t far from our quiet house. An aged and reverend bishop, who had administered the sacred communion to Washington and his wife when the city we dwelt in had been the

ay in her pearl-gray robes and simple white bonnet, and clasped her hand.

name be as a new compact between us. Now let Evelyn come to me

tightly as we walked home, and proceeding at so b

you have lost your father from this hour? Do you suppose he will ever love yo

stance!' how pretty that sounds. Oh, that is what I shall always call her from this time-'Constanc

murmured, "the money will be all yours. He cannot alienate that; yours by marriage contract, not even to

ew,' and other mean, disagreeable names. But I always thought Evelyn was the rich one u

, when your papa dies, all this will belong to you (it is time you should know this, Miria

but I tell you what I will do" (brightening up), "I will give it every bit to mamma, and she will support us all. She w

state of things ever come to pass; but I am old, and shall

awe creeping over me, as though I had been talking to the w

her-that was soon after she married the captain, who had only his sword-and I have lived with her and hers ever since, and served them faithfully, I trust, and I hope I do n

dful," I said, thoughtfully shaking m

ng my hand sharply. "Who is it that you call such hard

a hundred years old! It is so many years to live; and then to be such a sinner, too-how hard it must be! I always t

glish woman, like me, old, your brains must be addled. Look at my hair, my teeth, my complexion"-pausing suddenly before me and confronting me fiercely. "See my step, my figure, and have more sense, if you are

ing. Which is the worst, Mrs. Austin

ay. No help for it, I suppose, but patience; but it is all of that Gipsy blood! Now, Evelyn's line of people was altogether different. She has what they used to call in England 'bl

d, I made my way as I was told to do, speedily and silently homeward, and was glad to find shelter from all mi

he coldness between them (they were never very congenial) was apparent from that time,

hese green-shaded yards were divided one from the other by slender iron railings, which formed a line of boundary, no more, and presented no obstacle to the exploring eye. Graceful gates of the same material opened from the pavement, common to all, and prese

er maintenance chiefly to the liberality of his uncle, a gruff old bachelor of sixty or more, who lived with and took care of her and her children in a way that was both kindly and disagreeable. He was a bald-headed man (who flourished a stout, gold-headed cane, I remem

child of nine years old, who had recently come into her hands; singularly gifted and beautiful, but lamed for life, it was feared, and a great suff

ter Laura closely resembled her; both sweet specimens of unpretending womanhood; both de

of my sister Evelyn, from the time when they first chased fireflies together, up to their dancing-school adolescence, and for me maintained a disinterested, brotherly regard that was never slow to manifest itself in any time of need, or even in the furtherance of my childish whims. Our relations with this family were most frien

uisitions, nay, his very deformity, for his twisted limb amounted to this, put aside all thought of infantile flirtation (for we know that, strange as it may seem, such a thing does exist) from the first hour of our acquain

robust energy, and became consequently, in my eyes, an object of tenderest commiseration. From the first he clung to me with strange tenacity, for our tastes were congenial. He brought with him from h

of the metre. I had revelled in old ballads until I could recite nearly all of these precious relics of heroic times, or rather chant them forth mo

would call for a glass of clear cold water. For his amusement I converted myself into a mime, a mountebank. Wh

s she possessed is, I am afraid, apt to make us cold-hearted and exacting as to externals in others. Evelyn could endure commonplace, but could not forgive a blemish. Once Norman Stanbury came very near, losing her favor for having a wart on his finger; another time, she banished him from her presence for week

in her, and, from the lifting of her fan to the laying down of her knife and fork, all was faultless. The prestige, too, o

ecognized all her worth, not only in deed but in word, and with a fidelity of heart that never wavered even when he married again. Yet the prestige of descent was wanting in her and hers, or rather, such as it was, brought with it ignoble and repulsive associations only. He was not the man

ancient people from which I sprung, it pleased me to imagine that whatever there was about me of fiery persistency, of fearless faith, of unshrinking devotion, nay, of bitter remembrance

d thus intrenching on his ideas of personal dignity. Yet, with strange inconsistency, it was her very indulgence of these peculiarities that inclined him most strongly to Constance Glen, and finally, I am well con

r equal, far less surpass them (dreary bores that many of them are to me!). Walter Scott's novels were the only ones of later days he ever allowed himself to read approvingly; for, once being begui

aid, "who ought not to be encouraged, and who are

like drinking champagne, smelling tuberoses, inhaling laughing-gas, going to the opera, all at one time, and, if you once take it in your ha

ells of English undefiled,' rather than such high-flown fancies and maudlin streams as flow from the pen of this accomplish

novels!" said Evelyn, deris

ing to the rescue quite magnanimously as it seemed, and for once receiving as his recompense a

iously. "'Paradise Lost?'-Oh, I thought Milton was

eplied Mr. Bainrothe. "I

ms," I added,

t once! Why, every Sunday-school child knows about the Psalms. D

is own "Jeremiah" and "Isaiah" allusions. I had never heard him check her so openly before,

papa. For my part, I find the New Testament all-sufficient. I weary of the

must always treat their memory with a certain respect. They were God's people, remember, in

Mr. Bainrothe, "and destined to be s

y before, I acknowledge, yet it is natural I should incline to my

ligion trampled under foot," said Evel

for all, Jew as well as Gentile. Through him let us hope for change and mercy and peace on earth. When infinit

ce and level, and will abide there.-But to digre

sation here. Let us go back to the time of my father's marriage,

or, so intimately connected with our destiny, one and all, that I was about to

ry particular age, or rather in his appearance there was no criterion for decision on this subject. His form was as slender and elastic, his step as light, his teeth, hair, and complexio

was invariably urbane, self-possessed, well-bred; his voice was pleasant, his smile rather bril

r, of a yellowish-brown color, and I used to remark as a little child-for children observe the minutiae of personal peculiarities much more closely than their elde

y evident cause. This my father thought betokened disease of the heart, but I learned later to know it was the only manifes

een these two. My father's hauteur was no safeguard against the steady and self-poised approaches-his shyness found relief in the calm self-reliance of his "left-hand" neighbor; and, as they were both lovers of books, rather than studen

emed infinite. He came and went to and from the business part of the city several times a day, and often in the elegant barouche he kept, with its span of highly-groomed horses

when my father had called in a considerable sum of money which he had loaned out at interest on good mortgages, for a te

t our board discoursing, with an abandon and witchery I have observed in no one else, on subjects of art and letters, on men and manners, of nations past and present, until hours fled like moments, and time seemed utterly forgotten in the presen

eciated and gratefully acknowledged. Nor could Mr. Bainrothe, with all his influence over him (that rare influence that a worldly and efficient man wields over a shy and retiring one unacquainted with the detail of affairs, and dependent upon active assistance in their management), prevail upon him to break throu

stead of masters and tedious old church humdrums, Mr. Lodore and the like, you shall see beaux and belles dashing up to this out-of-the-way place; and I

ed then) "are too much wedded to their own ways for that, and, besides, you and Miriam will not be ready to go out toge

and shine to the best of my ability. The money is all papa's while he lives, and he is still a young man, you know, and Miriam's turn will come when mine is over. One at a time, you see. Good gracious! it would seem like throwing away money, though, to dress up that littl

special benefit of George Gaston. It was his private opinion that Titian himself never painted with more skill, or gorgeous effect, than the youthful artist in his particular employ. "I hear you, miss, and you o

sation in that way lately, I perceive. If you must eav

rs. Austin knows it, and so might you. You are always accusing me of doing wrong and mean thin

taking one of them disdainfully with the tips of her dainty fingers, then pulling it sharply. "They make you look like a little

the glass in which I dipped my brushes, but, as usual, Evelyn gained the victory which her superior strength

afraid of myself sometimes when she tantalizes me so dreadfully. I am glad you held me when I got hold of the scissors; I am glad she he

-meaning but injudicious nurse, solemnly. "Your sister is old enoug

llow me to be so treated; but it is always the way-as soon as she t

to take up cudgels for every outsider that your sister mentions, as y

eitful people, too. I love my friends behind thei

then, and show how he minces at tab

es, I said no harm of him. I don't lov

enough to tell

ds very well. I never

ld Mr. Gerald Stanbury, as

is noble; that is what he is. He has no specks in his eyes.

ot to like h

He has no mind of his own-or maybe he

ld you so,

told me so. I found it out myself. I know what she t

think of me?" asked

; "only a little, very little, bit fonder of Evelyn than me. But that is natural. She is so much prettier and older than I a

me call Charity to wash and comb and dress you before your mamma comes home. You know she always likes to se

flush of joy mounted to my brow. "Won't we be too happy, Mrs. Austin, when our own dear little

get out of your nails. How careless you are, Miriam! But, as I was saying, there's no telling what to expect from an unborn infant. It's wrong to speculate on such

I never thought of that." And I began to

nny Gibson. He comes here for broken victuals

y's sake," catching at her gown wild

-or it may be, for aught we know or can help, born with a hard, proud, wicked heart,

poor, innocent little thing," I cried out, stam

n to say. And why you should be glad, child, to have your own no

can't help what you think; I say it again, I do adore them. No, I ain't afraid of 'God's eternal anger' at all for saying so; not a bit afraid. What does He make them so sweet for if He does not expect us to love them dearly-His

d, Miriam," she said, smiling, in spite of h

se, and you will love our baby, too, won'

ue sash, and her new, long, gray kid gloves, and her leghorn hat, and white zephyr scarf. She is going to drive out presently with her mamma and papa, and must look decent for once in a while." After a pause she continued: "Miss Evelyn was dressed an hour ago, and is ready at the gate now, with her leghorn flat on and her parasol in her hand, I'll be bound," looking from the window. "

ered my mamma's room one morning, in obedience to her summons, and my heart was

out for a walk. I had just been thinking how very pretty she looked that day in her white wrapper, with a pink ribbon at the throat, and her little, closely-fitting lace cap, through which her rich brown hair was distinctly visible. She had a fine oval face, clear, pallid skin,

alive until the doctor came. The moment he beheld her he knew that all was over; remedies were tried in vain. She never spoke ag

s fate bore so great a part, by my own condition, which rendered me insensible for nearly thirty hours, to all that pass

health to my bed and bed-gown, to my shadowed chamber and the supervision of my faithful nurse, when the sound of suppressed yet numerous footsteps

an infant's, "and what are those steps below? Why am I so weak, and what are

m above a spirit-lamp on the chimney-piece, and bearing it toward me. "Here i

a wine, and, as I felt new strength return to me with the warmth that coursed through my veins, the memory of all that had pa

d before she could arrest my steps I flew to the head of the stairway, dressed as I was

he said, calmly, and with authority in his voice. "Nay, believe me, I will

this?" I cried,

y, inquired if I had taken nourishment, gave me a few drops from a vial he afterward left on the

ther, like those worn by the pall-bearers; and, so attired, she took me by the hand and led me, dumb with amazement and grief, through the crowd that surged up the stairs and in the hall and parlors below, into the drawing-room, where, on its t

st be eternal, the tender eyes sealed away from mine forever, the fine sensitive ear dull, expression obliterated! I flung myself in a passion of grief ac

I want to promise you to take care of your little baby all my days and hers, to divide all I have with her-to live for her, to di

out, Miriam?" said Mrs. Aus

me dead faces toward the last of earth, seemed to transfigure hers as with an angel grace. "Her soul has not gone away yet," I murmured, "she hea

er at Dr. Pemberton! That coffin ought to be closed at once, for decay has set in; and there is no sense in supposing the s

as I could conjecture at such a time of bewilderment; but still I resolutely refused to leave my dear one's sid

f, and your friends are anxious about you; if your mamma could speak to you, she would ask you to go to your chamber and seek repose. Na

ld me lately she valued her life chiefly for its sake; and I heard her praying one night to be spared to raise it up to womanhood.-Mamma! mamma! you would come

reatly moved and excited;" and, yielding to my father's guidance and persuasion, I went passively from the presence of the dead, int

ty Mrs. Austin laid my little sister on the bed by my side, and I was soothed and strengthene

promise I had made the dead, and as far as in me l

eep an hour later, to find

ved; perhaps you can read it and understand it when you are older even if you cannot now. See, there is a cross on the back,

m, murmuring, "But I do not think I

with all his clustering, nut-brown curls damp with the clammy perspiration incident to his debility, bending above the tiny infant as it lay in

nibal was not older than we were when he swore his famous oath at Carthage, kneeling at the feet of Hamilcar before the altar, to hate the Romans. How was our oath of love less solemn or impressive t

ted, calmed, as I had never felt before. I learned the precious secret of patience in watching over that baby head, and for

ton are training themselves to go forth as married missionaries, after a while, to the heathen. They are studying parental responsibility a

e should do, probably-heard it in silence, and perhaps it may be said in dignity, not even a remark

forts to catch a bunch of scarlet roses which George dangled above her head, and, alt

ost as much of a baby as Mabel, and was nearly as dependent on my aid. In his sudden fits of exhaustion and agony of such uncertain re

own studies, which he recited when he could to

as a day-boarder. There she became proficient in mere mechanical music-her ear being a poor one naturally-and learned to speak two languages, dance to perfection, and conduct herself like a hi

-mates, and from among these she selected as friends such as appeared to her most desirable as bearing on her future plans of

e her the use of his equipage, his house, his grounds, reserving to himself only intact the refuge of his library, from which ark of safety he surveyed at leisure, with quiet, cur

as a spectator. One of the most imperative of these was, that I wa

ee they might as well think part of all this wealth, which came from your mother, is mine.

thought," I rejoined. "Besides, are you not an earl's granddaug

believe it, even, unless I had diamonds and coronet and every thing to match. Your mother had

ught about them until now, I am so sorry your heart is set upo

tory, rather!" and she straightened her elastic form exultingly. "And you, too, little one, are growing up strong and tall and better-looking than you used to be," she continued, patting my cheek carelessly. "The Je

f your lessons, and let beaux and diamonds alone. I would be ashamed to keep a key

things, little pragmatical prig that you are; nor are you, that I know of. You will al

ince lost its sting;

support myself and Mabel, if the worst came. Old Mr. Stanbury say

dams and the Federal cause forever,' say I; and all aristocratic people are on that side. I never enjoyed any thing so much as our illumination when Mr. Clay gave his casting vote, and carried Congress. Th

ch a brave soldier; he could defend our country if it was attacked again. Besides, I li

ents again; you know how devoted he is to the Feder

He used to admire General Jackson. I heard him say onc

othe of toadying papa. Where, no

g ago, Evelyn." And I looked at her sharply, I confess. She colored, but did not reply. "There is more," I said. "A girl who would be ashamed of her own mother, and afraid to acknowled

by the shoulder until my teeth chattered and my hair tossed up and dow

do breathe a syllable of this slander, I shall tell Mr. Bainrothe your opinion of him, and make him your enemy. And mark me, Miriam Monfort, precious Hebrew imp that you are, you could not have a direr one, not even i

in my head, not speckled like a toad's back, nor turning white with rage like a tree-frog laid on a window-sill; but, if you

hook you to settle your brains," and she laughed a gha

proud of the title; I shall not say yes or no, but of this be certain, you are no sister of mine, though I call you such, either in heart or blood. I do not love you, Evelyn Erle; and, if I were not

tting, however, to write me a very smooth note before she went to school next morning, which was, with her usu

for two years, coming home only at holiday intervals thereafter to my dearest baby, my home, my parent, and narrow circle of friends, and finding Miss Erle more and more in possession of my father's confiden

sion of privately speaking to me in rapturous terms (such as I never heard him employ in the presence of Evelyn and my father) of his only son, th

early marriage, that we arrived at any estimate of Mr. Bainrothe's years; for, as I have said, Ti