"Learn to win a lady"s faithNobly, as the thing is high;Bravely, as for life and death-With a loyal gravity.
Lead her from the festive boards,Point her to the starry skies,Guard her, by your truthful words,Pure from courtship"s flatteries.
"MRS. BROWNING.
"Mr. Henry Lennox." Margaret had been thinking of him only a momentbefore, and remembering his inquiry into her probable occupations athome. It was "parler du soleil et l"on en voit les rayons;" and thebrightness of the sun came over Margaret"s face as she put down herboard, and went forward to shake hands with him. "Tell mamma, Sarah,"
said she. "Mamma and I want to ask you so many questions about Edith;I am so much obliged to you for coming."
"Did not I say that I should?" asked he, in a lower tone than that in whichshe had spoken.
"But I heard of you so far away in the Highlands that I never thoughtHampshire could come in.
"Oh!" said he, more lightly, "our young couple were playing such foolishpranks, running all sorts of risks, climbing this mountain, sailing on thatlake, that I really thought they needed a Mentor to take care of them.
And indeed they did; they were quite beyond my uncle"s management,and kept the old gentleman in a panic for sixteen hours out of thetwenty-four. Indeed, when I once saw how unfit they were to be trustedalone, I thought it my duty not to leave them till I had seen them safelyembarked at Plymouth."
"Have you been at Plymouth? Oh! Edith never named that. To be sure,she has written in such a hurry lately. Did they really sail on Tuesday?"
"Really sailed, and relieved me from many responsibilities. Edith gaveme all sorts of messages for you. I believe I have a little diminutive notesomewhere; yes, here it is."
"Oh! thank you," exclaimed Margaret; and then, half wishing to read italone and unwatched, she made the excuse of going to tell her motheragain (Sarah surely had made some mistake) that Mr. Lennox wasthere.
When she had left the room, he began in his scrutinising way to lookabout him. The little drawing-room was looking its best in thestreaming light of the morning sun. The middle window in the bow wasopened, and clustering roses and the scarlet honeysuckle came peepinground the corner; the small lawn was gorgeous with verbenas andgeraniums of all bright colours. But the very brightness outside madethe colours within seem poor and faded. The carpet was far from new;the chintz had been often washed; the whole apartment was smaller andshabbier than he had expected, as back-ground and frame-work forMargaret, herself so queenly. He took up one of the books lying on thetable; it was the Paradiso of Dante, in the proper old Italian binding ofwhite vellum and gold; by it lay a dictionary, and some words copiedout in Margaret"s hand-writing. They were a dull list of words, butsomehow he liked looking at them. He put them down with a sigh.
"The living is evidently as small as she said. It seems strange, for theBeresfords belong to a good family."
Margaret meanwhile had found her mother. It was one of Mrs. Hale"sfitful days, when everything was a difficulty and a hardship; and Mr.
Lennox"s appearance took this shape, although secretly she feltcomplimented by his thinking it worth while to call.
"It is most unfortunate! We are dining early to-day, and having nothingbut cold meat, in order that the servants may get on with their ironing;and yet, of course, we must ask him to dinner--Edith"s brother-in-lawand all. And your papa is in such low spirits this morning aboutsomething--I don"t know what. I went into the study just now, and hehad his face on the table, covering it with his hands. I told him I wassure Helstone air did not agree with him any more than with me, and hesuddenly lifted up his head, and begged me not to speak a word moreagainst Helstone, he could not bear it; if there was one place he lovedon earth it was Helstone. But I am sure, for all that, it is the damp andrelaxing air."
Margaret felt as if a thin cold cloud had come between her and the sun.
She had listened patiently, in hopes that it might be some relief to hermother to unburden herself; but now it was time to draw her back toMr. Lennox.
"Papa likes Mr. Lennox; they got on together famously at the weddingbreakfast. I dare say his coming will do papa good. And never mind thedinner, dear mamma. Cold meat will do capitally for a lunch, which isthe light in which Mr. Lennox will most likely look upon a two o"clockdinner."
"But what are we to do with him till then? It is only half-past ten now."
"I"ll ask him to go out sketching with me. I know he draws, and that willtake him out of your way, mamma. Only do come in now; he will thinkit so strange if you don"t."
Mrs. Hale took off her black silk apron, and smoothed her face. Shelooked a very pretty lady-like woman, as she greeted Mr. Lennox withthe cordiality due to one who was almost a relation. He evidentlyexpected to be asked to spend the day, and accepted the invitation witha glad readiness that made Mrs. Hale wish she could add something tothe cold beef. He was pleased with everything; delighted withMargaret"s idea of going out sketching together; would not have Mr.
Hale disturbed for the world, with the prospect of so soon meeting himat dinner. Margaret brought out her drawing materials for him to choosefrom; and after the paper and brushes had been duly selected, the twoset out in the merriest spirits in the world.
"Now, please, just stop here for a minute or two, said Margaret. "Theseare the cottages that haunted me so during the rainy fortnight,reproaching me for not having sketched them."
"Before they tumbled down and were no more seen. Truly, if they are tobe sketched--and they are very picturesque--we had better not put it offtill next year. But where shall we sit?"
"Oh! You might have come straight from chambers in the Temple,"
instead of having been two months in the Highlands! Look at thisbeautiful trunk of a tree, which the wood-cutters have left just in theright place for the light. I will put my plaid over it, and it will be aregular forest throne."
"With your feet in that puddle for a regal footstool! Stay, I will move,and then you can come nearer this way. Who lives in these cottages?"