Year: 1860

"Well. Jane, have you made up your
mind? leave the matter entirely in your
own hands,


My husband looked across the table at
me, and held glass of wine between him
and the light, screwing up his eyes as he
examined the color.


We were sitting at dessert in the old
dining-room at Turton, the dark polished
mahogany table rehecting the bright faces
of our six children. Two by me--the
eldest who was so like his father, and the
youngest who would not eat tidily, and
wanted mamma to cut up his orange and
wipe his mouth; opposite, by Ronald,
were the two little ones with curly heads
and mischievous fingers, who were sailing
orange-boats in the purple fnger.glass,
and coaxing papa to make more. The
girls were one on each side; the elder one
peering at me with her great blue eyes,
and evidently wandering whatever it was
that mamma was to make up her mind
about. l was just going to answer when
| caught her curious gaze, and tlen l
stopped.


"l'll tell you all about it when the chill
dren go off to bed," l said.


Lucy dropped her head with a blank ex-
preston of disappointment, which Ronald
observed with infinite amusement. There
was little nod across the table to me,
and whisper about little pitchers having
long ears, which made Lucy blush
Presently we went to the drawing room,
and the children began to romp, at the
conclusion Of which / carried off the
youngest to the nursery; and before came
down again | went for a moment into my
little morning.room and sat down over
the fire. wanted to think.


People said was fortunate and hap
was one OF those fair English, halls stand
ing amid its own far-Spreading grounds
and rich farms. l could match my hus-
band and children against the best and
nQblest in the land; and yet had plenty
to make me oft-times thoughtful, and
sometimes sad. There is a cross in every
lot, and mine lay in the future--not my
own, but my children's.


My father-n-law had been an extrava-
giant man, who had drained the entailed
estate as near as he could. My husband,
with a moderately largo income, had
many claims on his purse, and moreover,
with scrupulous honor applied every
available sum to the payment of his faith
er's debts. We had large family; the
eldest one was provided for by the entail.
But if this went on, what could we do
for the other little ones? Over and over
again l had tried to bring the matter
seriously before Ronald; but careless
security in the future was part of his
natural disposition, and | could not pur-
suade him to make any real effort for
their benefit. Invariably he said, "Just
wait till pay Saunders and Balton, and
then we will begin to lay up" And had
to think sadly of my own poor portion of
f5 900 vested in shares in the County
Bank, and hope and trust.


was thinking more sadly tonight
because my husband, who had Just re-
turned from business-visit to London,
had met me with an unexpected pro-
posal. He had fallen in with an old
uncle. who had spent the greater part OF
his life in India, toiling for the golden
fortune that never came. Now decrepit
old man, and confirmed invalid. he had
expended the little he possessed, and was
actually in want. Ronald described his
miserable lodging. told how much he
suffered, and ended with a proposal that
we should ask him to come and live at
Turton. The kind thought was Just like
him; but l looked terribly blank when
the idea was suggested. and opposed it
violently. My woman's brain at once
embraced the obstacles, and, it may be,
exaggerated them.


"Think what tie it would be- said
"a third person to spoil our quiet eve
nings and readings aloud-a somebody
to interfere with our walks and drives
and dinners. The poor children would
be hushed for fear of disturbing the in.
valid; should have to give up my time
to his amusement and comfort. Besides
think Of the expense. We agreed tc
give up the carriage e-horses; but that
would be out of the question if he were
and could not walk or use the pony
pheton. And we must have an extra
man servant to wait on him; and if we
used another set of rooms, we should re-
quire second housemaid."


/ drew such melancholy picture of the
consequences that my husband said at last


"Well. my dear, please yourself; il
shall be as you like. only wish we coult
have made the old man comfortable; ht
was very kind 70 rne when I was school
boy"


So I sat in my room and planned how
we could manage, gradually beginning
to think l had been selfish in my hasty
opposition. thought it might b