The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-04

/ liberty 10 make YOUR CnOlCo ana leave US
we both acquiesce in it-Rachel and /.
And it has occurred to me as just possible
that you might have some fancy of your
own in the matter. 1 am almost ashamed
to ask you such question-but you are
growing woman now; have you ever
formed any idea of the sort of-person-
you could be happy with? ?"
eyes," said Hetty. She was looking
down at little sapphire ring that adorned
one of her fingers, and she did not raise
her eyes. 81 have thought about il"
"Oh, indeed really" calculated the
professor, somewhat staggered. He passed
his hand across his brow And what is
he like. Hetty?" he asked, in tones that
had an unmistakable tinge OF melancholy
in them.
81 should like him to be rather old;
think / told you so before" said Hetty,
with a little tremor in her voice. 1t was
really very considerate of the fire; it glim-
mered redly, but it kept its flashes to itself.
"And should not even mind if he liked
things that l hated; be might even have
stupid, obtuse ways at times-men so
often are stupid and obtuse. But should
like him to have very nice dark eyes, and
to be able to respect him."
every nice dark eyes! l know so few
answering to that description" said the
professor, who, hopelessly perplexed by
Hetty's first sentences, seemed to see
some dawning clearness in her last words,
and revived to review them conscientious
ly. Must his eyes he so particularly
fine, my child? Could you not place
character above looks?"
'Oh, certainly. l am not at all particu-
lar as to looks, +" remarked Hetty, crimson
ing. 81 should like to have nice, kind
quiet way with him; the very reverse of
Fred Wiiberforce's."
II am afraid" said the professor very
gently, and signing as he spoke-he had
been'carefully considering and reconsider
ing Hetty's remarks for the space of full
five minutes that know no one at all who
answers to your description"
Perhaps l could tell you little more
of my fancies," said the girl, suddenly
raising her eyes. Mr.. Rochester did not
see how tightly her hands were clasped
together; he only saw that charming, will
full glance again. 81 should not care bit
if he was wrapped up in musty, tiresome,
disagreeable things; he must be very
oh, very fond of Greek"
What heartess thing the freight had
turned into How it flickered and bright
ened, and obdurately persisted in reveal
ing the hot color Hetty longed to hide
with both her hands. And Mr.. ROChes-
ter's eyes were fixed upon her. What
were his thoughts
Greek" he said, after the space Of
about a minute "You have occasioned
me more surprise than can tell you, my
: dear"
Well, it had been unconventional, un-
maidenly-indelicate, perhaps; but he
never would have known his own heart
, without it-and if the freight would
: only hide her cheeks!
II have often wished" continued the
professor, that ! could have devoted
more time to that language. But little
dreamt, my child, you shared my feeling
regarding it. | should have hardly looked
for it in one so young; but il occupied
many years of your fathers attention,
remember and | can understand it little
in that way. l must find your Greek
scholar for you, Hetty-it seems a strange
thing, too. | never credited you, my
dear, with tastes like these.
! HE is promising young fellow" said
: the professor, almost to himself, land not
I as you say, too young. He must be quite
thirty or thereaboutsf am thinking Of
Martin Archer, Hetty: you don't know
him at present, my dear-I meet him
: often at college-but he answers, in 6
4 great many respects to your description
l often wish, when talking with him, thai
l had my youth back again. And so you
will be leaving us; it is only question
; of time; l shall see that low chair o.
I yours empty. And perhaps it may BIZ
p Martin Archer"
D "No, never !" said Hetty. The freight
: Pickering up, revealed her face, and, tC
Q the professors amaZement, he saw il
= crimsoned and scornful. l hate Mr.
ArcherI 1 detest him l know per
fectly well he is conceited prig; | an
{ sure, quite sure OF it, And the only thing
: l ask, Mr.. Rochester" she continued, ris
I ing suddenly and bursting into tears, ''i
that you will never, never, as long as
. live let me hear his detestable name
: again!"
9 Il am utterly at fault said the pro
lessor. at last; "the child places no con
o fidence in me whatever. She grows more
! lovable than ever-more engaging. How
!. we shall ever endure the house withou
her 1 dare not think. But 1 am utterly a
1 fault. 1 am afraid there must be truth il
: what has certainly been affirmed By
! thinkers of all ages-woman is al
a enigma"
s The autumn was waning; the coral Der
e ries were ripening in the hedges, anC
soon, the professor said to himself, look
: ing with vague melancholy toward hi
J, study-window, the gray mornings, thu
long evenings, the chill of winter would
Q be creeping on, and the fire would b,
II alight again on the hearth. Would Hetty
k sit beside il, or would it be left to Rache
and himself alone? He saw the two fig
:. ures, his bent and STOPPING, as he Away
n pictured it, with head prematurely gray
Y and his sister sitting opposite, clicking he
needles, and sometimes interpOlating
v conjecture about the Child" the chile
+ who had come into his life, and bright
n ened eight years of it, and had vanished
a with the roses and the summer, to some
brighter, happier home of her own.
n He rose from his chair, pushing lit
: tie way from him, as he did so, the manu-
n script that had been lying before him
" With a slow contraction of the heart, ht
v heard Hetty's voice She was replying Il
: something said by his sister; Miss Rache
n seemed to be going out. He waited til
q the steps had descended the stairs and tn,
= front door had closed; then, he could
n hardly have told with what intention
walked TO the sitting-room door.
n Hetty was knitting; Miss Rachel haC
v been teaching her, and the work appeared
y to accord with the new gravity tina
4 seemed to be changing her from the chile
4 he had known into woman. There wa
= even a cold quietness about her this even
4 ing as she raised her eyes and met he