t a
—

h
, , ,

c ri m i n al She had n o con fide n ce of i nn oce n ce abou t her

h
w
. .

S e k n ew what i n dictme n t was abou t to be bro u ght agai n s t

h hw
er a
,
n d she k n ew it was t r u e This kn owledge ho ever .
, ,

g i v es a certai n stre n gth It gives cou rage su ch as the.

i n n oce n t o do n o t k n ow what cha rge may be bro u ght

w
,

ag ai n st them or o to meet it do n o t possess She had

w
.
,

r e h earsed th e sce n e She k n ew what she was goi n g to be

.

ac c u sed o f an d had tho u ght over an d set i n order all the

,

h
pl e as She kn ew exactly what she had d on e and hat she
.

ad n o t which
,
as a tower of stre n gth to her ; an d she
k n ew that on her power o f fighti n g it ou t depe n ded her '

li fe It is di ffi c u l t altogether to de n y ou r symp athy to a

w
.

brave cre atu re fighti n g for bare life H owever gu ilty he

w
.

m ay be h u ma n n at u re takes sides with him hopes i n the ,

f ac e of all j u stice that there may be a loop hol e o f escape -

.

h
E v e n Bee comi n g s lowly do n stairs after her already

h
w h
,

t ro n i n to a c u ri ou s t u m u lt o f feeli n g by that sce n e i n

h
w
C arlie s room began to feel e r breath q u icken with ex
’

w
h
,

c i t e m e n t eve n i n t e hosti l ity o f her heart

h
.

h h
There as on e thi n g t at Miss Lan c e had n ot foreseen ;
an d t at bu rs t u pon her at on ce e n the maid open ed

h
t e d oor
h Col on el K i n g s ar d st an d i n g with his arm u pon

w h
—

h
t e ma ntel piece a nd i s cou n te n an ce as if t u rn ed t o ston e
-
.

T e shock which this sight gave her was very d i ffi c u lt t o

h
o v ercome or co n ceal ; it stru ck her with a s u dde n dart as
o f despa i r ; er imp u lse as t o fli n g down er arms to ac ,

kn owled g e herself van q u ished a n d to retreat a defeat e d , ,

362

an d ru i n ed adven tu ress ; b u t she a s t o o bra v e a

T H E SORC E R E SS

nd un w .

w w
alterably by n atu re t oo san gu i n e t o do this She gav e
, ,
.

h im a n o d an d a smile t o which he scarcely respo n de d as,

she we n t toward Mrs Leigh . .

Ho stran ge she said whe n I come t o see a n e

, ,

frien d to fin d s o o l d a frie n d ! I won dered if i t cou l d be

Mr Leigh ’
. s h ou se ; b u t I was n ot su re o f the n u mber —
.

I am afra i d I can n ot say I am glad to see y o u Lau ra

w
, ,

said Mrs Leigh . .

No ? Perh aps it wo ul d have been t o o m u ch t o expect .

We were so to speak on di ff ere n t sides Poor Amy I

, , .
,

k n o was n ever satisfactory to y o u an d I don t won der

, ,
’
.

O f co urse y o u o n ly tho u ght o f me as her frie n d .

If that were all Mrs Leigh said . .

h Was there more than that ? May I sit dow n ? I have

ad a lo n g walk an d rather an e xhau sti n g i n terview an d
I d i d n ot expect to be p u t on my tri al
,

Bu t it is always .
—

best to k n ow what o n e is acc u sed of I thi n k i t q u ite .

na t u ral q u i te n atu ral th at y ou shou ld n ot lik e me M rs

—
,
.

Le i g h I was Amy s frie n d an d she was tryi n g to y ou

’

w
w
,
.
.

She p u t m e i n a very fa l se po s ition which I ou ght n ever ,

to have accepted Bu t yet Iu n derstan d you r atti tu de —

w
.
, ,

an d I su bmit to it w i th r e spect b u t pardon m e s i n —

,
—

h
c e rel y I d on t k n o hat there was more
’
.
,

Miss Lan ce had take n a chair ; a perfectly sti ff u p r ig t

o n e o n which f e people cou ld have s at gracefu l l y S e
made i t evide n t that i t was mere fatigu e w ich m ade her h . h
s u bside u po n it mome n tarily a n d lifted her fin e h e a d an d ,

l i m pid eyes with so ca n did a n d respectfu l a n air tow a rd

w h
M r s Leigh s comfortable u n heroic face th at n o co n tra s t
’

,
.

of.
the oppressed an d oppressor cou ld ave bee n m ore
m arked If an y o n e had s u ff ered i n the matter betwee n
.

these t o lad i es i t certai n ly was n o t the on e with t e rosy

,

co u n te n an ce an d rou n d well fil l e d o u t fi g ure ; or s o at l east - -

h
,

an y impartial observer certai n ly wo u ld have felt .

w
Mrs Leigh for her part was almost speechless with

w
.
, ,

e x c 1 te m e n t an d a n ger She had i n te n ded to keep per

.

f e c t l y cal m b u t the look the ton e the appeara n ce o f thi s

, , ,

per o age altogether bro u ght before her o v erp o e r i n q l r

s n
,

m an y past sce n es sce n es i n hich to tell the t r uth M i s

—
s
, ,
 w h
T HE S O R C E R E SS .

w 6
3 3

w h
L an ce a d n ot b ee n always i n
the ron g i n which the ,

oth er fig re u no altoget e r disappeared of A u brey s wife ’

w as the foremos t an i mmovab l e g e n tle ma nn ered fool

, ,
-
,

ith whom all reason an d arg u me n t were u n availi n g ,

wh om everybody had believed to be i n spired by the com

p a n i on t o whom she cl u n g All Amy s fa u lts had bee n .
’

bo u n d u pon Lau ra s shou l ders bu t this was n o t altogether

’

w
,

d eserved an d Miss Lan ce d i d n o t shri n k from a nythi n g

,

th at co u ld be sai d on that su bj ect It requ ired m ore .

”
c o u rage t o say Was there a n ythi n g more ?
,
“ ”
More ! cried Mrs Leigh choki n g ith the remem

w
.
,

br an ce . More ! my boy s hou se was made u nsafe f or ’

h im it was made miserable to h im he was i n volved i n

, ,

every ki n d of danger an d scan dal ; an d she asks me if

'

th ere as more ?
“ ”
Poor Amy said M i ss La n ce with a little pau se on
, ,

th e n ame shaki n g her head ge n tly i n compassion an d re

w
,
“
g ret
. Poor Amy p u t me i n a very false positio n I .

h ave a l ready said so I o u ght n o t to h ave accepted it I , ,

o u ght n ot to have promised ; b u t it i s so d i ffi c u l t to refu se

ap romise t o the dyi n g Le t Colon el K i n g s ar d j u dge. .
,

S h e was very u n wise b u t she had bee n my frien d from ,

i n fan cy an d cl u n g t o me more m u ch more than I wished

wh
, , .

S he exacted a promise from me o n her death bed that I -

wou l d n ever leave her child which was folly an d per

,

w
—
,

h aps m ore than folly so far at lea s t as I was con cern ed , , , .

Y o u may imagi n e Colon el K i n g s a rd ,

s e added ,

steadfastly regardi n g him H e had kept his head t u r n ed

w h
.

a ay n o t looki n g at her b u t this gaze c ompelled him

w
, ,

ag ai n st his will to shift his position to t u rn toward t e ,

appellan t who ma d e him the j u dge H e still kept his eyes .

a ay b u t his head t u rn ed by an attraction wh ich he co uld

,

Y o u may imagi n e Colo n el K i n g s a

“
n o t withstan d . rd , ,
”
th a t I was the perso n who su ff ered most Miss Lan ce ,

sa i d after that pau se compe l l ed to stay i n a ho u se where

,

I had n ever been welcome except to poor Amy who was

w
, ,

d ead a sort o f g u ardia n a sort of n u rse a n d yet wi t h

w
—
, ,

n o n e of their rights held f a st by a promise which I had

,

g i ve n agai n st my will a n d which I n ever ceased to regret

,
.

Y o u are a m a n Colo n el K i n g s ar d b u t y ou have more

, ,

u n derst a n di n g of a oman s fee l i n gs than an y I k n ow ’

.
 6
3 4

My w
position as afal s e
by my word
T H E SOR C E RE SS

it was c el b u t I a s bo u nd
on e ,
.

ru — w
h
h
N o on e o ugh t to ha v e give n su ch a promi se e sa id

wh
,

coldly wit averted eyes .

Y ou a
h
“
r e always right ; I o u ght n ot t o have do n e s o ;
b u t she was dyi n g a
she as foolis
n d I was fon d of her poor g irl th o u g
,

i t is n o t always t e wisest people one

—

loves most fon d of her very fon d of her ! an d o f her poor

—
h , ,

little chil d

w
.

’
The tears came t o Miss Lan ce s e y es She shoo k her .

head a little as if t o shake them from her eyelashes Why .

shou ld I cry ? they have be e n so long happy, h appier far

than e
Mrs Leigh the prosecu tor the accu ser gave a g u lp a
.
, , , ,

s o b ; the child was her gr an dchild her o n ly o n e an d b e ,

—

sides an ger i n a woman is as prone to tears a s sor row

h
, .

She gave a st ifled cry I don t de n y y ou were good to ,

’

the child ; o Lau ra I cou ld hav e forgi v en y ou every

, , ,

thi n g ! b u t n ot n ot —

h
”
What ? M iss Lan ce said

w
.

Mrs Leigh seized u pon Bee by the arm an d drew er

w
.

forward ; Au brey s mother wan te d word s she w an ted

h
’

h
,

eloq u e n ce her arg u me n ts had to be poi n ted by fact S e

, .

took Bee o had bee n sta n di n g i n pro u d yet excited

w
,

spect atorship an d held her by her o n side “

Au brey ”

h w
, .
,

she said almos t i n articu lately an d stopped to recov e r her ,

bre ath Au bre y whom y ou had driven from h is h ome

h
—

fou n d at last this dear girl t his n ice good girl

w
—
o , , ,

wo u ld have made i m a n e life Bu t y ou i n terfered ; .

y o u wrote t o her father y o u we n t I do n t k n ow wh

, at —
’

y o u did an d—
said y o u had a claim a prior claim If y ou , .

appeal t o Colon el K i ngs ar d h e is th e bes t j u dge Y ou , .

we n t to him

wh
“
N o t t o me ; I was n o t aware In ever eve n saw M iss —

”
Lan ce till lon g after ; forgive me f or i n terr u pti n g y ou .

Miss Lan ce t urn ed toward him agai n wi th th at fu ll l ook

o f faith a
“ "
n d co n fide n ce Al ays j u s t ! she said An d
. .

this time f or a trem u l o u s m ome n t their eyes met H e .

t urn e d his away agai n hastily b u t he ad receive d that ,

tou ch ; a n i n d e fin a b l e waveri n g cam e o ver his a s p ec t of

i ron .
 w
S OR C E R E SS 6

w
T HE 3 5

h
.

Yes s e said I do n o t de ny i t i t is qu ite tru e ; —

h
, ,

s ha
h
”
ll I n o explai n befor e every on e who is here ? I thi n k ,

s e a d ded after a mome n t tha t my little Bet t y o has,

n othi n g partic u l a r to do with it may r u n away

h
.
,

I sa i d Betty c l i n gi n g to the back of a chair

, .

”
Go said ef father impatie n tly go
, ,
.

Yes my dear r un away

, ,
Charlie m u st wa n t some .

one . He will h ave got over me a little an d he will wa n t ,

”
s o m e on e Dear little Betty r u n away !

w
,
.

M iss Lan ce rose from her seat— probably that to o was a

an d with a smile an d a kiss t u rn ed Betty
h
‘

r el ief to her

w
—

g e n tly o u t of the room S e came back the n a n d. sat

d o n agai n It gai n ed a little time an d she was at a
.
—

h
c r isis harder tha n a n y she had ever faced before
ad gai n ed a mome n t t o thin k b u t eve n n o sh e was n ot
s u re what way there was ou t of th i s strait the most
She
,
.

m ome n tou s i n which she had ever bee n She l oo ked .

ro u n d her at on e after a n other with a look tha t seemed as

w
h
s ec u re a n d con fide n t as easy a n d n at u ral as b efore ; b u t
,

e r brai n was worki n a t the most treme n dou s rate look

ww
g ,

i n g f or som e clew s o m e i n di c a t i on She l ooked rou n d as

'

.
,

ith a pau se of con sciou s power an d th en her gaze fixed ,

i tself o n Bee Bee stood n ear Mrs Leigh s chair She

. .
’
.

as stan di n g firm b u t tremu lou s a deeply con cer ned ,

s pectator ; b u t there was on her face n othi n g of the eager

atte n tion ith which a girl wo u l d liste n to an expl an ation

h
abou t her lover She was n o t more i n terested than she
.

ad bee n before n o t so m u ch so as when Charlie was i n

w
,

estio Whe Mrs Leigh i h er i dictme t said Y

w
q u n . n n n .n o u ,
”
i n terfered Bee had made a fai n t almost imperceptible
, ,

h
m o veme n t of her head

no
The mi n d works very qu ickly
en its fate ha n gs on the bala n ce of a mi n u te an d
su dde n ly the cu lprit arraign ed before these te rrible
.

, ,

j u dges saw her way

w w
.

”
I i n terfered Miss Lan ce said slowly b u t n o t b e
, ,

c au se of an y prior claim she pa u sed agai n for a mo I

w
“
m e n t ; that wo u l d have been as absu rd as i n the case
h ich Colo n el K i n g s ar d k nows of I i nterfered b e .
—

ca u se I had other reaso n s f or believi n g that A u brey Leigh

“
Y ou had ot er re a —
h
as n ot the m an to m arry a dear good n ice girl
son s Lau ra ! M i n d what y o u are ,
, , .
 66 THE S O R C E R E SS
3 .

say i n g y ou will have to prove you r words cried M rs

h
w
— .
,

Leigh risi n g i n her wrath with an aston is e d an d threat

, ,

w
e n i n g face

w
.

“
I do n o t ask his mother t o believe m e It is b efore .

Colon el K i n gs ar d said M iss L an ce that I stand or

” “

w
, ,
”
fall ! 0

Co lon el K i ngs ar d make her speak ou t ! Y o u k n o ,

it was beca u se she claimed my s on she a woma n t wice

w
—
,

his age ; an d n o she prete n ds Make her spe ak ou t !

How d are y o u ? H ow d are y o u ? Y o u said he had prom
ised t o marry y o u tha t h e was bou n d to y ou Colon el — .

K in gs a r d make her spe a k out ,

That was what I u n derstood he sa i d looki n g o u t o f

w
, ,

the wi n dow his head tu rn ed half toward the other,

speakers b u t n ot ven t u ri n g to l ook at them

,
I did n o t .

see Miss Lan ce b u t that was what I u nderstood ,

.

La u ra sat firm as if she ere made o f marbl e b u t al

w
,

h
,

most as pale H er n erv es were s o highly stru n g that if

.

h
w
she had for a mome n t re l axed their ten sion she wou l d a ve

h
fallen to the gro u n d She sat l ike a rock oldi n g h erself
together ith the stron g grasp of er c l as p e d han ds
Y o u hear y o u hear ! y ou are con victed o u t o f you r
.

'
,

o n mou th O h y ou are cr u el y ou are wicke d La u ra

.
, , ,

Lan ce ! If y ou have anythi ng to say speak ou t s p e ak .

,
—

”
ou t !
“
I
will say n othi n g said Miss Lan ce Iwill leav e , .
“

an other a better witn ess to say it for m e Colon el K i n gs

w wh h
, ,
.

ward ask you r da u ghter if it was becau se of m y p r ior

,

cl aim as his mother calls it that she broke o ff e r e n

, ,

a
g g e m e n t with A u brey Leigh .

Colon el K i n gs ar d tu r n ed s u rprised t o i s dau gh t e r , , ,

who rou sed by the so u n d of her o n n ame looked u p

, ,

qu ickly fir s t at the seemi n gly composed an d seri o u s

—

woma n opposite to her the n at her father He spok e to

h
, .

her angrily abru ptly , .

Do y ou hear ? A n swer the qu estion t at is p u t to y o u

Was it beca u se of this lady or an y claim o f hers tha t y o u
.

, ,
—
how shall I say i t ? ag irl l ike y ou had n o ri gh t to d e —

cide on e way or the other that y ou b roke o fi t hat y o u r — —

h
m i n d was chan ge d toward Mr Au brey Leigh ? ”
.

I t appeared t o Bee s u dde n ly as if she had becom e t e

 w
T HE S O RC E R E SS . 6
3 7

h
w w
cu lprit and all eyes were fixed on her She trembled
, .
,

l o oki n g at them all What ad she don e ? She as

’

w wh h
.

s u rely u n happy e n o u gh wretched e n o u gh a cla n desti n e , ,

h
v isi to r keepi n g A u brey o u t of his o
, n ho u se ; a
ad she to do with A u brey n othi n g n othi n g ! n or b e
nd at
—

h
,

w
ith her that her heart shou ld n o be s n atc e d o u t of
.
—

e r bosom p u blicly i n respect to him ?

“
Th at is lon g past she said falteri n g it i s an o l d , , ,

s to r y .Mr Au brey Leigh is a stran ger to me ; it is of

.
—

n o co n seq u e n ce !

w w
no —

Bee her father th u n dered at her an swer the q u es

, ,

tio n ! was it beca u se o f this l ady th at y ou chan ged you r

w w
—

m in d ?
”

h Colon el K i n g s ar d had always the art someho

k i n dli n g t e blaze of opposition i n the bl u e eyes w ich
of ,

h ,

ww w
ere so l ike his o n She looked at him almost fiercely .

i n reply f u l ly ro u sed
, .

N she said n o ! it was n ot beca u se o f that lady

,
—
.

I t as an ot h e r re ason of my o n —

wwh
.

Wh at as y ou r reason cried Mrs Leigh

’
O h Bee .
, ,

h
.

speak ! what was it what was it ? Tell me tell me my , , ,

d ear w at was yo u r reaso n ? that I may prove t o y ou it

,

as n ot tru e .

”
Had it a n yt i n g to do with this lady ? asked Colo n el —

h
K in gs a r d o n ce m ore

I n ever spoke to t at lady b u t on ce cried Bee almost

.

h
,

viole n tly I d on t k n ow her I d on t w an t to k n ow her

,
’
.
’
.

Sh e as n othi n g to do with it It was bec au se of s ome .

th i n g qu ite di ff ere n t somethi n g that we heard I an d ,

— —

m amma .

M iss Lan ce looked at him with a smile on her face loos

h
,

i n g th e g rip o f her han ds spreadi n g them ou t i n demo n ,

s tr a t i on of er acq u ittal She ros e 1 1 p slowl y H er beau t i . .

h
f u l eyes filled with tears She allowed it to be see n f o r
t e first ti m e how she was shake n with emot i on
.

w
.

‘‘
Y o u have heard she said a wit n ess y o u t ru st more
, ,

tha n m e i f I p u t m yself i n to the breach t o secu re a pa u se

—
,

it was on ly s u ch a p ece of folly as I have d on e before I

i .

hope n o that y ou wi l l let me w i thdraw I am d readfu lly .

tired I am n o t fit for an y more

,
”
.

She looked with that appeal u pon her face first at on e ,

368 T H E SORC E R E SS .

of her j u dges then a t the other Iyf ou a r e satisfied le t

w h
.
, ,

me go It seemed as if she cou ld n ot say a word m o re

ww
. .

They made n o respons e b u t she did n ot wait for t at ,

.

”
I take i t for g ra n ted she added that by that ch il d s ’

h
.
, ,

mou th I am c l eared an d then she tu rn ed to ard th e door

,
.

Colon el K i n g s ar d ith a l ittl e start came fro m i s

h
, ,

place by the man tel piece an d ope n ed it for her as he

-
,

wo u ld have don e for any woman She let it appear t at

w h
.

this mov emen t was un expected an d wen t to her h e art ;

she pa u sed a mome n t looki n g u p at i in her eyes sw im —

mi n g i n tears her mou”th qu i veri n“g

,
.

H o ki n d y o u are ! she said eve n thou gh y ou do n t ’

bel i e ve i n me an y more b u t I have do n e all I c an

w
— I .

am very ti red scarcely a ble to wa l k

,
H e stood rigi d ,

an d made n o S ig n an d she l ooki n g at him softly sh ook

, , ,
”
her head Let m e see y ou at least o nce she sai d v e ry

w
,
.
, , ,
”
lo ,
i n a pleadi n g to n e this eve n i n g some time ?,

Still he gave n o answer stan di n g like a m an o f iron

h
, ,

hol di n g the door ope n She gave him a n other look an d .

,

the n walked qu ietly b u t i th a sligh t qu iver an d alf

w
,

st u mble away They all stood watchi n g u n til h er t all

h
.
,

figu re was see n to pass the wi n dow disappearin g i n the ,

street which is t e o u ter worl d

h
,
.

“
Colon el Ki n g s ar d said Mrs Leigh
”
,
. .

H e s t arted at the sou n d of his n ame as if he ad b u t

h
w h
h
,

h
j u st awaken ed o u t of a dream an d bega n t o smooth his
at which all this time he ad he l d i n i s ha n ds
,

E xc u se me he s aid exc u se me an other ti me ; I

,

, , ,

h ave some pressi ng b u si n ess to see t o n o .

An d he t oo disappeared i n to that street wh ich led bo t

way s i n t o the mon otony of Lon don which i s the world
, , .

w
h w
CHAPT E R LI .

wh hw
T H O SE o were left behi n d were n o t very c a refu l o f
what Colon el K i n gs ar d d i d They were n o t thi n ki n g o f .

his con cern s ; i n the strai n o f person al feeli n g the m ost

gen erou s of h u man creat u res i s forced to th i nk firs t o f
their o n N ei t er of t e omen who were l eft i n t e
.
h
 S O R C E RE SS

w
T HE . 6
3 9

room had an y t i me to co n sider the matter ; b u t if they

w
h ad they wou ld have m ad e s u r e withou t hesitation th at .

h
n o t hi n g which co u ld happe n to Colon el K i n g s ar d cou ld

w
be alf so importan t as that crisis i n which his dau ghter
as i n v olved .

Mrs Leigh tu rn ed rou n d u pon the girl by her side an d

.

“
seized her han ds Bee she cried n o we are alon e
.
, ,

an d we c an speak freely Tell me what it was ? there is .

n ob o dy here to frigh t e n y ou to take the words from you r ,

m o u th What was it what was it th at made y o u t u rn

.
, ,

from Au brey ? At l ast at last it c an be cleared u p what , ,

”
ever i t was .

Bee t u rn ed away tryi n g to disen gage her han ds

,
I
t .

”
is o f n o con seq u e n ce she said O h d on t make me go
’

w
.
, ,

back to those old o l d thi n gs What does it m atter to Mr

,
. .

Leigh ? an d as for me
It matters everythi n g to Au brey He will be abl e t o .

h
clear himself if y o u ill give him the chan ce How cou l d
e clear himself whe n he was n ever allowed to speak
when he did n o t k n ow ? Bee i n j u stice i n mere j u stice !
.

, ,

What was i t ? Y o u said you r mother

Yes I had her the n We heard it together an d she
,
.
,

felt like me Bu t we had n o time to talk o f it after for

.
,

she was ill If y o u wou ld please n o t as k me Mrs Leigh !

w
.
,
.

I was v ery miserable mother dyi n g an d n owhere n o

w
—
, ,

where i n all the world an ythi n g to tr u st to Don t oh ! .

’

w
don t mak e m e go back u pon it ! I am n ot so very
’
—

”
h appy eve n n o !
,

The girl wo u ld n o t let herse l f be dra n i n to Mrs .

Leigh s arms She refu sed to res t her he ad u pon th e

’

w
.

arm an d am ple bosom which was o ff ered to her She .

drew away her han ds It was diffic u lt very di ff i c ult to

.
, ,

keep from cryi n g It is always hard for a girl to keep

.

from cryi n g he n her bei ng is s o moved The o nly .

chan ce for her was t o keep apart from all con tact t o stan d ,

by herself an d persu ade herself tha t n ob ody cared an d

’

w
,

th at she was alon e i n the world .

“
Bee I believe said Mrs Leigh solemn ly t hat y o u
, ,
.
,

h ave b u t to speak a word an d y ou will be happy Y ou

h
.

h ave n o t you r mother n o Y o u can t t u rn t o her a nd

’
.

as k her what y ou shoul d d o Bu t I am s ure t ha t s e w ou l d .

24
37 0 T HE S OR C E R E SS .

say Spe ak ! If she were here she wou ld n ot le t y ou break

,

a man s heart an d spoil his life f or a pu n ctil io I hav e

’
.

always heard she was a good woman an d ki n d— ki n d .

Bee the elder lady laid her han d s u dde n ly on the girl s
—
’

‘
shou lder maki ng her star t
,
she wou ld say Speak if she ’

w e re here
“
.

”
O h mamma if y ou were here ! said Bee thro u g
her t ears
, , ,
h
h
.

She broke down altogether an d became i n ar ti cu late ,

sob b i n g with her face bu ried i n her han ds T e ordeal .

o f the las t two days had been severe Charlie an d his .

con cern s an d the appearan ce o f Miss Lan ce an d t h e c on

, ,

fl i c t o n ly half u n derstood which h ad bee n goi n g on ro u n d

her had excited an d distu rbed her beyon d expressio n as ,

everybody cou ld see an d u n derstand Bu t i n deed t hese .

, ,

were b u t secon dary elemen ts i n the storm which had

overwhelmed Bee which was chiefly brou ght back by ,

that su d d e n pl u n ge i n to the a tmosphere of Au brey The

ww
.

sen sation o f bei n g i n his ho u se wh ich she might i n other , ,

circ u mstan ces have shared with him o f sitti n g at his table , ,

i n his seat u n der the roof that habitu ally sheltered h im

,

here where her o n l ife ou gh t t o have bee n passed b u t

, ,

where the first con dition n o was tha t there shou l d b e

n othi n g o f him visible In Au brey s ho u se b u t n o t f or
’

,
.

A u brey ! Au brey ban ished lest perhaps her eyes m ight ,

f all u pon him by chan ce or her ears be o ff e n ded by the ,

sou n d of his voice ! E ve n his mother did n ot u n derstan d

how m u ch this had t o d o with the pass ion an d t rou ble o f
the girl from whose eyes the i n n oce n t n ame of her mo t her
, ,

sweetest thou gh s addest o f memories had l e t forth th e sal t

h
,

an d boili n g tears If Mrs Leigh had bee n an ybody i n

h
. .

h
t e world save A u brey s mother Bee wou ld have cl u n g t o
’

er ,
accepti n g the te n der su pport an d con solation of t e
elder woman s arm s an d her sympathy ; b u t from Au brey s
’ ’

mother she felt herself compelled t o keep apart

h
It was n ot u n t il er almost con vu lsive sobbi n g was ov e r
that this qu estion co u ld be reopen ed an d i n the mea n
.

time Betty havi n g heard the sou n d of the closi n g doo r

h
cam e ru shi n g d own st airs an d b u rst i n to the room ; p er
aps she was n o t so m u ch d ist u rbed or exci t ed as M r s .

Lei gh was by Bee s co n dit i on ; she g ave her sist e r a kis s

’
 T HE S O R C E R E SS 37 1

h hh h
.

as s e l ay on t e sofa where Mrs Leigh had placed er

h
.
,

an d pat ted e r on t he shou lder

h
.

She will be b et t er whe n she has ad it o u t s aid Be tt y , .

S e has worked herself u p i n to su ch a sta t e abou t M iss

L an c e

h
.

ar e her en emy t
An d oh please tell me what has happen ed ! Y ou
,

Mrs Leigh o how c an y ou misj u dge h

w
o o —
,
.
,

e r s o ! as if she had bee n the cau se of a n y harm ! I was

w
s e n t away s aid Betty an d o f cou rse Bee wou ld not
“

h
, , , ,

w
s p e ak —
b u t I cou ld hav e told y ou Yes of cou rse I .
, ,

kn e w ! o co uld I help k n owi n g bei n g her sister I ?

,

ca n t t ell whether she t old me ; I k n e withou t telli n g ;

’

an d of c ou rse she m u st have told me This is how i t

w
,
.
,

as.
”

Bee p u t fort h her han d an d cau g ht her sister by her

She tu rn ed

ww
d er ss — b u t Betty was n o t so easily stoppe d .

r o u n d qu ickly and took t he de t ai n i n g han d i n to her o n

an d pa t ted an d c aressed i t

hw
.

It is far better to speak ou t she said it m u st be t old , ,

no ; an d tho u gh I am yo u n g a n d y o u call me little Betty

w
,

I c a nn ot help heari n g c a n I what people say ? Mrs

w
, , .

L e igh this ,
as o it was Whatever happe n e d abou t
‘
.

h
de ar Miss La ce whom I sh all stick to an d believe i n
n —

ate ver y o u say ! cried Be tty by way o f an i nt erl u de

”
, ,

ith flashi n g eyes that had n othi n g n othi n g to do with

, ,

it. That was a story like Charlie s I s u ppose an d Bee ’

, ,

n o more made a f u ss abou t it t ha n I sho u ld d o It was

after whe n Bee was stan di n g by A u brey l ike like Jo a
.

,
n ,
—

o f Arc ; yes o f co u rse,

I shall c all him A u brey Ishou ld
,
—

l i k e t o have him for a brot her ; b ut that has go t n o t hi n g

t o do with it A lady came to call u po n mamma an d she
.
,

t o l d a story abo u t some on e o n the railw ay who had met

h
A u brey o n the way home after that sce n e at Colog n e aft er
e was e n gaged t o Bee a n d miserable beca u se of papa s
,
’

h
,

o p positio n . Bett y spoke so fast tha t her words t u mbled

o v er eac other so to speak i n the ru sh for u tteran ce

h
, , .

“
Well he was seen she resu med pau si n g f or breath

h
, , , ,

p u tti n g a you n g woman wit childre n i n to on e o f t he

s l eepi n g carriages a poor you n g woman th at ad n o
—

m o n ey or right to be there He p u t her i n an d whe n

h h
.
,

er mon e y a h
th ey got t o Lon don he was see n talki n g to her an d givi n g
s i f s e b elo n g ed t o im I do n t s ee an y .
,
’
37 2

harm i n tha t f or he a w T H E S O R C E RE SS

s a l ways ki n d t o poor p e o p l e Bu t
.

w h
, .

these ladi e s did an d I su ppos e s o did mamma an d Bee

— —

h
, ,

blazed u p Tha t i s j u st like her She t akes fir e she —

h
. .

ne ver waits t o a
. s k qu es t ion s s e s t ops her e a rs She
—
.

t ho u ght it as some t h i n g dreadfu l s howi n g t hat e had ,

n e v er c a red f or her t hat he ad cared f or oth e r pe op le

—

e v e n when he was pre t en di ng I shou ld ha v e don e qu ite

di ff eren t I shou ld h ave said Now look here Au brey
.
,
‘
, ,

what does i t mean ? or rath er I shou ld n ever h ave ’

, ,

thou gh t a n ythi n g b u t t hat he was ki n d H e was always .

ki n d silly i n deed abou t poor peopl e as s o man y ar e

w
—

h
, , , .

Mrs Leigh had follow e d Be t ty s rapid nar ra t iv e with ’

h hh
.

as m u c atte n tion as she cou ld con cen tr at e u pon it ; b u t

w
the speed with which t e words flew fort t e little i n ,

t err u p t i on s t he e xpression s of Betty s ma tur e d a nd i se ’

h
,

w
opi n ion s bewil de red her beyon d measure
, .

“
What doe s i t all mean ? s e aske d l ooki n g fr om o ne

h
,

to an other he n t he story was don e A sleepi n g ca rr i age .

o n the railway — awoman wi t h childre n as if s e bel on ged —

h
hw
t o him ? H o co u ld a woma n with childre n b elo n g to
im Then she pau sed an d grew crimson with an o l d
? ”

woman s p ai nfu l bl u sh
’
Is i t vice horrible vu lga
. r v ice , ,

this child is attri bu ti n g t o my b oy

T e t o girls s t ared con fu sed a
u p from the s ofa a
n d tr ou bled
n d p u t her han ds t o her head
, B e e g ot
er eyes
h
.

h
h
,

fixed u pon Mrs Leigh wi t an appalle d an d h or ri fied

.

l ook . She had n ot asked herself of wha t Au brey ad

been a c c u sed She had fled from him b efore the dreadfu l
.

thou ght of rela tion ships she did n ot u n derstan d of som e

w
,

thi n g which was the last i n su l t t o her wha t ever it m ight ,

be i n itself Vu lgar vice ! The g irls were cowed a

. s if

w
some g u il t had bee n imp u ted t o themsel v es .

Y o u are n ot like a ny t hi n g I ha v e k no n y ou girl s of

hh w
,

Y ou are a
”
the period ! cried the an gry mo ther c .

u a i n t e d wi t h s u ch thi n gs as I a t my age had n e ver he a rd

q
of—
y o u make acc u satio n s ! B u t n o H e sh all a n swer

h
”
for himself she said flami ng wit rig t eou s rath
, , .

M rs Leigh we n t t o the bell a

. n d ra n g i t s o v iole n tly t at
the so u n d echoed all over the hou se

h h
.

Go an d ask you r master to come h ere a t on ce ; directl y ;

Iw a nt im th i s mom en t s e sai d , stam pi n her foot in
g ,
w
h imp atie ce
er
e t n o ff a
was see
nd
n .
T HE

An d the n there
SO R C E R E SS

The m an
n from the wi n dow t o cross t he street
w .

as a pau se .
37 3

w
o n his erra n d The n Bee rose her tears hast ily d ried u p

h
.
, ,

p “u shi n g back from her foreh ead her disordered hair .

I ad be t ter g o If y ou h ave sen t f or Mr Lei gh it

. .

ill be better that I shou ld g o

h
.

Mrs Leigh was almos t i n capable of speech She t ook

. .

h
B e e by the sho u lder a e r back almos t viole n t ly on

w
nd p u t
”
t e sofa . Y o u shall stay there she said i n a choked ,

an d an gry voice

h
.

What a hor ribl e pau se i t was ! Th e girls were sil en t ,

l ooki n g at e a ch other with wild alarm Betty o had .

,

b lu rted ou t the story b u t t o whom the i d ea of repeati n g

,

i t before Au b r e y +b e f or e a m a n was u n speakable horror

—
,

m ade a step toward the d oor The n she s aid N o I will

.
, ,
”
n o t ru n away with treme n dou s cou rag e
,
It is n ot ou r .

”
f a u lt
,
she added after a pa u se,
Bee if I hav e got t o
.
,

sa it agai give me yo r ha d

w
y n u n

h
.
,

I t is I who ou ght t o say it said Bee pale with the , ,

orror o f what was to come Vu lgar vice ! An d she t o .

acc u se him an d to stan d u p before the world an d say that

as why !

w w
It s e e me d alon g time b u t i t was really only a few m in
H e c ame i n qu ickly
‘

u tes before Au brey appeared .

,

breathless with haste an d s u spe n se H e expected from .

hat his mother had told him t o fin d Miss Lan ce an d

C olonel K i n g s ar d there H e came i n to the agitated
.

room an d fo u n d of all people i n the world Bee an d Betty ,

t e r r i fie d an d his moth er walki n g abou t the room sou n d

w
—

i n g as i t were a metaphorical lash abou t their ears i n the

fran k passion of an elder woman who has the most j u st
ca u se o f o ff e n ce an d n o reaso n t o at e her breath There h .

h as somethi n g h u morou s i n the tragic situ ation ; b u t to

t em it was wholly tragic and Au brey seei n g f or the first
,

t ime after s o l on g an i n terval the girl e love d an d see

,

h
w
,

i n g her i n su ch stran ge circu ms t an ces was by n o me a ns

h
,

d isposed to see a n y h u moro u s side .

”
Here Au brey ! said his mother I ave called u po n

h
, ,

y o u t o hear what y o u are acc u sed o f Y o u thou gh t it a s .

La u ra Lan ce b u t she as n othi n g to do wi t h it Y ou are

, .

ac cu sed of travelli n g from German y th at time when you —

37 4 T H E SO RC E RE SS .

w
w
were se n t o ff f ro m Cologn e the time those K i ngs ar ds

w
—

t urn ed u pon y ou
h
the girls st arted both an d recovered
—

themselves a little at the s ock of t his co n temptu o u s de

h
w h
scriptio n travelli ng i n sleepi ng carriages an d I k n o
n o t wh at wit a woman an d children o were belie v ed

h
”
to be lo n g t o y ou ! What have y ou to say ?
Tha t was n ot hat I said Mrs Leig . . .

What have y ou to say ? cried Mrs Leigh wai v i ng

”
.
,

her han d t o sile n ce Betty ; the acc u sed h as s u rel y the

w
right t o speak first .

“
What have I to say ? Bu t to what mother ? What is ,

i t was I tra v e l li n g with a woman a

— n d childre n ? I s up
pose I was tra v elli ng with all the wome n an d childre n
—

that were i n the same trai n B ut other ise o f cou rse y ou

.

k n ow I was with n obody What does it mean ?

w
.

Bee g ot u p from the sofa like a ghos t her bl u e eyes wil d , ,

her face pale .O h let u s g o l e t u s go ! Do n o t t orme n t

, ,

us ,
she s aid I will ack n owledge that it was n o t tru e
. .

Now tha t I see him I am su re it was n o t tru e I as .

mad I was so stu n g to thi n k

. Mrs Leigh d o n o t kill .
,

me ! I did him n o harm ; do n o t do n ot g o over it any

w
,
”
more !

hw
“ ? ” “
Go over wha t cried A u brey Bee ! She can t .
’

s t a n d she doesn t see where she is goi n g Mother what

’

w
, .
,

o n earth does i t ma tt er what as agai n st me if i t is al l ,

over Mother ! o dare y ou tort u re my poor girl

?

h This was n at urally all the than ks Mrs Leigh got for
er e ff orts to u n ravel the mys t ery which the reader k n o s
was the most i nnocen t mystery an d which has n ever
,
.

bee n cleared u p or t hou ght of si n ce that day It came .

c lear o f itself the mome n t that A u b r e o n ly t s u pport

y o ,

her t ook Bee i nto his arms

, .

C HAPT E R LI I .

T HE
Sorceress walked very slowly down t he stre e t .

She had the sen sation of havi n g fallen from a g reat

height after the exc i teme n t of havi ng fo u ght brave l y to
,

keep her place there ; an d o f havi n g anticipated e v ery

 T H E SO R C E R E SS .
37 5

st
h
ep of a comba t still more severe which ye t had n ot com e

h
wh
t o pass after er prevision s It had been a fight lasti n g

h
.

f o r ou rs from the momen t Betty all u n co n scio u s had told

h
,

h er of the hou se i n whic Charlie was That was i n .

t e morn i n g a nd no
,
it was late aftern oon an d the work ,

o f t he day the common work o f the day i n which all the

,

i n n oc e n t common pe ople abou t ad bee n employed was ,

ro u n di n g toward its e n d It seemed t o her a lon g lon g

.
,

t ime that she had bee n i n volved first i n imagi n ation i n ,

s e vere tho u g ht a n d the n i n act u al con fl i c t

,
i n this stru g —

gle fighti n g f or her l ife From t he begi n n i n g she had

w
.
,

m ade u p her mi n d that she shou l d fail It was a c o n .

s c i o u s l y losi n game that she h ad fo u ght so galla n tly

w
g ,

n e ver givi n g i n ; a n d i n deed she was n o t u n aware n o r

hh
,

as she witho u t a lan gu id satisfaction i n the fact that ,

ad i n deed car ried o ff the hon ors of the field that it

w w
s e
'

ou ld n o t be said that she had been beaten Bu t what .

d i d that matter ? Arg u me n t she k n ew a n d fel t had n oth

h
i n g to do w i th s u ch a ff airs She had kn own hers elf to
ave lost from the momen t S e s a Colon el Ki n g s ar d
.

h
w
s ta n di n g there a gai n st the man tel piece i n the di n i n g -

r o om .

t o t u rn a
It had n o t bee n possi ble for her t he n t o give i n ;
n d go forth i n to t e stree t fli n gi n g dow n her
arms On the contrary it as her n atu re t o figh t to t e h h
h
,
.

l ast ; a n d she had carried o ff a n appare nt victory She .

ad marched o ff with colors flyi n g from the field o f battle ,

l eavi n g every e n emy con fou n ded Bu t she herself e n ter .

ta i n e d n o ill u sion i n the matter It was possibl e n o dou bt

wh
.

t h at her spel l might yet be stron g e n o u gh u pon her middle

ag ed captive to make him ign ore and pass over everythi n g
t hat told agai n st her b u t after con sideri n g the sit u atio n
—

ith a kee n an d close su rvey of every likelihood she dis

h
w
,

m issed tha t ope No her chan ce was lost agai n ; t e

.
,
—

battl e was over agai n It had bee n so n ear bei n g s u c

—
.

c e s s f u l that the shock was greater perhaps tha n u s u al ;

b u t she had n o been feeli n g the shock for hou rs ; so th at
h
w
her ac tu al fall was as m u ch a relief as a pan g an d e r ,

m i n d fu ll of resou rce obst i n ately san g ui n e was becomi n g

, , ,

ready to pass o n to the n ext chan ce an d had alread y ,

spru n g 1 1 p to thi n k Wh at n o ? —

I am sor ry that i n this story I have always b ee n pla c e d

 hw
w
37 6 T HE SOHC E R E s s .

in n atu ral opposi tion t o this woman o as cert ainly a ,

creatu re fu ll o f i n terest fu ll of resou rce an d i n domitabl e

h
, ,

i n her way An d she had a theory of existen ce as it is

.
,

my opi n ion we all m u st have maki n g ou t t o ou rsel v es t e

h
,

mos t pla u si b le reason s an d excu ses f or all we do H er

h
w
.

stru ggle i n which she wou l d n ot have de n ied t ha t s e

,

ad sometimes bee n u n scru pu lo u s had always bee n f or a ,

stan din g grou n d on which if on ce at t ai n ed she cou ld

-

h
, ,

have been good She had al ays promised herself that .

she wo u ld be good when on ce she had at tai n e d o ex —

,

c e l l e n t ! ki n d j u st tru e a model wom an An d wh at

, ,
—
.
,

after all had bee n her methods ? There had been little
,

h arm i n them Here an d there somebody had bee n i n

.

j u re d as i n th e case o f A u brey Leigh of Charlie Ki ngs

w
, ,

ward . To the first she had i n deed don e con siderable

h
h ar m bu t the n she had soothed the life of Amy i s littl e
,

foolish wife t o w om she had bee n more ki n d tha n she

,
h
h
,

had bee n u n ki n d t o him She had n o t an ted t o be the .

third person betwee n that tiresome cou ple S e had

h
.

stayed i n his ho u se from a ki n d of se n se of du ty ; an d had

Au brey Leig i n deed asked her to becom e his se c ond
wife she wo u ld of cou rse have accepted him for the sake

w h
, ,

o f th e positio n b u t with a grimace She was n ot p a

w w
,
r .

t i cu l a r l y sorry for havi n g harmed him

,
It served i m .

right f or well for bei n g A u brey Leigh An d as f o r Bee

—

h
.
,

K i ngs a rd she had tri u mphan tly proved m u ch t o her

, ,

o n s u rprise it m u st be said that it was n o t she

,
o had ,

don e Bee an y harm The n Charlie poor Ch arlie p oor .

—
,

b oy ; he tho u ght of co urse th at he was very miserable

, ,

an d b adly u sed Great heave n s ! that a b oy cou ld have

.

the fol l y t o im agi n e that an ythi n g cou ld make him m iser

w
able at twe n ty two a m an an d with all the world be fore
,
-
, ,

him Miss La n ce at this momen t was n ot i n the l e as t

w
h
.

sorry for Charlie It wou ld do him good A youn g f el . .

low who had n othi n g i n the world t o complai n of o ,

had everythi n g i n his favor i t was good f or him t o b e —

u n happy a little to be made to remember th a t he ,

as
only flesh an d blood after all .

Th u s she came to the con cl u sion as she wal ked al on g

that really she had don e n o har m to other people T o .

herself al as ! she was always doi n g harm an d every fail u re

, ,
 w
T HE S OR C E R E SS .
37 7

ww
m a d e it mo re an d more likely that s n e wou ld eve r
un

s u cceed . She did n ot b rood ov er her losses when she as

t h u s defeated h
She tu r n ed t o t e n ext thi n g that o ff ere d
.

ith what ou ld have been i n a bet ter cau se a S ple n did

p hi losophy ; b u t yet i n mome n ts like this she fel t that i t
b ec a me every day more impro b able that she wou ld e v er

h I n stead o f the large an d liberal sphere i n which

w
s u c c eed .

s e a lways hoped to be able t o fu lfil al l the d u ties of life

in a n imposi n g a n d remarkable way she wo u ld have ,

p robably t o drop i n t o what ? a gover

— n ess pl a ce for ’

hich she wo u ld already be thou ght t o o old some dread —

h
f u l positio n a bo u t a school some miserable place as —

ou sekeeper she with all her schemes her hopes of better

—
,

w
t hi n gs her power over others This prospect was always

h
.
,

b efore her a n d came back to her mi n d b y mome n ts whe n

w
h
,

s e was at the lowest ebb ; for she had n o mo n ey at a ll .

S e had always b ee n depe n de n t u po n somebody E ve n .

no her little campaign i n George Street H an over Sq u are , ,

as at the expe n se o f the fri en d with whom she had li v ed

i n O xford a n d who believed Lau ra was con certi n g meas

w
,

u res to establish herself perman e n tly i n som e r e m u n e r

w
ati v e occ u patio n These accou n ts wou ld have to be se t

w
.

t l e d somehow an d some other expedien t be fou n d by

,

h ich to t ry agai n Well ! on e thi n g don e with an other

w
,
.

t o come o n— as n o t that the co urse o f life ? an d there —

has a certai n relief i n the thou gh t t hat it was don e with

T e s u spe n se was over ; there was n o lon ger the con flict
.

b etwee n hope a n d fear hich wears o u t the n erves an d

w w
,

c l o u ds the clea r n ess o f o n e s me n tal visio n One dow n

’

w
.
,

an other come o n ! She said this to herself with a forlorn

l a u gh i n the depths of her bei n g ; yet n o t so very forlorn .

T his oman had a ki n d of pleasu re i n the n e start eve n ,

hen she did n o t k n ow what it was to be Th e r e are a

h
.

reat ma y thi gs i which I avow I have the greatest

w
g n n n
s ymp a thy with her an d fin d her mo re i n teresti n g t an a
,

g reat ma n y blameless p eople Poetic j u stice

. is ge n erally
i n b ooks awarded t o s u ch person s Bu t that is o n e is

h
.
,

aware n ot al ays the case i n life

, .

Wh ile Miss Lan ce went on q u iet ly alon g t e l on g u n ,

l o v ely street with those thou ghts i n her mi n d walki n g

, ,

m ore slowly than u s u al a li ttle lan gu id a ,

n d e x ha u s t ed
37 8

after her str u ggl e b u t as has bee n said fra

h
ou t a r r i ér e

er defeat
p
,

ens /e givi n g u p the battle as lost a n d

she became su dden l y a are of a qu ick fir m
—
T HE

n kly a nd
accepti
it
n g
S O R C E R E SS .

w
wh h
h
,

foo tstep behi n d sou n di n g f ast and con ti n u ou s u pon t e

,

pave me nt A woman like this has all

. . e r wits very
sh arply a b ou t her the ears an d the s ight o f a savage and
, ,

an u n s l u mberi ng habit of observation or she co u ld n ev er ,

carr y on her career She heard the step an d i n sti n ctively

.

n oted it before her mi n d awoke to a n y se n se o f mean i n g

w
an d import an ce i n it The n all at on ce as it came j u st to
.
,

that distan ce behi n d which made it appare n t th at thi s

footstep was followin g some o n e who wen t before i t
h
—

su dde n ly slacke n ed withou t stoppi n g became slow en

w
,

it had bee n fast At this her t hou ghts flew away like a
.
,

mist an d she became all ears ; b u t she was t o o wise to

tu rn ro u n d t o displ ay an y i n terest Perh aps it m ight be
,
.

that h e was on ly goi n g his o n way n o t i n t en di n g t o f ol

w
,

low an d t hat he had sl acken ed his pace u n con sciou sly

,

withou t u lterior m otives whe n he saw her i n fron t o f him ;

tho u g h this Miss La n ce scarcely believed
Perhaps I will n o t a ffi rm it she t re a little more of
,

her real l angu or an d weari n ess i n to her attitu de an d

,
h .

w
move m e n ts whe n she made this exciti n g discov e r y She

w
.

h
was i n reality very tired She had looked so whe n she
left t e hou s e ; perhaps she had forgotte n her great fati g ue
.

3 little i n the co u rse of her walk b u t it n o c ame b ck a

w
,

agai n ith dou ble force which is n o t u n u s u al i n th e most

w w
,

matter of fact circ u mstan ces As her pace grew sl ower

w
- -
.
,

the foots t eps behi n d became slower also b u t alwa y s f ol

lo ed o n Miss La n ce proceeded steadily choo s i n g t e
ietest
.

streets pa u si n g n o a n d the n at a shop wi n do

,

,
h

w
q u ,

t o rest .The cl imax came whe n she rea ched a wi n do

which had a rail rou n d it u pon which she lean ed heavil y , ,

every li n e of her dress expre s si n g with a facu lty which ,

her garmen ts specially posse ssed an exha u stion

w
hich ,

co uld scarcely g o fu rther The n she raised her he ad to

h
.

look what the place was It was fu ll of em b roiderie s an d .

n eedlework a woma n s s Op where she was s u re o f s y m

’

, ,

p athy She we n t i n bli n dly as if her v ery sight

. ere
clou ded with her fatigu e .

I am very tired she said ; I wan t some silk f or em ,

 T HE S O R C E RESS .
37 9

b roidery ; b u t that is n o t my chief obj e ct May I sit dow n

w
.

alittle ?
I am so v ery tired .

Certai n ly m aam certai n ly cried the mistress of the

w
’

h
, , ,

s hop r u shi n g rou n d from behi n d the co u n t e r t o place a

w
,

chair f or e r to o ff er a glass o f water She sa t do n so

h
, .

as t o be visi b l e from the door b u t still with her back to ,

it The step ad stopped an d there as a shadow across

.
,

the wi n do the tall shadow of a m an looki n g i n

— A

h
.

smile came u pon Miss Lan ce s face of gratitu de an d ’

—

t an ks t o the ki n d people also perhaps of som e i n tern al —

satisfact ion Bu t she did n o t ac t as if she were con sciou s

of a
.

n y on e waiti n g for her S e t ook the glass o f water

with ma n y ack n owledg me n ts ; she lean ed back on the
. h
“
chair m u rm u ri n g Than ks than ks to the exhortation s
, , ,

o f the shopwom a n n o t to h u rry to take a good rest Sh e

h
.
,

did n ot h u rry at all Fi n ally she was s o m u ch better as

h
.

t o be able t o b u y e r silks a n d declari n g herself q u i te

w h
,

restored to go ou t agai n i n to t e open air

w
.

Sh e was met by t he sh adow that ad bee n 1 i s i b l e

throu g h the wi n dow a n d wh i c h a s she k n ew very well
, , ,

was Col on el K i ngs ar d sti ff an d embarrasse d yet wi t h

w
h
, ,

gre at an xiety i n his face I feared y ou ere ill he .

,

said with a l ittle j erk t e words comi n g i n spite of him .

h
, ,
”
I feared y ou were fai n ti n g .

O Colon el K i n gs ar d y ou !

h
, ,

Yes— I feare d y o u were fai n ti n g It is n othi n g I

w
—
.
,

o pe ?
’

Nothi n g b u t exha u stion she said with a fai n t smile , ,

.

I was very tired b u t I have rest ed an d I am a little

, ,

better n o .

Will y ou let me call a c ab f or y ou ? y ou don t seem fit ’

t o walk .

O h n o cab tha nks ! I wou ld m u ch rather walk the

, ,
—

air an d the slow moveme n t does on e a li ttle go od .

She was pale an d her voice was ra ther fai n t an d every

w
, ,

l i n e o f her dress as I have said was t ired ,

tired t o deat h ,
—

— an d yet n ot u ng racefu lly tired .

I can n ot let y ou g o like t his alon e H is v oice soft .

e n ed ev ery mome n t ; they we n t on for a step or t o to ,

gether Y o u had b etter take my arm at least he —

, ,

sa id .
 8 T H E S OR C E R E SS

w
3 0

h
.

She t oo k it with a lit tle cry an d s u dden cl as p I t ink

h
.

a m a a a

w
y o u are n o t mer e n b u t n archa n gel o,
f ki n d n ess n d
goo d n ess s e sai d wi t h a fai n t lau gh that broke do n
, , ,

an d t e ars i n her eyes .

An d I t hi n k tha t f or that momen t i n the extraordi n ary ,

revulsion of fe eling Miss Lan ce almost belie v ed h at

,

she sai d .

CHAPT E R LI I I

w
.

WH AT more is there to say ? I t is bett er whe n

an d pu n ish the e v i l W o are the good an d h
able t o deal poetic j u s tice all rou n d t o reward t e goo d
o are t e
,
,

h
h h
one is

h
e v il We have n ot t o do with m u rderers with bre akers
h
?
,

of t e law with e n emies o f God o r ma

w
,
n If Au brey L e ig .

h ad n ot bee n exceedi ngly impr uden t if Bee had n ot been ,

hot headed an d passion ate there wou ld n ever have b een

w
-
,

that miserable breach between them An d the Sorceress

w
.

who destroyed f or a time the peace o f the K i n g s ar d

w
family really n ever at an y time mea n t t hat family an y
real harm She mean t them i n deed to her o n con sci o u s

w w
.

n e ss all the goo d i n the world a n d t o pro mote their

,
el
fare i n every way by maki n g them her o n An d as a .

matt er of fact she d i d s o devoti n g herself t o th e ir wel

,

fare She made Colo n el K i n g s ar d an excelle n t ife

h
.
,

an d adopted his childr en i n to her sed u lou s an d u nremitti n g

w
care with a zeal which am ot er cou ld n o t have s u rpassed
,
.

Her tran slation from schemi n g po ver t y t o ab u n dan ce an d ,

that gracefu l modest wealth which is almost th e m ost

beautifu l of the con dition s o f life was made i n a ay ,

which was q u ite exqu isite as a work o f art Nobo dy

w w h
.

cou ld ever have su specte d that she had been o n ce poor Sh e .

had all the habits of the best society There was n ow ere .

they cou ld g o even i n to the most exal ted regio ns where

, ,

the n e Mrs Ki n gs ar d was n o t d isti n g u ished She e x

h h
. .

ten ded the colon el s con n ection s an d i n terest an d m ad e

’

i s ho u se pop u lar an d delightf u l ; and s e was per fect f o r

w
T HE S O R C E R E SS 38 1

h
.

h
ischi dre
o
ve the co ty people a
l

n
n

girls soo lear ed o adore their step moth

. E
ear eighborsn
were the most critical ack owledged this The littl e
er the
n boyst
un

,
n
nd n
.
n

bi g
,

;
-

admired an d stood i n awe of her su bmitti n g more or less

w
,

t o her i n fl u e n ce thou gh a little s u spicio u s a

,
n d some t imes
h alf hosti le As f or baby who had b een i n a fair way of
.
,

h
growi n g u p detestable an d a little family tyran t his
fa t er s n e marriage was the savi n g o f him He scarcely
’

k n ew as he grew u p that the former Miss Lan ce was n o t

.
,

his mother an d he was said i n the family to be her i d ol

, ,

b u t a very well discipli n ed a n d well behaved idol an d

w
- -
,

th e on e of the b oys who was likely to have the fin es t

c areer .

Ch arlie poor Charlie was n ot so fortu n ate at least at

, , ,

first The appoi n tmen t wh ich Colon el K i n gs ar d declared

.

h e had been look in g o u t for all alo n g was got as soon as

h
Charlie was able t o accept it an d he left E n glan d whe n
e was little more t han con v a lesce n t People said it was
,

h
.

stran ge that a m an with con siderable i n fl u en ce an d i n the

h
w
v e ry ce n tre of a ff airs sho u ld have se n t i s el d est s on away
t o t e e n ds o f the earth to a da ngero u s climate a n d a dif

w h
,

fi c u l t post Bu t it t u rn ed ou t very well on the whole f or

h
.
,

after a few years of lan gu or an d disgu st it the worl d ,

t ere su dden ly fell i n Charlie s way an o pport u n ity of ’

s ho i n g that there was after all a g rea t deal of E n glish

h
, ,

pl u ck an d cou rage i n him I do n ot thi n k it came t o an y

h
.

t i n g more than that b u t then that at cert ai n mome n ts

—
, ,

as bee n the fou n dation an d the savi n g o f th e British .

E mpire i n vario u s region s of the world There was n o t .

o n e o f his relatio n s who celebrated Ch arlie s s u ccess with

’

s o m u ch fervor as his step moth er who was n ever tire d of -

,

talki n g of i t n or of declarin g that she had always expected

,
,

as m u ch an d k n own wha t was i n him Dear Charlie s e

s ai d had fu lfilled all her expecta t ion s a n d made her mo r e
.
,
h
, ,

glad an d prou d than words cou ld say It was a poor r e

h
.

t u rn for thi s m atern al devotion yet a melan choly fact , ,

th at C arlie t u rn ed away i n disg u st when ever he heard of

her an d co u l d n ot en du re her n ame
,

Bee whose little tro u bles have bee n s o m uch t e s u b

,

c et of this stor r fa b m h
.

h
j y a cc om plish ed e t
,
e y b eco i n
g Mrs .
382 T HE S O R C E RE SS
.

w
wh
Au brey Leigh i n the n atu ral cou rse of even ts There as
.

n o family q u arrel kept u p t o sc a n dalize an d am u se soci e ty

,

b u t there n ever was m u ch i n tercou rse n or a n y great c o r

,

di a l i t y betwee n the hou ses o f K i ngs a r d en a n d Fore s t

Leigh I t hi n k howe v er that i t was agai n s t e r
.
, ,

that Bee s he a
’
r t rev ol t e d mo s t .

T HE