"Your acting is too like life," he said, not yet induced to laugh, and
she rattled on with her droll, sham sentimental air. "Is it the long
words, Alick, or is it 'the great eyes, my dear;' or is it--oh, yes, I
know what is the great attraction--that the Homestead doesn't possess a
single spot where one could play at croquet!"
"Quite irresistible!" replied Alick, and Bessie retreated from the
colloquy still not laughing at but with him; that is, if the odd,
quaint, inward mirth which only visibly lengthened his sleepy eyes,
could be called a laugh.
Next time Captain Keith rode to Avonmouth he met the riding party on the
road, Bessie upon Rachel's mare, and it appeared that Lady Temple had
considered it so dreadful that Meg should not share her hospitality,
that it had been quite impossible to send her away. "So, Alick, your
feelings must endure the dreadful spectacle."
Meanwhile Rachel was hard at work with the subscribers to the "Christian
Knowledge Society." Beginning with the A's, and working down a page a
day, she sent every member a statement of the wrongs of the lacemakers,
and the plans of the industrial establishment, at a vast expense of
stamps; but then, as she calculated, one pound thus gained paid for two
hundred and forty fruitless letters.
"And pray," said Alick, who had ridden on to call at the Homestead, "how
do you reconcile yourself to the temptation to the postmen?"
"They don't see what my letters are about?"
"They must be dull postmen if they don't remark on the shower of
envelopes that pass through their hands--ominous money-letters, all with
the same address, and no detection remember. You don't know who will
answer and who will not."
"I never thought of that," said Rachel; "but risks must be run when any
great purpose is in hand."
"The corruption of one postman versus the rescue of--how many children
make a postman?" asked Captain Keith, with his grave, considering look.
"The postman would be corrupt already," said Grace, as Rachel thought
the last speech too mocking to be worthy of reply, and went on picking
up her letters.
"There is another objection," added Captain Keith, as he watched her
busy fingers. "Have you considered how you are frightening people out of
the society? It is enough to make one only subscribe as Michael Miserly
or as Simon Skinflint, or something equally uninviting to applications."
"I shall ask you to subscribe by both names!" said Rachel, readily. "How
much for Simon Skinflint?"
"Ten pounds. Stop--when Mr. Mauleverer gives him a reference."
"That's ungenerous. Will Michael Miserly make up for it?"
"Yes, when the first year's accounts have been audited."
"Ah! those who have no faith to make a venture can never effect any
good."