The Clever Woman of the Family

"Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this!"--

As You Like It "Alick, I have something to say to you."

Captain Keith did not choose to let his sister travel alone, when he

could help it, and therefore was going to Bath with her, intending to

return to Avoncester by the next down train. He made no secret that he

thought it a great deal of trouble, and had been for some time asleep,

when, at about two stations from Bath, Bessie having shut the little

door in the middle of the carriage, thus addressed him, "Alick, I have

something to say to you, and I suppose I may as well say it now."

She pressed upon his knee, and with an affected laziness, he drew his

eyes wide open.

"Ah, well, I've been a sore plague to you, but I shall be off your hands

now."

"Eh! whose head have you been turning?"

"Alick, what do you think of Lord Keith?"

Alick was awake enough now! "The old ass!" he exclaimed. "But at least

you are out of his way now."

"Not at all. He is coming to Bath to-morrow to see my aunt."

"And you want me to go out to-morrow and stop him?"

"No, Alick, not exactly. I have been cast about the world too long not

to be thankful."

"Elizabeth!"

"Do not look so very much surprised," she said, in her sweet pleading

way. "May I not be supposed able to feel that noble kindness and

gracious manner, and be glad to have some one to look up to?"

"And how about Charlie Carleton?" demanded Alick, turning round full on

her.

"For shame, Alick!" she exclaimed hotly; "you who were the one to

persecute me about him, and tell me all sorts of things about his being

shallow and unprincipled, and not to be thought of, you to bring him up

against me now."

"I might think all you allege," returned Alick, gravely, "and yet be

much amazed at the new project."

Bessie laughed. "In fact you made a little romance, in which you acted

the part of sapient brother, and the poor little sister broke her heart

ever after! You wanted such an entertainment when you were lying on the

sofa, so you created a heroine and a villain, and thundered down to the

rescue."

"Very pretty, Bessie, but it will not do. It was long after I was well

again, and had joined."

"Then it was the well-considered effect of the musings of your

convalescence! When you have a sister to take care of, it is as well to

feel that you are doing it."

"Now, Elizabeth," said her brother, with seriousness not to be laughed

aside, and laying his hand on hers, "before I hear another word on this

matter, look me in the face and tell me deliberately that you never

cared for Carleton."