The Clever Woman of the Family

The summer morning was advancing, and the knell rung out its two deep

notes from the church tower. Rachel had been dreading the effect on him,

but he lay still, as if he had been waiting for it, and was evidently

counting the twenty-three strokes that told the age of the deceased.

Then he said he was mending, and that he should fall asleep if Rachel

would leave him, see after the poor child, and if his uncle should not

come home within the next quarter of an hour take measures to silence

the bell for the morning service; after which, he laid his injunctions

on her to rest, or what should he say to her mother? And the approach to

a smile with which these last words were spoken, enabled Rachel to obey

in some comfort.

After satisfying herself that the child was doing well, Rachel was

obliged to go into her former room, and there to stand face to face with

the white, still countenance so lately beaming with life. She was glad

to be alone. The marble calm above all counteracted and drove aside the

painful phantom left by Lovedy's agony, and yet the words of that poor,

persecuted, suffering child came surging into her mind full of peace and

hope. Perhaps it was the first time she had entered into what it is

for weak things to confound the wise, or how things hidden from the

intellectual can be revealed to babes; and she hid her face in her

hands, and was thankful for the familiar words of old, "That we may

embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life."

The continued clang of the bell warned her. She looked round at the

still uncleared room, poor Bessie's rings and bracelets lying mingled

with her own on the toilet table, and her little clock, Bessie's own

gift, standing ticking on as it had done at her peaceful rising only

yesterday morning.

She took out her hat, and was on her way to silence the bell-ringer,

when Mr. Clare was driven up to the churchyard gate.

Lord Keith had been greatly shocked, but not overpowered, he had spoken

calmly, and made minute inquiries, and Mr. Clare was evidently a little

disappointed, repeating that age and health made a difference, and that

people showed their feelings in various ways. Colonel Keith had been

met at the station, and was with his brother, but would come to make

arrangements in the course of the day. Rachel begged to stop the bell,

representing that the assembled congregation included no male person

capable of reading the lessons; but Mr. Clare answered, "No, my dear,

this is not a day to do without such a beginning. We must do what we

can. Or stay, it is the last chapter of St. John. I could hardly fail in

that. Sit near me, and give me the word if I do, unless you want to be

with Alick."