The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-02
CHAPTER II.

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81 shall most thankfully he said; and
then he composed himself to listen to his moni-
treSs.
CHAPTER IL
HHoNoR YOUR PARENT" AND SERVE YOUR
SELF
Mrs. Barbara Temple was in her glory.
For less complicated or a more Immediately
hopeful undertaking she would scarcely have
cared Sophia she well knew, was not an
easy woman to turn, and still less was she
easy to beguile. Percival Brent had really
taken the girls fancy He was more pre-
possessing, with his youth and his generous
ways, than this grave, serious stranger, verg-
ing on middle life. And the mother had
found by experience that affection with
Sophia was not mere whim or fancy, much
less self-interest or passion Its roots struck
deep. For Mrs. Temples present purpose the
mere vulgar brides of wealth and ease were
not enough; all kinds of motives must be en-
gagged, auxiliaries from innumerable quarters
must be united; the campaign must be care
fully planned, the advance made neither too
early nor too late, just at the moment of
fate; and then the kingdom of Sophia's heart
would be won. But all this only kindled
Mrs. Barbara Temple into excitement. Mar
rying Car and Sibyl had been child's play;
here was game for a mistress She felt the
same exultation which q chess player feels
who, long used to engage with adversaries to
whom he can give a castle and win easily,
sits at last facing an enemy who would wiz
if he got a pawn or a move.
Everything must be done at the right
time" she said Everything must be done
in the right way. Whom can 1 trust for
thatl Whom! Nobody except myselfis
First of all she talked to Prendergast her
self. Mingling certain difference for his
opinion with unconcealed reliance on her own,
she told him that for the present he had bet
ter not make any advances to Sophia.
"Rather the opposite, !" she said. Seem to
retreat. Sophia has already noticed your
liking for her. Now, if you withdraw for
while, you will puzzle her. She will say,
Did he admire me after all, or not! Has he,
on coming to know me better, found me less
attractiveT You will excite her curiosity,
which, let me tell you, is a great thing for
lover to do Besides, although Sophia may
not care for you, having once secured your
/ admiration, she viii not like to lose If. No
woman wishes that man who once admired
| her should cease to admire her She may
not care for h;m-she may even have an
aversion to him-but she likes him to care
| for her. And, say, if Sophia finds that you
| grow cooler, she viii wonder, question with
herself, feel a little piqued; and then, if
| you turn round again and confess her power
-well-well-she viii be rather more dis
| posed to give you some slight encouragement
Am l letting you into too many of our
secrets, Mr. Prendergast."
with your knowledge Of the heart" he
answered, Il could have vanquished Cleo
patra.7
/ She bowed, but scarcely took time to taste
| tie flavor of the compliment. Nosooner was
luncheon over than, making some excuse for
| dropping Sophia at friend S house at one end
Of the town. she drove out to see Sybil, the first
| ally whose cooperation she meant to secure.
Sibyl was alone in her drawing room, and
certainly all around were abundant signs OF
the magnitude of the price she had fetched
in the matrimonial exchange She looked
very handsome, quite superb, Mrs Temple
thought, as she rose to meet her mother But
there wzs discomfort in her face.
1Sibyl,. dear the mother said, your tasts
is nothing short of perfect This drawing
room grows lovelier every day. Where die
you pick up that little picture;s
in Bond street, she answered, listlessly
@You paid price for it, can guesr
4 know nothing about prices" Sibyl an
swered haughtily.
@And never need replied her mother
quickly. Happy girlF
Sibyl made no answer
Il have come, dear" her mother now said
ITO ask your assistance In a very delicat
matter. Prendergast wants to marry Sc
phiaz
Sophia viii not marry at present, Siby
; remal ked
Not unless we are very judicious. Bu
man after her own heart, Just the sort G
man she would have fallen IN love with
, this ridiculous affair with Mr. Brenfss son di
not stop the way. Now Sophia must not pa:
this offer by. l am determined she sha
not Prendergast is very rich. and be is vii
ing to settle down here.
@And what Of that 2 SIbyl asked
SWhat Of thatl Why, here yo~ thr'
a girls VIII be in the one neighborhood, anf
:. that Q pleasant one. Eacn viii have hand
d some establishment; and think how you wi
: be able to put yourselves at the head c
q everything. You viii soon be the leaders O
: the county; with your looks and yol
: cleverness and your taste you ought to b
You can have your London houses, you an
: sophia Immediately, and Car when those Oh
r people die You can have your trips to th
continent, your entertainments at home-c
!, Sibyl. Why had never such chance when
e was your agel How I should have en5oye
I the worldF-s
@You did enjoy it, mamma
L Now. Sibyl- the mother went on, NJ
7 noticing this remark. there Is one thin
T which I wish you to impress upon Sophi'
that Is the comfort Of riches. You can spea
: from experience, tel her how fine q thin
s wealth l. Impress It upon her. You migi
; even sav. for YOU know Sophy's turn Of min
,..at you find yourself able to do much goo
TO help the poor-eharitable work
e churche-anytliag can be done with none.
q That IS my special charge to yOu- Sibyi; Il
next time you and Sorhy meet tel her som
= = thing Of your experience Of riches No
where Is ArchibaldF
He went into the library after lunch
STby1 said rather suIkiIy. He wanted
e read The Tfmex
"A Two minutes later Mrs Barbara Temp
= was confronting her son-in-law Goldmor
who z1fh his newspaper laid across
g knee. waited to hear what II was Of VIII
= her sErezd face was fun
= sSophia has had an oder-at ieast 4 b
= been made to me-frcrn Mr.. Prendergnsk
= Goldmore bowed his head in a way viii
e signifsd approval 0f Mr. Prendergazt Th'
= be sai1:
is 1T would have ben = good eOunscti
@ II
a III whatF
= If Sophia had not fallen in lore wi
e Brent
ae sNow, my dear Archibald erisd NJ
I Tempe, siapping her hands together slight
n her Fexation, surely you know BET,
9 than that Sophia has not given her hsu
q away. L IS a girlfsh whim, and ws mig
safely leave 4 20 cure itself; only I'll
= press Sophia muzt marry Prenserga
] shnuld die of chazrin il saw another '