Year: 1860

accepted his assistance, bowed her thanks
IN silence, and they passed on their several
ways without having exchanged a word.


The next day the clergyman Of the par
ish called upon Randolph Grey. Learning
that a stranger had taken lodging. at the
farm, he thought it right to ascertain
whether he could be Of any service to him
Captain Grey had no opportunity of avoid
ing this weIl-meant visit, as he would
probably have desired; for, as he CHANGED
TO be at home, the landlady ushered Mr.
Wood at once into the parlor.


Though his duties were to so remote a
spot, and TO a sphere SO narrow, Mr.. " God
WAS man Of education and ability; and
it is possible that the solitude of that few
days had made TIE sound of friendly voice
less unwelcome to Randol ph Grey than he
wolld have admitted even to himself
Certain it is that the clergyman's corner
sation so far won upon him that his heart
was unlocked to give him some slight in
llmatlons Of the reasons which had Undue
ed him to seek this secluded retreat, that
the two gentlemen sat long in discourse
together, and that, before the visit ended,
Captain Grey had accepted the pressing
invitation Of his new acquaintance to
drink tea at the parsonage on the follow
ing evening, and when the time came,
stimulated perhaps by curiosity to see the
cIergyman's wife, he addressed himself to
the fulfillment Of his engagement With less
reluctance than he would fain have per
cro4aI l,o,,oIf l,I Fo1 l.
was introduced to Mrs. Wood, however,
he was well nigh disappointed to find how
well she answered to his preconceived idea
Of what she ought to be. She was some
years younger than Ler husband, and ap
peared as active, brisk and cheerful little
woman as one could wish to see-happy
in her home, her husband, and her duties
Ills coniectures about the stranger were
all at fault, and he was pondering how he
could frame an inquiry concerning her
without betraying the scene he had wit
messed, when he was spared the trouble by
Mr.. Wood, who, seeing tea wa, ready in
quired Of his wife whether 9 RacLel" were
not well that she had not yet made her
appearance.


"She is coming down directly" replied
Mrs. Wood, and [ am glad of it. l
think she has seemed more depressed than
ever the last few days, and little society
will perhaps do her good. She is a lady
living wish u.s. added Mrs. Wood, in ex-
planation to her guest.


AT that moment the door opened, and
Rachel" entered, She was indeed the
Lady of the Rocks; and, as Mr.. Wood in
troduced him to Miss Morland, Captain
Grey perceived that she recognized him.
though apparently with little interest and
no embarrassment. She thanked him
courteously for the assistance he had rem.
dered her, which lei to an expl lanation cf
their meeting, and of their mutual sur
prise at seeing in 50 lonely spot stran
ger above the condition Of peasant.


After this, Miss Morland lapsed into ST.
lence, leaving it to Mr. and Mrs. Wood to
sustain the conversation with their guest !;
but his interest WAS excited, and he exam
ined her closely. She might have almost
been called handsome, or rather striking.
for the beauty was less that Of form or col
oring than of expression, although now her
countenance was melancholy almost to
gloom. He thought he perceived in her
the same listless dependency Of which be
himself So we'll knew the bitterness, and
his sympathy being thus excited he exert
Cd himself to relieve it by attracting her
interest oud attention. lie could be very
agreeable when he wished it; and now he
succeeded perhaps all the better that his
motive was kind AID unselfsh one. Mr.
and Mrs. Wood were charmed with him,
and even the melancholy Rachel at length
looked up, and took her part in The conver
sation with some appearance Of zest, and
doing so, gave involuntary evidence of
both quick apprehension and cultivated
mind.


A beginning having thus been made, a
few days elapsed in which he did not meet
the inhabitants of the parsonage. lie
questioned Mr.. Wood about Rachel, but
learned very little About two years be
fore, the patron of the living had written
to inqnre whether Mr.. Wood would admit
a boarder lady with whom lie was not
personally acquainted, but whom he knew
to be desirous of finding home in some
retired village on the sea-coast. Under
standing that her position was lonely one
and that it would be an act of kindness to
do SO, Mr.. Wood agreed to receive her, and
she arrived two years before, dressed in
the deepest mourning, and evidently in
great afliiction. She proved not only
most amiatle in disposition, but very val
liable as an assistant in the parish, and her
host and hostess had become sincerely at
tached TO her. But open and unreserve as
she appeared in other respects, she had
never communicated to them her previous
history all she had ever said about it was
to beg that they would not question her,
as it vas too ptiful 10 dwell upon. She
had, however at different times, made
mention of a father and mother, sister,
and cousin whom she had lost, and of
the latter with such evident emotion that
they imagined he had perhaps been her
lover or affianced husband She had now
no relations living, or at least none with
whom she kept up any intercourse. She
was habltually calm and quiet, and now
much more even in spirits than she had
been at first, though still appearing at
times greatly depressed /; and even when
Mr.. and Mrs. Wood occasionally Quilted