The Clever Woman of the Family

"He thinks," said Ermine, with a shaken voice, "that real trustworthy

affection outweighs all the world could say."

"But he thinks it is a strange, misplaced liking, exaggerated by pity

for one sunk so low?" said Rachel, in an excited manner.

"Rachel," said Ermine, "you must take my beginning as a pledge of my

speaking the whole truth. Colonel Keith is certainly not fond of you

personally, and rather wonders at Alick, but he has never doubted that

this is the genuine feeling that is for life, and that it is capable of

making you both better and happier. Indeed, Rachel, we do both feel

that you suit Alick much more than many people who have been far better

liked."

Rachel looked cheered. "Yet you," she faltered, "you have been an

instance of resolute withstanding."

"I don't think I shall be long," murmured Ermine, a vivid colour

flashing forth upon her cheek, and leading the question from herself.

"Just suppose you did carry out this fierce act of self-abnegation, what

do you think could come next?"

"I don't know! I would not break down or die if I could help it," added

Rachel, faintly after her brave beginning.

"And for him? Do you think being cast off would be so very pleasant to

him?"

Rachel hung her head, and her lips made a half murmur of, "Would not it

be good for him?"

"No, Rachel, it is the very sorest trial there can be when, even in the

course of providence, kind intentions are coldly requited; and it would

be incalculably harder when therewith there would be rejection of love."

"Ah! I never said I could do it. I could not tell him I did not care for

him, and short of that nothing would stop it," sobbed Rachel, "only I

wished to feel it was not very mean--very wrong." She laid her weary

head on Ermine's lap, and Ermine bent down and kissed her.

"So happy, so bright and free, and capable, his life seems now,"

proceeded Rachel. "I can't understand his joining it to mine; and if

people shunned and disliked him for my sake!"

"Surely that will depend on yourself. I have never seen you in society,

but if you have the fear of making him unpopular or remarkable before

your eyes, you will avoid it."

"Oh, yes, I know," said Rachel, impatiently. "I did think I should not

have been a commonplace woman," and she shed a few tears.

Ermine was provoked with her, and began to think that she had been

arguing on a wrong tack, and that it would be better after all for Alick

to be free. Rachel looked up presently. "It must be very odd to you to

hear me say so, but I can't help feeling the difference. I used to think

it so poor and weak to be in love, or to want any one to take care of

one. I thought marriage such ordinary drudgery, and ordinary opinions

so contemptible, and had such schemes for myself. And this--and this

is such a break down, my blunders and their consequences have been so

unspeakably dreadful, and now instead of suffering, dying--as I felt I

ought--it has only made me just like other women, for I know I could not

live without him, and then all the rest of it must come for his sake."