Rachel went with Grace and her mother to St. Norbert's, and inspected

the house, an ordinary cheap one, built to supply lodgings for the more

economical class of visitors. It was not altogether what Rachel wished,

but must serve till she could build, and perhaps it would be best to

form her experience before her plans. Mr. Mauleverer's own lodgings

were near at hand, and he could inspect progress. The furniture was

determined upon--neat little iron beds for the dormitories, and all that

could serve for comfort and even pleasure, for both Mr. Mauleverer and

Rachel were strong against making the place bare and workhouse-like,

insulting poverty and dulling the spirit.

Grace suggested communication with the clergyman of the parish; but the

North Hill turned out not to belong to St. Norbert's proper, being a

part of a great moorland parish, whose focus was twelve miles off. A

district was in course of formation, and a church was to be built; but

in the meantime the new houses were practically almost pastorless, and

the children and their matron must take their chance on the free seats

of one of the churches of St. Norbert's. The staff of clergy there were

so busy that no one liked to add extra parochial work to their necessary

duties, and there was not sufficient acquaintance with them to judge how

they would view Mr. Mauleverer's peculiarities. Clerical interference

was just what Rachel said she did not want; it was an escape that she

did not call it meddling.

One bit of patronage at least she could exercise; a married pair of

former Homestead servants had set up a fuel store at St. Norbert's,

receiving coal from the ships, and retailing it. They were to supply

the F. U. E. E. with wood, coal, and potatoes; and this was a great

ingredient in Mrs. Curtis's toleration. The mother liked anything that

brought custom to Rossitur and Susan.

The establishment was at present to consist of three children: the funds

were not sufficient for more. One was the child of the matron, and the

other two were Lovedy Kelland and the daughter of a widow in ill health,

whose family were looking very lean and ill cared for. Mrs. Kelland was

very unwilling to give Lovedy up, she had always looked to receiving the

apprentice fee from the Burnaby bargain for her as soon as the child

was fourteen, and she had a strong prejudice against any possible

disturbance to the lace trade; but winter would soon come and her sale

was uncertain; her best profit was so dependent on Homestead agency that

it was impolitic to offend Miss Curtis; and, moreover, Lovedy was so

excited by the idea of learning to make pictures to books that she

forgot all the lace dexterity she had ever learnt, and spoilt more than

she made, so that Mrs. Kelland was reduced to accept the kind proposal

that Lovedy should be Lady Temple's nominee, and be maintained, by her

at the F. U. E. E. at seven shillings a week.




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