Year: 1860

struggling; land you are ugly, and [ don't
like you


l saw the soldiers eyes twinkle ferccly,
but he only laughed.


Il hate you.' said Totty, who had es-
capped, and was clinging to Nurses hand ;
IF had gun | would shoot you. I shall
tell mamma to send you away
"Pretty pupils you have got here said
Cousin Charles, sharply; but Nurse bent
over Totty without answering, and he went
away.


''Why does he stay here, Nurse ?"
1t was. my constant question [ was
afraid of him; | could not bear to feel his
step following me; | shuddered when he
touched me. Nurse said he had been
mammals pIayfelow when they were both
children. [ could not .think b aGlnshe bore
with him.
4 month had passed since p lay
feast, when / saw Cousin Charles oneSc!en
ing coming down towards us in the Monk 5
Tower. Nurse rose and went to meet him.
They spoke together moment, and [ saw
the scowl on his face as he turned away.
Oh. how feared him.
When we went INTO tea my mother and
he were laughing over some pictures, and
my father poured as usual over a book. He
laid it down, however, and said something
about their being very merry; and after
tea, when the piano was opened, he got up,
contrary to his custom, and stood over it..
No one took any notice Of him, but from
my corner Of the sofa, with Totty's head
leaning on my lap, one thumb in his mouth
and the other crawling about my neck, [
watched my father in silent and wondering
terror, while he bit his lips and knitted his
brows, and a white look Of anger came over
his face.


Suddenly he put Cousin Charles aside
and began turning over the leaves
for my mother himself The soldiers soli-
tary arm was raised and hung over his white
head for a moment [ cried outflow was
[ to help it?


My father turned. and said savagely {:
"Children, go to bed Why are you
here ?"


As we left the room, [ saw that my mo-
thcr had risen, and was looking from one
to the other in wonder, and perhaps terror;
while Cousin Charles, seeming to recover
himself, smiled, shook hands with her,
wished my father good d-night, and followed


I hid my face in Nurses lap, and cried
She asked no questions probably she knew
more than [ did,


All the next morning we kept away out
Of sight [ learnt my lessons, but mamma
did not come as usual to hear them and
in the evening, as we fingered in the gar
den, the front-door opened suddenly, and
my father came out. Great lines were on
his forehead, his eyes shone, and his lips
were pressed down like they had been the
night before.


Nurse, where is you mistress ?"


NANNY is there,' sung out Totty.
pointing to the gate, with the ugly SOL
der"


Anger was on the ugly soldiers face also,
and something more. Whatever my mother
had done or said to him, there was that in
his eye which I knew, child as was, threat
ened vengeance deep and terrible


Nanny looks like a white ghost" said
Totty, putting in his voice again.


She ,gas white Leaving the soldier she
was coming, with her hand stretched out, to
my father, when something his look I sup
pose-stoppcd her halfway. It sank back
to her side, and the next moment she was
lying on the gravel at his feet.


Putting Tottys hand i'll mine, Nurse hur-
ried US into the house, and went back again.
Wondering and sorrowful, I questioned her
when she came up to the nursery; but she
was sad too, and very grave. Mamma was
better; must be satisfied, and ask no ques-
tons.


We saw Cousin Charles no more. We
never heard so much as his name mention
ed, except by Totty, whom Nurse soon 81
fenced.


But what terrible blight had he left be-
hind him, What change had come over
my father. Though preoccupied and busy
over his books and papers, he had always
been gentle and loving to us, his children ::
now, We dared no longer to 90 near him.
He would turn his back upon us, speaking,
if he spoke at all, savage words of anger
and disgust, as though he hated the very
sight of US.


And my mother sitting there so pale
and quiet-what new look was that on her
face, what blight had come over her? She
watched my father closely, she could hardly
spare thought from him for us, even for
Totty, who clamored and stormed after his
wonted amount Of petting, until she was
fain to put him away gently, and beg for
peace. Instinct seemed to tell her my faith
er's wants have seen her offer him some
thing imploringy, and he would shrink
and turn away as if her hand had been a
serpent.


l did not understand it at all; I only
knew it was very wrotchcd, and in some
laundering way laid the blame on Cousin
Charles.


Eeverything seemed to be changed The
house had itself pnt on a desolate look, the
servants went about quietly, the garden was
dreary, and even the Monk Tower had lost
a portion Of its fascination There was al
ways some underthought which would not
De driven away.


My mother grew paler and quieter she
could no longer bear with Tottv's rough