The Clever Woman of the Family

"Oh, that can't be. Bessie said you always took up whatever other people

hated, and I know it is only that--"

"Don't let Bessie's sayings come between us now, Rachel. This goes too

deep," and he had almost taken her hand, when with a start she drew it

back, saying, "But you know what they say!"

"Have they been stupid enough to tell you?" he exclaimed. "Confute them

then, Rachel--dolts that can't believe in self-devotion! Laugh at their

beards. This is the way to put an end to it!"

"Oh no, they would only detest you for my sake. I can't," she said

again, bowed down again with shame and dejection.

"I'll take care of that!" he said with the dry tone that perhaps was

above all reassurance, and conquered her far enough to enable him to

take possession of the thin and still listless hand.

"Then," he said, "you will let me take this whole matter in hand; and if

the worst comes to the worst, we will make up to the charity out of the

Indian money, without vexing the mother."

"I can't let you suffer for my miserable folly."

"Too late to say that!" he answered; and as her eyes were raised to him

in startled inquiry, he said gravely, "These last weeks have shown me

that your troubles must be mine."

A hand was on the door, and Rachel fled, in time to screen her flight

from Miss Wellwood, whom Alick met with his usual undisturbed front, and

inquiries for Mrs. Curtis.

That good lady was in the town more worried than flattered by the

numerous inquiries after Rachel's health, and conscious of having gone

rather near the wind in making the best of it. She had begun to dread

being accosted by any acquaintance, and Captain Keith, sauntering near

the archway of the close, was no welcome spectacle. She would have

passed him with a curt salutation, but he grasped her hand, saying, "May

I have a few words with you?"

"Not Fanny--not the children!" cried Mrs. Curtis in dismay.

"No indeed. Only myself," and a gleam of intelligence under his

eyelashes and judicious pressure of his hand conveyed volumes to Grace,

who had seen him often during Rachel's illness, and was not unprepared.

She merely said that she would see how her sister was, substituted

Captain Keith's arm for her own as her mother's support, and hurried

away, to encounter Miss Wellwood's regrets that, in spite of all her

precautions, dear Rachel had been disturbed by "a young officer, I

believe. We see him often at the cathedral, and somebody said it was his

sister whom Lord Keith married."

"Yes, we know him well, and he is a Victoria Cross man," said Grace,

beginning to assume his reflected glory.