"Have you not sufficient guarantee in the very fact of her husband's

confidence?"

"I don't know. A simple-hearted old soldier always means a very foolish

old man."

"Witness the Newcomes," said Ermine, who, besides her usual amusement

in tracing Rachel's dicta to their source, could only keep in her

indignation by laughing.

"General observation," said Rachel, not to be turned from her purpose.

"I am not foolishly suspicious, but it is not pleasant to see great

influence and intimacy without some knowledge of the person exercising

it."

"I think," said Ermine, bringing herself with difficulty to answer

quietly, "that you can hardly understand the terms they are on without

having seen how much a staff officer becomes one of the family."

"I suppose much must be allowed for the frivolity and narrowness of

a military set in a colony. Imagine my one attempt at rational

conversation last night. Asking his views on female emigration,

absolutely he had none at all; he and Fanny only went off upon a

nursemaid married to a sergeant!"

"Perhaps the bearings of the question would hardly suit mixed company."

"To be sure there was a conceited young officer there; for as ill luck

will have it, my uncle's old regiment is quartered at Avoncester, and

I suppose they will all be coming after Fanny. It is well they are no

nearer, and as this colonel says he is going to Belfast in a day or two,

there will not be much provocation to them to come here. Now this great

event of the Major's coming is over, we will try to put Fanny upon a

definite system, and I look to you and your sister as a great assistance

to me, in counteracting the follies and nonsenses that her situation

naturally exposes her to. I have been writing a little sketch of the

dangers of indecision, that I thought of sending to the 'Traveller.' It

would strike Fanny to see there what I so often tell her; but I can't

get an answer about my paper on 'Curatocult,' as you made me call it."

"Did I!"

"You said the other word was of two languages. I can't think why they

don't insert it; but in the meantime I will bring down my 'Human Reeds,'

and show them to you. I have only an hour's work on them; so I'll come

to-morrow afternoon."

"I think Colonel Keith talked of calling again--thank you," suggested

Ermine in despair.

"Ah, yes, one does not want to be liable to interruptions in the most

interesting part. When he is gone to Belfast--"

"Yes, when he is gone to Belfast!" repeated Ermine, with an irresistible

gleam of mirth about her lips and eyes, and at that moment Alison made

her appearance. The looks of the sisters met, and read one another so

far as to know that the meeting was over, and for the rest they endured,

while Rachel remained, little imagining the trial her presence had been

to Alison's burning heart--sick anxiety and doubt. How could it be well?

Let him be loveable, let him be constant, that only rendered Ermine's

condition the more pitiable, and the shining glance of her eyes was

almost more than Alison could bear. So happy as the sisters had been

together, so absolutely united, it did seem hard to disturb that calm

life with hopes and agitations that must needs be futile; and Alison,

whose whole life and soul were in her sister, could not without a pang

see that sister's heart belonging to another, and not for hopeful joy,

but pain and grief. The yearning of jealousy was sternly reproved and

forced down, and told that Ermine had long been Colin Keith's, that the

perpetrator of the evil had the least right of any one to murmur

that her own monopoly of her sister was interfered with; that she was

selfish, unkind, envious; that she had only to hate herself and pray

for strength to bear the punishment, without alloying Ermine's happiness

while it lasted. How it could be so bright Alison knew not, but so it

was she recognised by every tone of the voice, by every smile on the

lip, by even the upright vigour with which Ermine sat in her chair and

undertook Rachel's tasks of needlework.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024