The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-31
CHAPTER VII-coSrNUED.

CHAPTER VII-coNrNUED.
That reference to the occasion on which
I had obliged him TO postpone his business
to mine, when we were both visiting Mon
tagu Square. satisfied me that the old
worldling had come to Brighton with some
object OF his own in view. 1 had pre-
pared quite little Paradise for my below
ed Rachel-and here was the Serpent al
ready!
Godfrey was very much veXed, Dru-
silla, not TO be able 10 come with US, said
INV Aunt Ablewhite. There was some
thing in the way which kept him in town.
Mr.. Bruff volunteered 10 take his place,
and make holiday Of il till Monday
morning. By-thc-by. Mr.. Bruff. rm or
dered to take exercise, and don't like IL.
That, added Aunt Ablewhite, pointing out
of the window To an invalid going by in
chair ON wheels, drawn by man, lis
my idea of exercise. If it's air you want,
You get IL in your chair. And If it's ia
tiguc You want I'm sure it's fatiguing
enough to look nj the man.
Rachel stood silent, Mt window by her
self. With her eyes fixed on the sea-
Tired. loveH inquired.
No. Only n little out Of spirits she
answered. Il have often seen the sea, ON
our Yorkshire coast, with that light ON it.
And was thinking, Drusilla, Of the days
that can never come again.
Mr.. BruG remained To dinner. and staid
through the evening. The more saw oi
him, the more certain felt that he had
some private end to serve in coming to
Brighton. watched him carefully. He
maintained the same appearance of ease,
aud talked the same goddess gossip, hour
after hour. until II was time 10 take leave.
AS he shook hands with Rachel / caught
his hard and cunning eye resting on her
for u moment with very peculiar interest
and attention. She was plainly concerned
i'm the object that he had in view. He
said nothing out Of the common TO her or
O any one. on leaving. He invited HIM
self TO luncheon the next day, and then he
went away to his hotel.
II was impossible, the next morning. to
get my Aunt Ablewhite out Of her dress
ing-gown in time for church. Her inva-
lid daughter Suffering from nothing, in
my opinion. but incurable laziness, inherit
ell from her mother) announced that she
meant to remain in bed for the day Ra-
chel and went alone together To church.
A magnificent sermon was preached by
my gifted friend. on the heathcn indiiler-
cnce Of the world to the sinfulness of lit
tie sins. For more than an hour his elo-
luencc assisted by his glorious voice.
thundered through the sacred cditice. /
said to Rachel. when we came out, Has
IL found its way TO your heart, dearS And
she answered. NO; it has only made my
head ache This might have been dis
couraging to some people. But, once en-
barked ON career OF manifest usefulness,
nothing discourages Me.
We found Aunt Ablewhits and Mr.. Brufl
mt luncheon. When Rachel declined eat
ing any thing. and gave rs u reason for IL
that she was suffering from headache,
the lawyers cunning instantly saw, and
seized. the chance that she had given him.
There il only one remedy for n head
ache said this horrible old man. a walk,
Miss Rachel is the thing to cure you. i
am entirely at your service, If you will
honor me by accepting my arm
with the greatest pleasure. A walk is
the very thing was longing for
Its past two,' 1 gently suggested.
And the afternoon service. Rachel. begins
at three
How can you expect me to 90 tn church
again she aske'', pctulantly. with such a
headache rs minep
Mr.. Bruff oiiiciously opened the door
for her. In moment more they were
both ont Of the house. don't know when
1 have felt the solemn duty Of interfering
TO strongly rs felt 1t at that moment.
But what was TO be done' Nothing was to
he done but to interfere, Mt the first oppor-
tunity, later In the day.
On my return from the afternoon SER
vice found that they had just got back.
One look at them told me that the lawyer
had said what he wanted 10 SAY. had
never before seen Rachel SD silent and 81
thoughtful. had never before seen Mr..
Bruir pay her such marked respect. lie
had Tor pretended that he halD an engage
ment to dinner that day-and hc took an
early leave OF us all; intending tc go hack
10 London by the first train tho next NOR N
ing.
Are you sure Of your own resolution7'
he said to Rachel Mt the door. -
Quite sure she answercd-and so they
parted.
The moment his back was turned Rs-
chel withdrew to her own room. She new
er appeared ut dinner. Her maid (thc
person with the cap-ribbons) was sent
down stairs to announce that her headache
had returned. ran up To her. and made
all sorts Of sistcrly offers through the door.
1t wa, locked. and she kept Il locked.
Plenty Of obstructive material tn work on
here, felt greatly cheered and stimulated
by her locking the door.
When her cup OF tea went mp To her the
next morning followed it In. / sat by
her bedside and said few earnest words.
She listened with languid civility. l no.
ticed my serious friends precious publica-
tions huddled together on n table in q cor
ner. Had she chanced 10 look into them?
II asked. Ycs-and they had not inter-
cstcd her. Would she allow me to read n
few passages. of the deepest interest, which
had probably escaped her eye, No; not
now-she had other things to think of
She gave these answers. with her attention
apparently absorbed In folding and refold-
ing the frili of her night-gown. II was
plainly necessary to rouse her by some
reference to those worldly interests which
she still had nj heart.
DO you know. love- i said. Il hal an
odd fancy, yesterday, about Mr.. Bruh? 1
thought. when saw you after your walk
with him. that he had been telling You
some bad news
Her fingers dropped from the frillinS Of